Eye Pillow
Are you familiar with eye pillows? About the size of your face, these bags filled with seeds or grains can help you relax deeply by exerting a light pressure on your eyes.
Flax seeds and dried lavender are used to fill the eye pillow. © By Pauline Mornet
How does it work?
The weight of the pillow creates a pressure on the eyeballs and starts the oculocardiac reflex. This phenomenon decreases blood pressure and heart rate. In consequence it improves relaxation.
It also stimulates the vagus nerve which is the main balancer of your parasympathetic nervous system. The vagus nerve is one of the twelve cranial nerves that originates in the brain. Its stimulation with the weight of the eye pillow also leads to relaxation.
Using an eye pillow is part of the Deep Pressure Therapy. Sometimes called acupressure this practice shows that evenly-distributed pressure across the body leads to relaxation by reducing our body’s fight or flight response.
It can includes the benefits of aromatherapy if your pillow includes calming scents like lavender.
Handmade pillow case for the eye pillow. © By Pauline Mornet
When to use it?
Anytime you want to relax! A very quick and easy way to upgrade your mood.
Before sleeping is a good time since the eye pillow helps relaxation.
At the end of a yoga session during Savasana.
© By Pauline Mornet
Where to find it?
There are countless options to buy an eye pillow. Etsy is packed with eye pillows offers around $14. This one is a best seller, shop owner is based in North Carolina. Los Angeles–based aromatherapy company Bodha sells eye pillows on their website, I love the linen case.
I decided to make my own because I love sewing. I used 100% cotton fabrics. I made the pillow with a light beige fabric and I sewed a separate case with a pattern fabric so that I can easily wash the pillow.
I filled it with organic flax seeds and dried lavender. I decided to go with flax seeds because they do not smell anything compared to rice for instance.
Weighted sleep masks are also appreciated by many people. They have the same benefits as eye pillows and can stay in place with their elastics. They block light and can relieve from headaches.