The Art of the Eye Pillow

These small but mighty silken bundles of relaxation are exactly what the name implies, a tiny pillow for your eyes! Not to be confused with an eye mask for sleeping, eye pillows typically do not have straps and are designed to rest freely on the face so as to not create excess pressure or discomfort.

Eye pillows are typically filled with natural seeds to create a beanbag-like filling that is free from chemicals, dyes, and plastics. They can also have dried lavender mixed in to transform it into an aromatherapy eye pillow.

How Do Eye Pillows Work?

The purpose of an eye pillow is to promote relaxation and recovery. Laying one of these little pillows across your eyes creates a gentle pressure against your eyelids and facial nerves. This gentle stimulation primarily targets the vagus nerve, which plays a role in transmitting information from the brain to the heart and digestive system, and tells the body that it’s time to relax. Eye pillows also help to block out light and keep the eyes closed, creating a welcome pause in sensory processing by our hardworking eyes.

The Benefits of Eye Pillows

• Reduced stress and anxiety: Eye pillows can help reduce stress and anxiety. 
• Relieved headaches: Eye pillows can help relieve headaches and migraines. 
• Improved circulation: The pressure from an eye pillow can improve circulation around your eyes, which can help reduce puffiness and dark circles. 
• Improved skin: The pressure from an eye pillow can promote collagen production and reduce wrinkles. 
• Soothing eye conditions: The pressure from an eye pillow can soothe eye conditions like blepharitis, dry eyes, and styes. 
• Aromatherapy: Eye pillows can be filled with herbs or flowers and essential oils to provide aromatherapy. For example, lavender can help calm the nervous system.
• Reduced light sensitivity: Eye pillows can block out light, which can help you relax or sleep in a bright environment
• Tension release: Eye pillows can help release tension in your forehead, eye sockets, temples, cheekbones, neck, and shoulders.

As you can see, a weighted eye pillow is an effortless and effective way to enhance any massage experience for your clients.

How to Use an Eye Pillow

It seems pretty obvious, but don’t just throw it on the face, make it a bit of a ritual for full effect.

Starting just above the eyebrows, gently and slowly lay the eye pillow over the eyes, ending just over their nose (obviously making sure not to cover the nostrils, we want clients relaxed not suffocated!) Lightly press around both eyes to ensure no distracting light is peeking through, then once again, leaving two to three finger tips lightly over the eyes for a few moments to connect to the client, letting them know you are there and it’s OK to relax here.

When the treatment is complete, softly let them know you are about to remove the mask and do so slowly and gently so they are prepared for the onslaught of light to the senses. Direct them to keep their eyes closed until they are ready to re-join the world.

So there you have it, eye pillows, very little effort for a whole truckload of effect!