| Esther
Joy van der Werf loves to present interesting and highly educational
talks on effective natural vision improvement. She speaks to audiences
world-wide about the traditional Bates Method.
Here is an impression of what she talks about at international
holistic vision conferences and similar events related to better
eyesight.
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October 2021:
28th
International Holistic Vision Conference
Nimes, France
.
Lecture (1 hour):
Stress and Vision
A century ago, Dr. W.H. Bates emphasized (or "stressed") the significant role mental strain plays in visual challenges, and consequently, he also emphasized the importance of releasing this strain to achieve clear vision. Since Bates, more studies have been done on the role that stress plays on eyesight. In this talk, we take a look at some of the research, and at the solutions presented, both by Bates and others that promote both visual clarity and a more joyful life!
Workshop (3 hours):
Understanding the coordinated actions of eye muscles.
When William Bates dared to oppose the widely accepted theory of Hermann von Helmholtz regarding the action of the extraocular muscles versus the ciliary muscles in accommodation, Bates was a lone voice in a sea of 'believers.' Bates wasn't the first, nor the last, to hold the view that the extraocular muscles are responsible for focusing the eyes, yet it appears that very few in-depth studies have been done on this topic. In this workshop, we will go over some of the more detailed explanations I have come across that provide a better understanding of the coordinated actions of the eye muscles. When you have a better grasp of these muscle actions, your insights will help you work more effectively with your clients. Your ability to show them what their eye muscles are doing, can be both fun and enlightening!
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October 2020:
5th
Association for Vision Educators Professional Conference
Virtual gathering online.
Workshop (2 hours):
Common misconceptions of the original Bates Method.
Over the past century, the Bates Method has been passed from one teacher to the next, with several generations now between the original techniques and the current methods being taught. As is to be expected, the method has evolved and changed over time; new knowledge and information has enriched it. Yet, some misunderstandings of Dr. Bates' techniques also crept in and have unfortunately persisted, despite being less effective than the original method. This workshop not only points out the differences, but helps you understand why Dr. Bates' work was so effective and how we can get back to that level of success with our students today.
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October 2019:
27th
International Holistic Vision Conference
Frankfurt, Germany.
Workshop (3.5 hours):
Eyestrain - What to look for and how to release it.
Eyestrain, according to Dr. Bates, presents itself in infinite ways, and the methods used to relieve the strain must be almost equally varied. When you learn to recognzie the most common ways of strain and know how to release them, you will be able to regain clarity sooner and you will be able to help others do the same.
Besides
the obvious squinting and staring habits that many people have, there are a number of other common signs of strain that I look for when I work with a student; some are obvious and easily seen, some are subtle, some are mental rather than physical. In this workshop we will talk about these various forms of strain and discuss ways to release them and or help others release them.
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September 2018:
4th
Association for Vision Educators Professional Conference
Damascus, Oregon, USA.
Two talks:
How to create measurable results in the first session.
(1.5 hrs)
In our still controversial
profession it is important to help clients/students achieve measurable
results as soon as possible. Many of them are dealing with family
and friends who are not supportive of their choice to improve
their eyesight naturally, and they may not even be confident themselves
that this is possible. So, if you are to encourage them in their
choice and have them believe in you, believe in the method and
believe in their own eyes, help them prove the effectiveness of
this work to themselves in the first session. This may not always
be possible, but if you can only promise results after six weeks
or more, you will likely lose their interest before they even
get started. Learn to become effective, learn to help them see
the difference.
Extraocular Muscle Strain Brainstorm Session.
(1 hr)
In this session we'll be going out on a limb; stirring the pot
of what we think we know... How does muscle tension actually affect
the shape of the eyes? Do we need a re-think or are we correct?
Let's explore two theories (by William H. Bates and Robert Brooks
Simpkins) and perhaps find a new way to look at eyestrain. Or
not, as the case may be. Bring your open mind and as many brain
cells as you dare to storm with.
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September 2016:
3rd Association for Vision Educators
Professional Conference
Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Workshop (3.5 hrs)
How breathing and posture affect eyesight and astigmatism.
What I appreciated most
when I was trained in Optimal Breathing Development(TM) was that,
just like vision improvement, better breathing depends on relaxation.
Learning how to let the diaphragm work without trying to force
it into anything it isn't designed for, is similar to learning
how to let the eye-muscles work without forcing them into anything
they aren't designed for. There are some simple breathing practices
that will get people out of shallow or reversed breathing patterns
that anyone can learn and which are easy to teach. You and your
students' eyesight will benefit from your application of this
knowledge.
Posture affects both breathing and vision, so a basic understanding
of good and bad posture will help you pinpoint where your students
can make changes that will improve their sight. This will be a
highly practical workshop that you'll be glad you attended!
