While eye pillows have been used for thousands of years, as part of ancient yoga practices, many people that first come across one are unsure what to make of it.
Typically made of soft fabric and filled with grain, herbs or petals, these small bags are placed over the eyes and are often an essential part of Savasana, the most important asana, or practice, of yoga.
For those who are unfamiliar with yoga however, an eye pillow simply looks like a small bean bag or rectangular pouch. When placed over the eyes for a second or two there is no magic bolt from above, in fact it doesn’t appear to do much other than block out the light, so people can be sceptical, but this obscures the true power of what is a very simple tool for deeper calm.
Outside of yoga practices, eye pillows have been used for centuries for a wide range of uses - as a tool to relieve stress, improve focus or boost mindfulness as well as offering the ability to be heated or cooled to treat aches and pains across the body.
While temporarily covering your eyes seems a counter-intuitive way to stay calm or gain deeper insight, the importance of the eye pillow comes from the very light pressure it applies around your eye sockets.
For many people in the modern digitally connected world, their eyes are constantly engaged, staring at phone screens, computer screens, digital read-outs or tablets. The most obvious consequence of this may be dry eyes but in the longer term this strain can feed into the rest of your body. The reason for this is that your eyes are linked by the vagus nerve directly to much of the rest of your body.
The Magic Within: Science Behind the Curtain
You might wonder, how can a light pressure around the eyes affect your well-being? Here’s where modern science waltzes in to decode the wisdom of the ancients. The key player in this symphony is the vagus nerve, a biological marvel that weaves through your body like a river.
It's one of twelve cranial nerves that starts in the brain and meanders through the neck, chest, heart, belly, diaphragm, lungs, throat, inner ear, and facial muscles. It’s the grand conductor of the autonomic nervous system, orchestrating the delicate balance between your mood, digestion, and countless other aspects of your body.
The longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system, this information high way plays an important role in regulating and balacing mood, digestion and many other aspects of your body. It is one of twelve cranial nerves that starts in the brain, and connects the neck to the chest, heart, belly, diaphragm, lungs, throat, inner ear, and facial muscles.
The light pressure produced by placing an eye pillow over the eyes on a regular basis can trigger a process, known as the oculocardiac reflex which can help reset and balance tensions.
When you place an eye pillow over your eyes, it sparks the oculocardiac reflex, which is akin to pressing a magical reset button. This can alleviate tension and pave the way for the mind and body to enter a state of harmony. When used after a yoga session, as is traditional during savasana, the eye pillow lets you recentre, reconnect and rebalance your energies – both mental and physical.
Credit: Kush Kaushik
A Symphony of Benefits
Serene Oasis
Eye pillows can be your haven amidst the hustle of modern life. Our eyes are often on a marathon, racing through screens and digital media. An eye pillow can be the pit stop, where your eyes can rejuvenate.
Physical Relief
These pillows are versatile. You can warm them up or cool them down, and use them as a salve for various aches and pains.
Yoga and Meditation
In yoga, especially during Savasana, eye pillows facilitate a deeper inward journey. By grounding the eyes, they guide your focus away from the external world and into the uncharted terrains of your inner self.
Soothing balm
For those that don’t have time for a regular yoga routine or meditation, another way in which eye pillows can also offer a quick boost is by coupling with calming scents. When filled with herbs such as flax seed, lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, or rose petals the pillow can give off a soothing smell or to prolong the usability a few drops of essential oil can be added to freshen the eye pillow. These scents are not just an indulgence for your olfactory senses; they are therapeutic. They can calm the storms of anxiety, lull you into a deep sleep, and sometimes act as a natural antidepressant.
Whether you are a yogi, a busy entrepreneur, a student, or someone seeking solace from the cacophony of life, eye pillows can be your allies. They are simple, yet powerful; ancient, yet timeless.Often called dream pillows or comfort pillows as well, use does not need to be part of any routine but can still help with some infrequent conditions such as insomnia, stress, and headaches, even reportedly acting as a natural anti-depressant for some.
It's time to embrace the wisdom of the ancients, reinforced by modern science, and explore the wonders that a humble eye pillow holds. Turn the pages of your own symphony with grace and poise, one note at a time.
