Your eyes are often called the windows to your soul. Always wearing the mask of your emotions, they can often hold a lot of unnecessary tension and stress. Eyes get tired and dry from over use and improper lighting.
The benefits of daily eyes exercises are:

·         Soothes and lubricates tired eyes.

·         Relaxes and tones muscles around the eyes.

·         Strengthens your insights, focus and "visions".

·         Draws attention inward.

Learn More About Your Eyes

http://www.agingeye.net/index.php

http://www.yogaeverywhere.com/eyes/index.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/Improve-Your-Eyesight-With-Yoga

An estimated 80 - 90 % of American public have some type of back pain. Americans spend an estimated $16 - $50 billion annually in medical expenses and lost work time. (Figures from American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)

Many medical professionals are recognizing and recommending exercise as a remedy to back pain. They are directing the tide of treatment away from prolonged bed rest toward a healthy and active lifestyle and encourage people be ACTIVE participants in their own care.

I feel that yoga is very effective in relieving back pain. I say this from experience; I became interested in yoga 1 year after being injured in a car accident. Severe back pain restricted me to part-time work and limited my lifestyle. When I started doing yoga my recovery began and continues. As a yoga teacher, I've learned of various studies, researches, techniques - - aimed at proving yoga's relationship to a healthy back. I feel I've learned the healing power of yoga on many levels - physically, mentally, emotionally.

 In General     For a yoga practice to be beneficial for your back - Listen to your body - just do what's comfortable to YOU. Slower is generally better, gradual is faster (for healing), vigorous is self-defeating. "Any pain, LESS gain"  If there is pain, ease up on your pose, or skip that pose.
        Remember that movement (even gentle, low intensity movement)  improves circulation. Circulation can help to ease inflammation - which may be the source of some pain within your body. Quoting a local physical therapist, "Movement is Medicine!"  While you practice yoga, recognize all the ways you move your spine . . . in every direction . . . Movement is Medicine!   
        Pay attention to lengthening your spine, feeling the natural curves of your spine. Let your yoga practice enhance your posture. Really watch that you are not in the "forward head and rounded shoulders" position which is so prevalent in our culture.
        Strong abs help to provide support for your yoga practice. Some movements focus on strengthening abs; feel that strength within your poses.
        The info below focuses on Yoga Benefits for your Back. There are many additional benefits to a yoga practice, including:  help to improve our posture, which reduces stress to muscles and organs of the torso, improving digestion, breathing, and circulation.  Why isn't EVERYONE doing yoga . . . ?
The calm and peace promoted by a yoga practice Relieve Stress, which can be a HUGE factor in relieving back pain (or about any pain). Relieve stress and other problems resolve - sleep improves, less tension holding patterns, clearer thinking, more energy . . . Stress Relief promotes  general well-being.  Why isn't EVERYONE practicing yoga . . . ?

Benefits For Your Back - Asana Groups:
     (Asana - Sanskrit word for a Yoga pose)

Forward Bends - Ease tightness in hamstrings, hips, and low lack. Stretch & strengthen the back portion of the spine, shoulder & pelvic girdles, and legs. Help to strengthen posterior and abdominal muscles and stabilize vertebrae.   Avoid Risks Be aware of the relationship between the lumbar spine and the pelvis. Allow arms and head to follow the lead of the spine.   Asana Examples  Standing Forward bend, Child, Knees to Chest, Forward bend variations of standing postures

Back Bends - Stretch & strengthen the front portion of torso, shoulder & pelvic girdles, and legs. Stretch & strengthen the psoas muscle (binds the legs to the spine); diaphragm and intercostals (breathing muscles).

Tone the spine by stretching it. Strengthen surface and deep muscles of the back.   Avoid Risks Be aware of the curves of the back. Expand chest on inhale, feel core strength and tone on exhale.   Asana Examples  Cobra, Bow, Dancer, Warrior I, Pigeon, Bridge

Twists - Activate the spine, surrounding muscles, and organs. Create rotation through the spine, developing strength and flexibility. Twisting may help to restore balance to structural asymmetry. Helps to release stress held in the spine. Creates space between vertebrae.   Avoid Risks Twist with a lengthened spine. Lengthening and stretching the spine during a twist counters the effect of gravity (gravity compresses the spine). Stay open through the chest.   Asana Examples  Sitting Twist, Supine Twist, Bent Knee Twist, Standing Balance Twist

Side Bends - Alternately stretch and compress deep spinal muscles. Build strength and stability in the muscles of the back, ribs, shoulders, and pelvis.   Avoid Risks Keep hip, knee, and ankle in alignment. When extending an arm in a side bend, keep the arm in line with the torso.   Asana Examples  Side Angle, Gate, Sitting Side Bend, Supine Crescent Moon 

Extension - Lengthen and straighten the spine, creating maximum space between vertebrae, and integrate spinal curves. Lengthening the spine allows us to move deeper in forward bends, back bends, twists, side bends and the practice of these asanas results in a naturally lengthened spine. (Which is why this is such a common cue and focus in our yoga classes)    Spine lengthening helps to improve our posture, which reduces stress to muscles and organs of the torso, improving digestion, breathing, and circulation. (Why isn't EVERYONE doing yoga . . . ?)    Avoid Risks Let your spine lengthen with your breath, avoid forcing the spine with other muscles.   Asana Examples Mountain, Plank, Downward Dog, Butterfly, Basic Sitting

Inversions - Build strength and elasticity in the surface and deep muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues of the spine and rib cage. Strengthen the diaphragm and abdominal muscles and the muscles that connect the shoulder and pelvic girdles to the spine.    Avoid Risks Practice within your capacity - NO strain to neck, shoulders, back.  Sufficiently prepare the body before inversion practice.  Asana Examples  Legs up the Wall, Downward Dog, Standing Forward bend, Shoulderstand & modifications

Balance - Improve the body's overall strength and structural integrity.  Refine the way we hold and move our body weight.  Standing balances build strength in feet, legs, and posture muscles. Arm balances help to strengthen low back, abdomen, pelvis, arms, and shoulders.    Avoid Risks Don't strain or force. Prepare body and mind for the challenge of balance.   Asana Examples Stork, Tree, Tiger, Mountain variations that involve weight distribution

Resources:

Yoga for Wellness, Gary Kraftsow                            Cool Yoga Tricks, Miriam Austin

Backache:  What Exercises Work?, Dava Sobel and Arthur C. Klein

Internet Links

http://http//alignmentyoga.blogspot.com/search/label/Videos              http://www.yogajournal.com/health/1465

http://blogs.yogajournal.com/yogabuzz/2009/09/chronic-back-pain-reduced-through-yoga-study-says.html

http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2283?print=1          http://www.yogajournal.com/health/2553