Paul McCartney's Eye Yoga Routine Explained. Does It Really Work?
We've all heard about the relaxing and strengthening benefits of yoga. Even if you've been a fan of the practice long before Madonna made it a mainstream routine, you may still be surprised to learn just how many types of yoga there are out there. According to Google Arts & Culture, yoga is a practice that can be traced back to India from over 5,000 years ago. And today, former Beatles legend Paul McCartney is making headlines after revealing the unique health benefit he gains from yoga. More specifically, for his vision.
In a recent podcast discussion with his daughter Mary McCartney, the "Strawberry Fields" singer revealed that he has a yoga routine — for his eyes (via Today). Before you furrow your brow in confusion, the singer has more details to provide.
McCartney stated that he first discovered this health routine for his eyes on a trip to India in the early 2000s. While there, what he learned from a local yogi has stuck with him all these years later. "[The yogi] explained that your eyes are muscles whereas your ears aren't, so you can't exercise your ears. But your eyes, you can," McCartney states.
Can eye yoga really improve vision health?
McCartney goes on to share exactly what he does via Today, "So, head still, and then you look up as far as you can, one, two, three, go back to the middle, then down, one, two, three, then back to the middle," he instructs. He adds, "You do three lots of that, then go to the left and the right. Now you've got a cross, up and down, and sideways, now you do the diagonals."
While the "FourFiveSeconds" co-writer may be pushing eye yoga in the headlines, according to experts at Healthline, there is no research that proves the practice can improve conditions like astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness. Before you turn your gaze away from eye yoga completely, know that there has been some evidence showing the practice may help improve visual focus and decrease eye strain.
So next time you're stretched out and ready to say "namaste," consider adding in some eye yoga before you roll up your mat. The benefits are debated, but it might be fun to try.