Cross-Patterning with Eyes

 Cross-patterning exercises are so important for brain hemisphere integration which revitalizes your energy and makes decision making and learning easier. 

You FEEL with your eyes, so often eye exercises bring up emotional responses. If any emotions, tension or pain surfaces while doing the exercise below, place one hand on your forehead and the other on the back of your head. Take a deep breath and release all of the energy. This alone is a wonderful technique for releasing stress and quieting the mind.

CROSS-PATTERNING EXERCISE:

Keeping your head still and using your eye muscles only:

1. Bring your eyes up to the LEFT;
2. 
   Down to the RIGHT;
3.  Up to the RIGHT;
   
4.  Down to the LEFT;
5.  Extend your eyes STRAIGHT UP;
6.  Bring your eyes STRAIGHT DOWN;
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6, seven times;
8. End with steps 1 - 4, tracing the X.

As you do this exercise, really extend your eye muscles with each movement. Take deep breaths as you go.  When this is comfortable to do with your eyes open, repeat the exercise with your eyes closed.

A simple brain hemisphere exercise: 

Just look at an X or close your eyes and imagine an X! 

While your child is doing homework, keep an image of an X on the desk to energize the brain. Also it is helpful when driving long distance and looking at parallel lines for hours. Keep an image of an X on your dashboard and look at it periodically to stay alert.