The Shifter is a fascinating tool. A few vertical lines on a piece of paper, or a board with a few cut out spaces … so why the fuss? This tool has the power to bring relaxation to your eyes, to improve the rhythm of your eye movement, help you release astigmatism or improve your acuity.

This month, we will take a break from the usual structure of our lesson and will instead focus on the various ways to use the Shifter. To know which of these ways is best for you depends on where you are on your vision journey, as well as what your vision conditions are. If you are not sure, review the MAP of vision techniques in the Routine Builder.

Now, grab your Shifter and let’s begin.

Irena

To maximize your learning in this lesson, you will need three types of shifters, ideally printed on a thicker paper or made of sturdier material.

1. At least one regular shifter printed on paper (regular paper is OK to get you started, thicker paper will last longer)

2. One irregular shifter prunted on paper

3. One shifter with slots cut out. You can make it by printing the white on black shifter, gluing it to cardboard or other thick paper and cutting out the white slots with a sharp blade.

Shifters that are black and white, and shifters with a regular pattern are the easiest to use. They are easy to look at, provide the best contrast and can teach rhythmical eye movement. Once you are familiar with such shifters and know how to benefit from them, other shifters can be used as well. One of such shifters is the colored irregular shifter presented below. Finally, never forget what the great outdoors have to offer. Picket fences, soccer nets, lines of trees or daisy-like flowers can make your practice fun in a spurt of a moment.