Eyesight and Feet
When we have a challenge in the body, we often try to fix that problem directly, rather than looking to correlates which could provide much needed support.
Brain-Body Connections
Working with the body explorations of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen as she explores the utero relationship of different parts of the body, there is an acute awareness that we know so little about how the body truly functions. As we isolate each part and study it specifically, we lose connection with the Relationships of organs, systems, fascia, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and whole-body movement.
Eyesight
In a series on CBC today talking about the poor quality of children’s eyesight, they have concluded that it is not exactly the screen time but the amount of close focus that children are doing that is affecting their eyesight. They are seeing more children requiring glasses and eye care.
Can you imagine what could be happening with their feet all day?
Feet
Our feet are massaged by how we step on them and work through them. So many of us are in shoes and restrictive positions all day long. If we sit at a desk, we push on our feet for long periods of time while they are crossed under our chair, or lifted while crossing our knee.
How have we changed the way we use our feet, walk, run, and play through the body. And, while doing those activities, what have we changed about using our long-distance vision, peripheral vision, and view of the whole picture? We have changed a lot.
What can you do?
Create a whole-body connection. You often read about Tai Chi in this blog, and Tai Chi massages the bottom of the feet in many ways through different movement patterns. These movements inspire the eyes and other systems to engage and communicate. There are other ways of doing this, as well.
Through dance, when the foot is not compressed within a shoe, there is the opportunity to massage the foot through different dance patterns. The Feet First Foot Rub shared by Dr Michelle with dancers has been invaluable for supporting a deeper connection of the feet with the integrative movements of the body, especially the connection of the joints to move as a whole unit, and the coordination of the gaits which link to the brain buttons or switches.
Foot Sensors
Through Dr Michelle’s studies with Dr Svetlana Masgutova with reflexes within the body, she was most intrigued by the foot sensors that support grounding, stability, centering, balance, and gravity. These would be manipulated by a clinician in a care situation. However, working with dancers and knowing Tai Chi, it was apparent that these manipulations could happen through movement done by the person.
In the “It’s in the Cards” deck found in the shop, a section was created for just this scenerio. The reflexes were also matched to the Five Element Theory from Chinese Medicine to create two specific patterns of exploration. They can be done together, or individually.
From the same card deck we also discovered that by combining other elements in the same sequence, like the NeuroVascular Holding Points corresponding to the Foot Sensor, and a specific sound, we could magnify the changes happening within the body. All this leading back to increasing the function of the eyes.
Ready to See for Yourself? (Pun intended)
Brain Buttons or Switches
In Touch for Health and Brain Gym, Switches or Brain Buttons are one of the key activities to engage in at the start of the day to coordinate the dimensions in the body and link them to the eyes. Specific eye tracking can be added to the activity to help support the eyes. Once again, this is a body integrative approach, rather than an eye focus fix. This is a great activity before beginning a class or working on a project. It brings your focus into the present moment, while bringing the brain and body into connection for optimum function.
You can read about this activity in the BioEnergetic Essentials Book which can be purchased from the shop, or downloaded for FREE from the organization that leads the way with BioEnergetic Wellness training, canbewell.org. The button is right on the main page. The Switches are just one of many techniques that can be helpful for improving function throughout the body.
Feet and Eyes
We would love to know how you do with this information. Please share your discoveries with us. While outdoors, notice how the more you work through the feet, connect to the earth, and engage with nature, the more you notice through your senses. Our eyes are not the only sense that we use, but it is often the one we rely on for learning. Smell, taste, hearing, and touch play a significant role in how we function overall. With time exploring, you may notice you start to realize more about your surroundings and the experience of being active within the space.
Join a Class
If you like what you learn in these blogs, consider how taking a class with Tai Chi Cape Breton or the Greenwell Center might be able to support and empower your wellness plan. October is a great time to find the perfect class for the winter season. Check out our calendar. Sign up for our events. And be sure to get the blog sent right to your inbox so you are current on the latest class updates.
If you are visiting this blogpost from the Wine Country Tai Chi Society. Check out the class schedule and reach out to learn more about Tai Chi in the Okanagan of British Columbia.
The post Eyesight and Feet first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.
Originally Published on https://greenwellcenter.com/
