By Carole Fogarty
Editor of Rejuvenation Lounge and facilitator of Women’s Rejuvenation Retreats:
Rejuvenate With Yoga:
“Remember you are too blessed to be stressed”
Eyes often hold lots of stress, fatigue and tiredness. The simple act of resting your eyes, by turning your awareness inwards invites your mind and body to follow.
Give your eyes a well deserved break, close them, relax them and help them unwind with the aid of a yoga eye pillow. The soft gentle pressure of the eye pillow gently releases tension in and around your eyes.
Photo by IrisDragons
Blissful benefits:
- Great for Savasana in Yoga
- Perfect preparation for a deeper meditation
- Allows you to relax and de-stress by turning your focus inwards
- Slows your breathing down
- Offers relief from head pressure, headaches or sinus pressure
- Invites a deeper sleep
- Perfect if your eyes are tired from spending too long on the computer
- Great for traveling
- Use warm or cold to soothe different parts of your body. I often like one placed across the tops of my feet as well as my eyes
- Can also be used under your wrist as a mouse pillow beside your computer.
Tips For Relaxing With Your Yoga Eye Pillow:
Of course you will need to be lying on your yoga mat, comfortable floor or bed. Gently place your yoga eye pillow across your eyes.
1: Don’t clench your jaw. Slightly part your lips to release tightness in jaw and teeth.
2: Relax your tongue
3: Check that your head, neck and body are very, very comfortable
4: Cover yourself with a blanket, as the body tends to cool down when you stop and relax
5: Bring your focus onto your breathe allowing thoughts and distractions to float past you
6: Set a gentle alarm if you’re worried about going to sleep in the middle of the day
Make Your Own Yoga Eye Pillow:
Two pieces of organic cotton, silk or even a warm velvet
4″ x 8″ is a good size, slightly larger than a cheque book
Weight (when filled) around 1/2 lb or 230 grams is ideal
Fill with linseeds (they are lighter, gentler and softer than rice)
Toss the linseeds with 5 drops of lavender essential oil and 3 drops of vetiver essential oil or use your own favourite relaxing essential oils. Vetiver is my personal favourite as it calms and grounds me in an instant.
Simply machine or hand stitch the rectangular shape leaving a small opening to fill with the linseeds and aroma. Hand sew the small opening closed. Too easy.
If you already have an eye pillow but its not infused with any essential oils simply spray a little lavender mixed with water over the eye pillow.
Some eye yoga pillows are quite clever and have a cover that you can take off and wash.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been meaning to try the eye pillow for a while now, but never got around to actually using it. Your post is a timely reminder. I spend a lot of time in front of the computer and can really use this.
What’s good for relaxation if you’re allergic to lavender?
Hi Lightening,
This is a great blend to “chill out: Orange, Lime, Ylang Ylang and Jasmine
I personally use vetiver which slows me down. I buy it from my local health food store.
Vetiver, and Lime would be a lovely combo.
Peace, love and chocolate
Carole
Thanks for that Carole
Carole this sounds like something I could really use .Thank you !
Hi Lightening,
I can’t really deal with the lavender scent either. It’s just a little too strong for me. I found a site that also make aromatherapy eye pillows in peppermint. It is very soothing and the peppermint scent opens up my sinuses and helps me breath much better. I found this eye pillow at http://www.atouchofsatin.com. They make their’s with satin material and fill them with organic flaxseed, organic peppermint leaves and essential peppermint oil. They also make them unscented for people who want the relaxation and accupressure benefits without any scent. If you get a chance you might want to give them a look. They have a large selection of prints. I love mine! I hope this helps you. Good luck!
P.S. GREAT article Carol! Keep up the good work.
Thanks sunnydays13 for the recommendation about A Touch Of Satin and their aromatherapy eye pillows.
I went to their site and they had a page that talked about their different scents. Like you, I decided on peppermint and I just love it. I liked the fact that they use organic peppermint leaves and organic flax seed. They had lavender eye pillows but I needed something to really take away my sinus pressure and congestion. It has certainly done that.
Thanks again for the suggestion. I enjoy it so much that I ordered two of them for Mother’s day gifts.
I also appreciate the great tips listed here for relaxing!
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