Resting Your Eyes: The Stepping Exercise

Only recently has man begun to stare at one small area, hour after hour. At work, it is the computer screen; at home it is video games and the television. The focus is narrow, the distance is fixed and the light is artificial and unrelated to Nature’s light cues.

For most of human history, we have been nomads or farmers. Our eyes evolved in such a way as to meet the demands and insure the survival of wanderers and gatherers and hunters. Early man constantly scanned his surroundings, near and far, high and low, left and right. Could he spot dinner and avoid becoming dinner? Could he spot a bit of grass on the horizon that could mean water? While our eyes cannot adapt and change in just a few centuries we can compensate and minimize the modern fatigue.

Stepping is a simple exercise that fixes on a focal point and holds that focus for one complete breath cycle (in-pause-out-pause). Remember that a “pause” is natural and never forced.

1. Focus on a specific point within arm’s length. Hold that focus for one breath cycle.
2. Focus on the upper corner of the room you are in for one breath cycle. Really focus.
3. Focus on a point as far away as possible. Hold that focus for one slow breath cycle.
4. Now step your focus in reverse – far to middle-distance to near. Repeat near to middle-distance to far. Repeat as long as you are comfortable.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.