I’ve been doing the Eye Flow lately. With too much work, late-night reading, and irregular sleep, I noticed that my usual go-to flow for tired eyes—the combination of SELs 4 and 21—doesn’t seem to cut it anymore. So, I brought out the big guns: the Eye Flow variation for opening SEL 10.

When I used SELs 4 and 21, I would do them before falling asleep. Now, I do the Eye Flow first thing in the morning. I set my alarm thirty minutes earlier than usual and stay in bed, doing both sides of the Eye Flow self-help.

Do you know how to do it? Take the standard sequence for SEL 10 (the Eye Flow) and skip the first step. I also skip the last step—though I love it and find it very powerful—because it feels too early in the morning to stretch all the way to my toes. Here’s how my routine goes:

Eye Flow (Right Side)

Step 1. Place your left hand under your right underarm. With your right hand, make a circle by placing your right thumb over your right index fingernail.

Step 2. Keep your left hand under your right underarm. Place your right hand on the left SEL 20 (above the eyebrow).

Step 3. Keep your left hand under your right underarm. Place your right hand on the left SEL 21 (cheekbone).

Step 4. Keep your left hand under your right underarm. Return your right hand to the left SEL 20 (same as Step 2).

Step 5. Keep your right hand on the left SEL 20 and move your left hand to the left SEL 14 (bottom of the rib cage).

Step 6 (Optional). Keep your right hand on the left SEL 20. With your left hand, hold the left second toe.

Pop quiz: do you know which side helps which eye?

I’ll leave that for you to puzzle out. Here’s a hint: if you get a twitchy eye, hold your second toe and see which side—right or left—helps the twitching stop. It works like a charm for me, but I have to hold it for at least twenty minutes; otherwise, the twitching returns.

I’ve also been doing the Eye Flow together with the Eyes Mantra from Chakra Mantras by Thomas Ashley-Farrand. I chose the Sun mantra for healing eye afflictions (page 151) and practiced it for forty days straight. At first, I did only the mantra. Then I started chanting it outside in my backyard or in a sunny room, exposed to natural light. Finally, I added the Eye Flow to the routine. I’m still evaluating the full effect of this combination, but I really enjoy weaving exercises from different traditions.

What about you? Have your eyes been tired lately? What do you do? Share your favorite flows.

Tatiana