Releasing the Eyes--Part 2

By Paul Cavel, Posted December 2009

In most forms of qigong, bagua and tai chi, you are turning, bending, stretching and/or moving around your practice space. As you do, your eyes involuntarily focus on objects in your field of vision. They remain fixed there until they jump to the next object.

As you turn, bend and move your body three bad habits usually accompany the eyes fixating on any given object:

The nervous system contracts
Consciousness goes external
The occiput closes

These are great for revving the system and eliciting a stress response, but that’s typically the opposite of what most internal energy arts practitioners are seeking. So, I’ve got some exercises to do with your eyes to break these bad habits. (Review exercises 1-3 in my blog.)

Exercise 4: Occiput Open

Opening the occiput starts with your standing posture. When you look straight ahead the occiput is closed. Aligning the head properly involves bringing the eyes, ears and occiput onto a horizontal level. In this position, the eyes will naturally look down slightly and you must roll the eyes up into their sockets to look ahead.

Hold this posture and practise exercise 3, softening and releasing the eyeballs and optic nerves. As you do, be aware of any tension deepening into your occiput or brain. If you feel tension there, consciously relax it and drop it down your body.

You might only want to work on this exercise for a day or two before moving on.

Exercise 5: Shift Your Weight and Turn

With your head correctly aligned in your standing posture, look straight forward. Allow your peripheral vision to soften. Now shift your weight and turn your pelvis just as you would in Cloud Hands qigong, tai chi and ba gua. As you move from side to side, allow your eyes to sweep around the room without fixing on any particular object.

Notice how your eyes jump from one thing to the next as you move. Try to relax your gaze and let whatever is around you come into your field of vision. Keep your eyes soft. First relax your eyeballs for several shifts and turns. Next relax the eyeballs and optic nerves. Then whilst turning, relax the eyes, optic nerves and the whole nervous system.

Practise for as long as you want to as long as you don’t strain yourself in any way.

Exercise 6: Kwa Squat

Repeat all steps from exercise 5, but now practise your kwa squat. Keep the eyes soft and do several squats with relaxed eyes. Next relax your eyes and optic nerve. Finally, relax your eyes, optic nerve and nervous system.

Combine Time

Now take what you have learnt from these exercises into your practice. Keep the eyes soft at all times and try to look forward on the horizontal plane when your body is erect. Let your eyes sweep, drop and rise with the natural movement of your body during your forms. See if you can achieve deeper relaxation and greater awareness with yin eyes.

Happy Practising,
Paul

Any physical and/or energetic exercise can carry risks. Do not attempt these exercises if you have any physical, emotional or mental conditions that may make you susceptible to injury.

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Releasing the Eyes--Part 2