How Your Eyes Organize Your Movement

Five Feldenkrais® Lessons Exploring the Relationship Between the Use of Your Eyes and Movement
(2 customer reviews)

$64.95


by Al Wadleigh, GCFP

MP3 Download or Stream, 5 Feldenkrais Lessons and Introductory Talk.

How Your Eyes Organize Your Movement

Your eyes are essential to organizing your movement. The direction your eyes move presupposes action in that direction. When your eyes move to the left or to the right, your brain and nervous system prepare your musculature to move your skeleton in that direction. Hence, when your eyes move upward, your flexors (the muscles primarily in front of yourself) lengthen, and the extensors (the muscles primarily in the back of yourself) contract; when your eyes move downward, the inverse happens.

In addition to exploring this fundamental concept, you will also learn:

  • How differentiating your eyes from your head, neck, shoulders, and other parts of yourself improves your range of motion
  • How your eyes do not work equally, and how to bring more balance to them
  • How one eye may be unconsciously suppressed when making a movement and how to maintain awareness and convergence with both eyes

In addition, you will:

  • Create smooth movements with your eyes sweeping across your environment
  • Sense the movement of your eyes in the back of your neck
  • Improve your eye-hand coordination
  • Improve your smooth pursuit movements

Listen to the Introduction

  1. 1
    Eyes Organize Your Turning
    We explore two key ideas in this lesson: One, you will learn how the direction in which your eyes move presupposes action in that direction. Two, you will discover how differentiating the eyes from the head, neck, shoulder, and back improves the movement’s range of motion and smoothness.
  2. 2
    Becoming Aware of Both Eyes When Turning
    When you move your eyes when turning to follow an object, one eye may be suppressed while the other eye follows. Through this lesson, you will become aware of when you suppress one eye in favor of the other and how to maintain awareness and convergence of both eyes while following an object.
  3. 3
    Passive Eyes in Movement
    When you sweep your eyes across your environment, they tend to catch on objects. Not only do your eyes stop momentarily on an object, but this stopping is also reflected in your neck muscles. When you do this lesson, your eyes are passive in the movement of your head. This reduces eye and neck tension, allowing for a smooth movement of your eyes across your environment.
  4. 4
    Eyes Free Your Hip Joints
    By watching the movement of an imaginary object, you will discover the connection between your eyes and your hips. Working this way with your eyes will free your hip joints for a greater range of motion.
  5. 5
    Eyes Organize Your Back
    Learn to sense how your eyes affect the muscles of your back. By following an imaginary object with one eye at a time, you will discover how each eye engages the back muscles differently. Through this lesson, you will become aware of these differences and create more balance between your eyes and the muscular efforts of your back.

Doing the Lessons

Closing One Eye

Many of the lessons ask that you close one eye while doing a movement. If this is difficult for you, I suggest you use an eye patch or scarf to cover that eye.

Resting

Rest as often as you like. Pause the recording if you need more time to rest or explore a movement variation.

Going Through the Series

Work through the series several times. The more you go through the series, the deeper the effects will be on your brain and nervous system.

Sensing

If I ask you to sense something and you don’t sense it or are unsure, just bring your attention to that area. As you progress through the lessons, these subtle details will become more clear to you.

Go Slowly

Go slowly and always work within your range of comfort. 

Take Care of Yourself

Working with your eyes can be very intense. You are working deeply within the nervous system. If you feel dizzy or queasy during a movement, stop and rest until it passes. 

This audio series is intended for educational and entertainment purposes and is not a substitute for medical treatment. Consult your physician before starting any exercise program.

2 reviews for How Your Eyes Organize Your Movement

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  1. Anne van der Aa (verified owner) –

  2. THEODORE (verified owner) –

    I would have liked some photos of the positions.
    Overall this has made a huge difference to my field of vision.
    I am grateful to Mo for guiding me to this site and doing the eye exercises

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