Similarities between Yoga and Natural Vision Improvement

I initially became interested in Natural Vision Improvement due to my eye problems.

I have been practicing Yoga for over 30 years and as I learnt more about Natural Vision’s underlying theory, I saw many parallels with Yoga philosophy. Here I will share some of the similarities between the two:  

Importance of the mind 

Yoga, especially in the West, is often wrongly thought of as a series of exercises, but when you study the philosophy, it becomes clear that understanding the mind is most important. This is demonstrated in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali from the outset, as seen in the following verses: 

1.2 Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence  

1.3 When the mind is settled, we are established in our essential nature 

(Translation by Alaistair Shearer) 

Similarly, Natural Vision improvement is commonly assumed to be eye exercises, however there is far more emphasis on the state of our mind than the eyes. As Dr Bates said:

‘We see very largely with the mind, and only partly with the eyes. The phenomena of vision depends upon the mind’s interpretation of the impression upon the retina’.  

Breathing Practice

In Yoga, Pranayama (breathing) is an essential practice. Known as the 4th limb of Yoga, it's used to control the breath and increase energy flow. You can find out more in my blog ‘the Power of Breathing’.

Dr Bates also found great benefit from breathing methods and said, ‘many patients with imperfect sight are benefitted by breathing’. He goes on to explain, ’By practising the habit of frequently deep breathing one obtains a more permanent relaxation of the eyes with more constant good vision’. He recognised that breathing well equated to relaxation and better eyesight.

Dharana and Central Fixation 

Dharana is the sixth of the eight limbs of yoga and often translated as concentration or one pointed focus. It is one of the most important steps to Dhyana (mediation) and Samadhi (complete realisation). I was fascinated to discover that one of the key theories of the Bates method is the central fixation. Central fixation is the ability of the eyes to see best, the object being looked at. So, if our mind is unfocused or strained, and not working together with our eyes, we won’t be able to see well. 

Emphasis on relaxation 

Relaxation is fundamental to both Yoga and Natural Vision Improvement. One of the few commentaries on Asana in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali states that ‘posture should be steady and comfortable’. In Yoga practice, these qualities are prerequisite for mental focus and meditation.   Likewise, Dr Bates discovered that relaxation aids better eyesight and strain lowers vision:

‘The fact is that when the mind is at rest, nothing can tire the eyes., and when the mind is under a strain, nothing can rest them. Anything that rests the mind will benefit the eyes. Almost everyone has observed that the eyes tire less quickly when reading an interesting book than when reading something tiresome or difficult to comprehend’.   

He saw relaxation as essential in facilitating healthy function between the eyes and mind.  

Holistic view 

Both philosophies have a strong holistic view on our mental and physical health and well-being. The Eight Limbs of Yoga is a sequence of practices and guidelines for living a balanced lifestyle.  In natural vision improvement, we look beyond the eyes and address both our mind and the body. After all, our eyes do not exist in isolation and our entire being is involved in our vision.  

Nature heals 

Yoga is a holistic and practical method for transformation based on the understanding that under optimal conditions, healing is possible.  The author Aldous Huxley had severe eye problems and personally benefited from the Bates Method. In his book the Art of Seeing he says:

 ‘Medicus curat, natura sanat - the doctor treats, nature heals. The old aphorism sums up the whole scope and purpose of medicine, which is to provide sick organisms with the internal and external conditions most favourable to the exercise of their own self-regulative and restorative powers’. 

As my curiosity for Natural Vision Improvement developed, I found myself asking: Why should it be that eyes are the only part of our body that deteriorates without any hope for healing? It seems strange to single out the eyes when we know that every other part of our body can heal under the right conditions.  

It’s worth highlighting that these schools of thought are from distinctively different cultural backgrounds and times.  Yoga is from an ancient Indian tradition and Natural Vision improvement stems from a theory from the American physician, Dr Bates about a century ago. It's been fascinating to see these different philosophies having many parallels and even seem to have cross pollinated through the years. It is easy to assume that ideas and traditions are pure, but they always influence each other as ideas crossover, are borrowed and developed.