Winter Qi Chats | Week 3
How well do you train your eyes?
This week we assess our vision skills to see whether we need to jump back into daily vision training!
Shut it all out & reset.
The first true tool for the eyes is understanding how much we need to REST the eyes. Take a moment to cup the hands over the eyes to create a safe, dark space. Nice isn’t it? Remain here for about 1 minute as you breathe. You’re going to need a fully fueled brain before you process to your visual challenge!
You ready for a stare content?
The next big tool is to engage in a staring content. Seriously! Very few of us have challenged a friend to see who can keep starting the longest. And not just ‘stare’ but maintain a single focus with the eyes. Here’s the challenge…
NOTE: As with everything we do, assess & re-assess. Find a baseline movement so you can re-assess to see if this skill is easy or challenging.
1.) Hold a pencil at a comfortable distance from some’s face and ask them to start at the tip of the pencil. (the pencil should not be double, that’s too close)
2.) Next, ask them to stare at the pencil for as long as they can. *Unlike the more youthful version, they CAN blink. However, if you find them blinking a LOT then, you may have discovered a startle response as the staring content may be tasking their brain!
3.) Watch for eye movement. Can they keep fixed on the target or do they look away? Are they tearing up or are their eyes getting dry? Are they blinking a lot? Getting tired or flushed? These are indicators of how challenging this skill is for them.
4.) Re-asses after 1 minute. This is a long time to hold a gaze and this challenge may inform you (or your friend) of what you need to do continue training the eyes.
Neuro-Qi Tip o’the day!
Look around more often!
When you find yourself stuck at the computer screen or reading a book for over 30 minutes, look off into the distance & take a long breath out.
Roll your eyes like you’re an adolescent (ex. 3-18x each direction, every morning)
Blink. Yes. Don’t forget to blink!
*Video posts every Friday by 11:30am MDT
