How to start to improve your vision today

Often, I find people who want to start to improve their vision naturally and by themselves. These students write me by email, Facebook or other social media with many questions about how to start, what is the best for their case, etc. This initiative is great and I love helping them in this process.

Today is the best moment to start in this wonderful process. Although you will need some time to get some information. Also, keep in mind that there is no a magic formula and each person has a different vision process according to their predisposition, case, dependence on spectacles, etc. 

I recommend the next steps based on my own experience as bates method practitioner and teacher:

 

1. Keep you informed about the Bates Method. Personally, I recommend two books which helped me a lot: Vision for life by Meir Schneider and Take off your glasses and see by Jacob Liberman. Be responsible of your own vision. Learn about your own case without delegating in other people. Also, you can attend to one workshop in your city or online for being supported by a natural eyesight recovery teacher.

 

2. Now you know what The Bates Method is about and you know the techniques. Design a routine of daily exercises. Do a weekly chart with the practices and fill it every day.

 

3. Take a reference about how your vision is today. Take an eye chart and put it in a place with good lighting. Measure the distance where you can see the first line but no the forth one. Note this distance in your vision notebook.  Do it with both eyes at the same time and only with the right one and after with the left one. Bit don't get obsessed about the distance, it is a reference and just a way to control it, never an exam. Remember to blink while you are doing it. You can control your vision from this distance periodically.   

 

 

4. Now PRACTICE!

If the Bates method fits with you, if it makes sense for you. Trust yourself and practice everyday. Then, you will improve.

Tips for your daily life and routine

  • Be aware about your vision and about how your eyes are. Pay attention to it and feel your eyes
  • Try to break the dependence on the normal glasses. The less you use them, the better. The pinhole glasses can help you for that purpose or older glasses with less prescription. Of course, practice the exercises without glasses
  • Move everyday to be present and to keep yourself in contact with the nature. Walks, yoga, qui-gong and taichi are perfect
  • Simplify. Don't use lots of alternatives and exercises. Search, try and choose.
  • Blink softly and often. Breathe in deeply and breathe out by emptying all the air from your lunge
  • Remember that we want to integrate good visual habits and the three principles of the Bates Method: Relaxation, movement and centralization
  • Practice the Bates Method every day. Take the opportunity to practice in your daily life. Integrate the natural vision to your life but also plan a routine and expend time every day.
  • Practice palming. Do it at  least three times per day for 6 minutes each one
  • If it is sunny, practice sunning. With closed eyes!!
  • Long swing is a key practice in the Bates Method to integrate movement. Practice before sleeping for 5 minutes
  • Massage your eyes by doing soft circles with your fingertips (Cheekbones, temples, eyebrows and bridge of the nose)
  • Share with other people in the same situation. Create support groups in your city
  • Practice relaxation techniques
  • Don't forget the periphery. Be aware of it. If you look at something, be aware of the things you are not looking at; they are all there, trees, people, cars, etc 
  • Eat heatlhy
  • If you use the computer; time to time look up and far. Take breaks and practice palming
  • Look and search for details, practice shifting and looking for colours, enjoy this experience
  • Stimulate your visual memory and imagination: look at an object, close your eyes and remember it for a few seconds. Start with small objects  
  • If you feel pain by doing the exercises try to relax more the eyes, blink and breathe. Practice palming in between.

That's it! Share your experience below