Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long is the course?
The course is six months – As soon as you subscribe you receive a link to the Introduction Pack where you will find over an hours worth of information, eye tests and exercises. After that you get a link to an exercise each week plus at least 3 tips per week to keep you on track.
2. Your report tells me about the eyes but not about the actual exercises – can you tell me about them?
The exercises are in a recorded format we call lessons. These run for between 10 and 15 minutes. There is an even distribution of exercises which are:
- Gentle movements done with eyes closed to lower the effort and strain of your eyes
- Exercises done with eyes open to even the workload and increase overall vision skills
- Exercises done with charts or diagrams to address specific vision skills.
3. I just wanted exercises, I didn’t want to become a member – can I just get the exercises?
At the end of the 7 Vital Facts … Report we have listed texts which have many of the exercises written out in full, sometimes with diagrams. Many practitioners over the years have put the exercises into text. Our experience has shown that most people find it difficult to build an effective program that will really work for them out of written material. That is why we have devised a program with verbal instructions, which puts the building blocks of good eyesight into a progression which is effective in changing use of the eyes. For those who want to do the work on their own, the references are there – and there are many more books including e-books available through libraries, the internet or shops.
4. I’m worried about doing exercises without personal supervision. Can exercises harm my eyes?
One reason to follow verbal instructions and not written instructions, is so that the exercises are paced and presented in a way that can build your attention to yourself. Damage from any exercise regime is from inattention to important details – people rarely notice when they are doing too much or trying too hard. In our program you will never be invited to strain, exert, or do anything that is damaging to your eyes or any other part of your body ………. these are the things that trigger eyesight problems! If you try to overachieve you will feel strain and perhaps a headache – all useful signals to tell you to slow down and use less effort!
5. How long should I be doing the exercises every day?
We recommend that people build a short ritual of 5 – 7 minutes that they can do each morning – and then practice which ever is the theme of the week in short bursts throughout the day when they have a few minutes. Many of the early email tips help you build a short eye ritual for yourself so that the exercises are an effortless part of your day.
6. My kids have just been diagnosed with astigmatism – just like me. Can eye exercises help them?
Our eye exercise program has been designed for adults. That is not to say that the exercises don’t work for kids – but that there are more fun ways to have the kids work with their vision without knowing that they are doing exercises. We envision developing a special program for kids in the future. Parents who fear passing their eye issues on to kids can benefit their children from successfully working with their own eyesight first. If you begin to learn for yourself, you are more likely to find fun ways to get your kids involved – and it is remarkable how fast they learn – if they are enjoying themselves. It’s a great way to break the familial link in poor eyesight that we spoke of in point 1 of the 7 Vital Facts … Report.
7. I saw a person on TV help people fix their sight in just days – can you do this?
There are many reports from when Dr Bates first started natural vision improvement exercises (early 1900s), through to today, of people having great success with the exercises in very short time. However Dr Bates also records that while he helped patients within a few hours, he himself took ten months to correct his own eyesight. There are no guarantees on how long the process will take – each person is unique in their pattern of learning and ability to transform physically.
8. Can you just give me the exercises for astigmatism?
There are exercises that are particularly effective for people with astigmatism. The exercises for these are placed in the middle of the program. Astigmatism does not occur as a solitary eye issue. Most commonly it occurs with myopia. The first step is to increase a person’s ability to feel the difference between stress and relaxation of the eye, then to get used to controlling fine movements of the eye – then to go to the particular movements for astigmatism. This is like preparing the earth in order to get a great crop – or learning the form of weight lifting before you put the weights on the bar. If you have prepared the way to control and notice difference your uptake of the particulars is much quicker and will address the other issues which also occur with the astigmatism.
9. I have never had problems with my eyesight until now. I think it was triggered by using the computer too much. Is that possible?
As we mention in Point 8 of the 7 Vital Facts Report, if you have had a sudden change in eyesight that is associated with pain or discomfort, you should always check with the eye specialist that there is no disease present. If there is no disease present then here it is reasonable to believe that the overuse is a trigger. Unfortunately just because you stop whatever triggered the issue, does not always mean it will go away – that is where the exercises come in.
10. How does Feldenkrais relate to the eye exercises you provide?
Dr Moshe Feldenkrais thought highly of Dr Bates as an original thinker and developed movement patterns which would reinforce Bates’ theories.
11. What are your qualifications?
Since 1986 Donna Rose has maintained a private practice working with groups and individuals in a clinic environment. Donna Rose graduated from the Brisbane Feldenkrais Professional Training Program in 1993.
Lesley graduated from the Melbourne Feldenkrais Practitioner Training Program in 1991. She has a Graduate Diploma of Teaching (1981) and has lectured in tertiary institutions in Brisbane. Lesley also holds a Master Practitioner Certificate in NLP.
12. I am doing exams at the moment and do lots and lots of reading – I don’t have time to do the program. Can you suggest what exercises I should be doing?
Every 10 to 15 minutes look up from your close work – look into the distance (must be to a place more than 15 feet or five metres away from you – with no aim to look at or see anything in particular. Let your sight restfully settle in the distance for a couple of breaths – then go back to work.
Every hour or so, take a break (and here will be the challenge for you in this exercise!) lie on your back on the floor – knees can be raised if that’s more comfortable – and cover your eyes with your hands. This last bit is very particular, you should cover your eyes in such a way that no light enters, that your palms are lying across your eyes but do not touch your eyes let alone place any pressure on them. Notice how black this is when you first lie down. Take some nice deep unstressed breaths and allow the blackness to increase ……… you are looking to take all stress and stimulation from the optic nerve! Maybe for a few breaths do some very lazy circles with your eyes – with no aim in mind but to make these very low effort – when you stop, see if the blackness has increased further. Do this for 5 – 10 minutes, when you stand up notice the differences in your sight and how you feel, then you can go back to work.
Remember these are about giving your eyes a break while you are under pressure. Basically this is bandaid work – it helps in the short term but will not change the underlying issue. For that you need a program that addresses the way you use your eyes.
