Purpose: To release tension around the eyes to inform our brain that we needn’t be so vigilant

The eyes are very important in polyvagal theory. We need to remember that the eyes are not connected to the brain, they are the brain, making them a part of the central nervous system. When we get triggered, our eyes become very focused, and they can feel very tight and strained.

Stress controls our visual field more than we think. When we experience stress, one of the physical changes occurs in our vision. Our pupils dilate, and our vision narrows, which is what we call ‘tunnel vision’. This tunnel vision activates the body’s stress response – the sympathetic nervous system.

Our eyes are made up of muscles. When we are using our eyes, we are using muscles, meaning we need to give these muscles a rest every now and then. One way to relax the eye muscles is to shut out the light. This allows the optic nerve to easily rest.This is one of the reasons why we need sleep.

Don’t forget to share with the body-mind COMMUNITY HERE to celebrate your journey and the re-awakening to your powerful body.