Eye-Movement Exercises

Direct Access to the Nervous System

Eye-movement exercises tap directly into the nervous system, and can assist greatly in 'balancing' the nervous system, as well as allowing sub-conscious stresses to surface and resolve.  The optic nerve connects directly to the brain; its a major hook-up as eye-sight is our main source of sensory input.

Method 1: Eye Rotations
Various Taoist schools teach simple eye exercises, which help process energy through the nervous system.  For example: Close your eyes, and circle them (look left, up, right, down) several times.  Then circle the other way.  

It might be convenient to include eye rotations as part of your joint rotations routine.

Method 2: EMDR
EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), a modern psychotherapeutic model, employs a similar technique.  Face straight ahead, eyes open.  Hold your finger in front of your eyes, approximately 6-8" away.  Keep your head facing straight, and move your finger to the far left (following it with your eyes) and to the far right, back and forth.  

If you are feeling a pattern of stress, do this method until some significant portion of the stress surfaces and resolves.  You'll feel this as a definite, recognizable cycle that - with this method - takes less than a minute.

References: EMDR Institute, and EMDR International Association.  Though there are extensive systems and procedures built around this...  I use just the simple eye-movement exercises to assist in resolving residual stress patterns, after qi gong practice.

The Key: Harmonizing the Nervous System

A great deal of what makes these methods work is the repetitive left and right prompting of the nervous system, which results in integration and harmonization.  I don't know the deep theory details of exactly how & why this works, but I do know that its a real key that allows stuck trauma to resolve very quickly and easily.

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Brain Massage, Re-Claiming Visual Chi

CAUTION Use these techniques at your own discretion, own responsibility, and own risk.  If you feel that you would be better to explore these techniques with the assistance of a psychotherapist or other qualified health care professional, by all means, do so.