United States
International
Events
Where to sleep – Reviews
Travel Gear to Use
Flying Tips
Driving Tips
Back Pain & Stress Relief
Stress free travel
Does it feel like you’ve been on the computer or staring at some size monitor too darn much lately? That’s not to say I prefer the pen – writing via keyboard is great as fingers barely brush keys in the flow of word work. But there are moments less exhilarating. Lately the speed that my computer loads and saves is testing my patience. At the end of the day my eyes feel strained and I need some stress relief.
A simple technique for eye stress relief
If you find yourself in that frustrating space, here’s a great way to use the time to your advantage: Close your eyes!
- Give your orbs a rest and do little circles with them closed, or just squeeze them open and shut a few times.
- Lift your chest as you breathe deeply, taking your hands off the keyboard, pulling your elbows down and back. I love to lift my chin as I slightly arch my back.
- If that feels good, exhale as you lower your chin towards your chest and pull your elbows together in front, as your forearms and palms meet.
- With your palms and forearms together, exhale and gently lift them as your chin drops, then inhale pulling them down as your chin rises.
Repeat that a few times and you’ll have done your shoulders, back and eyes a favor, relieving stress and fatigue. Perhaps the file your were waiting for is now tucked away or the page is up in the meantime (which you made sweeter with chair stretches and stress relief!)
Enjoy the ride – wherever you are!
©2009 – Elaine Masters, RYT & Award-winning author of Drivetime Yoga
Our eyes and vision were designed for viewing distance as hunters and gatherers, and not for ongoing near work as required by regular computer use. As a result, Computer Eye Strain is becoming one of the major eye complaints heard by eye doctors today.
Symptoms can include increased myopia, blurred vision, headaches, slow refocusing, difficulty concentrating, neck, shoulder and back pain
Eye strain can be reduced significantly by taking regular breaks from the computer, resting your eyes, stretching and doing eye exercises.
For a demo of 3 great eye exercises by Dr. Grossman, one of the Country’s leading behavioral optometrists, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W10j2fL0hy0
Also, research studies show that supplementing with astaxanthin, lutein and black current seed oil daily significantly improved eye strain at week 2 and 4 of the test period.
For more information, go to Natural Eye Care for Computer Eye Strain
Thank you for commenting on my blog and offering the video of your eye exercises. I’d like to share them with my e-letter list in the coming months and would send out your link as well. My list is about 1,600 strong from around the country and into Canada.
Perhaps there are a couple of Chair/Seated/Travel stretches you’d like to share with your practice? I’d be happy to send them along.
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः [sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ] May all be happy and blissful,
Elaine Masters, RYT
Commuting Yoga teacher, speaker & award-winning author Office: 858-449-3246 http://www.DrivetimeYoga.com Blog: http://drivetimeyoga.wordpress.com Tweet: @dtygal