A glimpse into the magical possibilities of eye yoga

Simple treatments and eye exercises could be key to correct refractive errors of eyes

A glimpse into the magical possibilities of eye yoga Representational Image | Pixabay

In this era where time has become a rare commodity, we don't pay much attention to the intricacies of our bodily functions. What little time is left after a day of being glued to our screens at work is spent “chilling” in front of more such screens. The School for Perfect Eyesight at the Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry has the solution for those overworked eyes.

Established in 1968 by Dr R.S. Agarwal, the School aims to correct refractive errors of the eyes such as myopia, hypermetropia and presbyopia through simple treatments and eye exercises that fall in the ambit of eye yoga. Agarwal's association with the spiritual leader Sri Aurobindo helped him in exploring naturopathy and yoga. In his quest to learn more, the ophthalmologist stumbled upon the Bates Method—a system of eye exercises that strengthen the eye muscles and enable one to see clearly without the aid of corrective lenses. Thus, the School combines the Bates method with Agarwal’s findings to propagate clear vision. However, the connecting thread is the complete relaxation of one’s mental faculties, without which the exercise routine fails to produce optimal results. Hence, there comes an urgent need to change one’s definition of what ‘chilling’ means, if they propose to give this system a try.

Set amidst buildings built in signature French architectural style, with stately doors and high walls, bright yellow stucco and ornate columns, the School is located in White Town, one of the prettiest places in Puducherry. It is on a street parallel to the Promenade Beach—a 1.2km long scenic stretch of beachfront, which provides ample opportunities to relax after one’s eye yoga sessions at the School. While outstation patients have to undergo two one-hour sessions every day for a week, residents in and around Puducherry undergo one session per day for two weeks, thus spanning 14 sessions for both groups, of course, at different times.

Strolling past the School, it isn’t unusual to see people—from children to adults—swinging one foot to the other whilst facing the sun. And once you enter, one encounters more confusing activities, with tennis balls being bounced around, people looking beyond vertical bars and swaying, some attempting to read extremely fine print while others activating pressure points while making it look like an art. The exercise routine is tailored to meet one’s unique needs, after assessing individual eye problems. Some of the treatments prescribed, such as the sun treatment and acupressure, attempt to reduce the strain on one’s eyes and the areas around it. Palming and the application of vapour and cold pack enable one to get rid of fatigue and enjoy complete relaxation for the eyes and mind. The focus and visual acuity of the eyes are improved by swaying gently before a window with vertical bars, by reading fine print in candlelight and good light, and by practising how to read using a Snellen eye chart. Blinking and subsequently the accommodating capacity of the eyes are improved by bouncing and catching tennis balls in specific patterns. Finally, eye movement exercises help in strengthening the muscles of the eyes, which automatically allows one to start seeing better.

All this information can seem daunting when presented in a capsule form such as above, but in reality are extremely simple and easy to follow. To know the details of these exercises, one can refer to books written by Agarwal. Yoga of Perfect Sight and Mind and Vision are two of his books recommended by the School. As is common knowledge, all these exercises work best when supplemented with a healthy and nutritious diet replete with green leafy vegetables, carrots, papaya, orange and watermelon, milk, among others.

Also, the exercises being of an extremely meditative nature, instil the virtues of perseverance and patience in anyone who sincerely follows it.

It is natural to be sceptical about the philosophy and success of this system in today's world that relies heavily on modern medicine and surgery. But, as the School's motto says: “In the end, it is the faith that cures”.

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