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Rest the eyes, the mind clears.
The mind clears, the eyes see more.
Resting the eyes is one way to have a quick and relaxing “refreshment of ease.” By closing out the visual stimulation of your busy world for a bit—and using your breath and intention—you can quiet the mind, find an inner stillness, and see the world anew! “Soft focus” your way through wedding planning. |
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| We live in a world where we tend to “hard focus” most of our waking time: concentrating, figuring things out, trying to remember a myriad of facts and details—over-using the thinking mind. One simple tip is to remember to use “soft focus” when you are reading or using the computer or talking with someone or just thinking. Soft focus is allowing the eyes to relax into their sockets, instead of pushing them out. Notice right now which you are doing and allow your eyes to relax even more. Simply having the awareness of this distinction—of pushing or relaxing, hard or soft focus—can decrease your eye strain and make a difference in your energy level. |
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Relaxing Your Eyes Exercise:
Sit or lie in a comfortable spot. Once you’ve read through the exercise, close your eyes (and keep them closed during the process) and begin by taking three slow breaths, inhaling deeply and exhaling easily.
- With your eyes closed, look up to twelve o’clock, breath in to a slow, silent count of three; slowly exhale as you bring your eyes to rest at center. Repeat process three more times, breathing in when you look up, breathing out at center.
- Look down to six o’clock, breathe in to a slow count of three; slowly exhale as you bring your eyes to rest at center. Repeat three more times.
- Look right to three o’clock, breathe in to a slow count of three; slowly exhale as you bring your eyes to rest at center. Repeat three more times.
- Look left to nine o’clock, breathe in to a slow count of three; slowly exhale as you bring your eyes to rest at center. Repeat three more times.
- Look cross-eyed at the tip of your nose, breathe in to a slow count of three; slowly exhale as you bring your eyes to rest at center. Repeat three more times.
- Keep your eyes closed, continue taking deep breaths and slowly rotate your eyes 360 degrees to the right, then 360 degrees to the left; repeat sequence three times. Notice where your eyes feel strain and take an extra breath into that area.
- Continue relaxing; allow your eyes to relax deeper into their sockets. Imagine your breath going in and out of your eyes for three full breaths, as your eyes are soothed and refreshed by your breath.
- When you’re ready, slowly open your eyes and ease back into the activity of your day or evening as you continue to keep your attention on deep breaths and soft focus.
(This is also a great exercise to do right before bed to relax and ease into a restful night’s sleep.) |
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| For a more rigorous exercise add a little pressure to the eyes with your fingertips. It would go like this. Keep your eyes closed, and: |
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- Put your fingertips at the top of your eyes and gently press. Do steps 1. and 2.
- Put your fingertips at the bottom of your eyes and gently press. Do steps 1. and 2.
- Put your fingertips at the outside edges of your eyes and gently press. Do steps 3. and 4.
- Put your fingertips at the inside edges of your eyes and gently press. Do steps 3. and 4.
- Put your fingertips at the center of your eyes and gently press. Do step 5.
- Take fingers away. Do steps 6-8.
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| Acknowledgement to my dear friends, Robert Petteway & Cynthia Zaal, founders of At Ease Technologies, LLC. Their weekend course, “Living At Ease” would be a perfect gift for you and your partner—and anyone in your life—to bring an inner stillness into how you live your life. www.LivingAtEase.com |
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Did you miss Opening My Heart Ritual—the relaxing breath exercise in the Autumn issue?
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