Sunning the Eyes

Dear Students:
I wish to introduce another Bates Method technique called Sunning, which is an easy way to enhance the vitality of your eyes.  It requires letting sunlight bath through your closed eyelids while moving your head back & forth for a few seconds or minutes at a time. View the video with Nathan Oxenfeld for more details & information.

 

The eyeballs are unique as they are organs that absorb light into the body.  Sunlight regulates many human functions including vision, the internal clock, sleeping & eating patterns. On the other hand, because the optic nerve is stimulated by light, too much artificial lighting from digital devices & L.E.D. lightbulbs can lead to vision problems, anxiety & sleep disorders. Studies show that when people are not exposed to enough sunlight during the winter, they can become depressed, moody & fatigued as a result. 

If you are light sensitive, know that you can gradually learn how to tolerate the sun through simple means and receive it’s many benefits.  To begin, I suggest to spend time outdoors each day & slowly wean yourself from wearing sun glasses. When you decide to remove your sun glasses, a good way to adjust to the natural light is to softly blink your eyelids, shade your face with a hat and/or sit under a tree. 

When you choose to Sun your Eyes, be sure to start slowly. Sun for only a few seconds at a time in the beginning and build up to a few minutes until your neurological system adapts.  Always listen to yourself & remember to only move in a manner that feels pleasant.  If you become light-headed, or feel dazed it is a sign that your vestibular system is overwhelmed so stop immediately.  An effective way to rest is to Palm your Eyes as I described in last month’s post.

Sunning the Eyes Exploration: 
1.Stand or sit while facing the sun with your head & eyes at the horizon & eyelids closed.  Turn your head left & right only as far as you can comfortably. Focus on letting your arms loosely dangle like pendulums as you slowly rotate. If the sun is high in the sky, move your head 10° higher & continue the gentle motion. If your neck muscles get tired return your head & eyes to the horizon and proceed. Do this for as long as it feels calming to your eyes and your being.  Do not exceed more than 5-10 minutes at a time. Pause & keep your eyelids closed & stay with your head & eyes at the horizon & your nose at the mid-line. 
2. Next imagine that your nose is a paint brush and draw a horizontal figure eight (the infinity sign), in space, slowly & ease-fully.  Notice if the circle on each side of your nose is the same size & shape.  Which side do you draw a clockwise circle?  Become aware of what part of each eye receives more sunlight when you are at the top of a circle compared to the bottom or to the left or right side. [If you get any discomfort, dizziness or nausea while doing this, stop & rest.  Skip ahead to step 5].
3. Reverse the direction of your figure eight.  Do you prefer going this way? Is it more symmetrical in form or less than the previous way you were moving? Notice which circle is drawn counter clockwise. Which side is more round? Pause with your eyes closed. 
4. Again turn your head left & right and feel if the quality of turning has changed.  Do you go farther with less effort?  
5. Slowly bring the exploration to a close & palm your eyes for a little while.  When you open your eyelids, blink often as the eyes get used to more light.  Notice the clarity of your vision & the vibrancy of the colors you see.  Has it changed? Do you carry your head & eyes in a different relationship to the horizon?

May you allow the sun’s rays to soothe your body & soul everyday! Peace.
~Donna