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October 2015:
25th International
Holistic Vision Conference
Alcala de Henares, Spain.
Lecture (1 hour):
The Bates Method is not Eye Exercises.
It is a very common misconception about the
Bates Method, but Dr. Bates did not actually teach 'eye exercises.'
Yet most people think you have to do lots of eye exercises if
you want to improve your vision.
Dr. Bates never used the term Eye Exercises the way it is used
these days, meaning a set of physical eye movements in order to
‘strengthen’ the eyes. Instead, he insisted his methods
were simply nature’s way, and purely aimed at securing “physiological
rest of the eyes, a condition which is found only with central
fixation and perfect vision.”
So what exactly are the 10 main differences? Come discover the
answer in this lecture!
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Workshop (3 hours):
Sunlight and Eye Health
There are many concerns and fears about the
effect of sunlight and ultraviolet rays on the eyes, yet our eyes
need sunlight for optimal health. This workshop will explore this
topic, will examine the fears and the facts, and will let you
experience how to safely sun your eyes and get the most benefit
from the full spectrum of light.
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May 2015:
Association of Vision Educators 2nd Professional
Conference
Pacific Palisades, California, USA.
Lecture (1 hour):
Original Bates Method of teaching compared to current
common practices.
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Workshop (3 hours):
Practical application of the Original Bates Method
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November 2013:
24th International Holistic Vision Conference
Gazzada, Italy.
Workshop (3 hours):
Experience
the Flow of the Bates Method Techniques
The Bates Method consists of a variety of techniques, all designed
to help relax your eyes and mind. When these techniques are used
in a natural order, one technique flows into the next which makes
it easier to get into the deeper states of visual relaxation that
allow for clear vision. To experience this flow for your own eyes
is a real pleasure, and will likely help you maintain the progress
you make on your path to clarity.
~~~~~~~~
Round Table Discussion / Workshop
(3 hours):
Astigmatism:
How the relationship between eye motion, head motion and posture
affects vision.
In
this discussion I will briefly cover Dr. Bates’ views on
astigmatism, and then combine that with Dr. Elliott Forrest’s
views on astigmatism. The latter’s discoveries of the link
between eye and head motion makes a very interesting addition
to Dr. Bates’ work and helps you as a teacher to pinpoint
your student’s main strain that contributes to his/her astigmatism.
Once the correlation between head and eye motion is understood,
the appropriate relaxation solution can be offered and astigmatism
can be overcome more quickly and effortlessly. Your input and
experience with astigmatism is most welcome!
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October 2012:
3rd British Natural Eyesight Conference
Felden, England.
Keynote lecture (1 hour):
Eye Diseases - How can the Bates
Method help?
Early in his career Dr. Bates did
not think his methods would be of much use in overccoming eye
diseases, yet some of his patients surprised him. He witnessed
cases of disapppearing retinitis pigmentosa, vanished cataracts,
regained visual fields, returns to normal eye pressure, and other
unexpected 'side effects' of using his visual relaxation methods.
These unforeseen results motivated him to move even further away
from traditional ophthalmology and to apply his natural methods
for all visual challenges. Through case histories we'll delve
into the value of the Bates Method for a variety of eye diseases.
I hope you will be inspired
to use the Bates method for more than simple functional vision
challenges, regardless of the apparent severity of a case. There
is always a chance that you may be surprised...
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Workshop
(3 hours):
Reading
without Glasses at any Age
In this workshop
we go step by step through the various methods Dr. Bates used
to overcome presbyopia effectively. Practice cards with various
print sizes are provided, as well as an overview of the methods
used.
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October 2011:
23rd International Holistic Vision Conference
Gazzada, Italy.
Sunday morning lecture (1 hour):
Focus
on Children's
Eyes
- Dr. Bates & Emily's
legacy of vision work with the young ones
A repeat, with minor changes, of
the lecture given at the 2010 British conference, see below.
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Workshop (3 hours):
Reading
without Glasses at any Age
In this workshop
we go step by step through the various methods Dr. Bates used
to overcome presbyopia effectively. Practice cards with various
print sizes are provided, as well as an overview of the methods
used.
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October 2010:
2nd British Natural Eyesight Conference
Felden, England.
Keynote lecture (1 hour):
Focus
on Children's
Eyes
- Dr. Bates & Emily's
legacy of vision work with the young ones
Dr. Bates and Emily worked together
for many years to improve the eyesight of children. You will learn
about their work with school children, their results with children
at the clinic, and their great love for these young ones. Bates
said that all children under the age of 16 who had not yet worn
glasses, could be cured within one year, and often would be cured
in just a few days or weeks. You'll find out how he did that.
Esther will also give examples from her own work of teaching the
Bates method to children. Hopefully you will be inspired to continue
Dr. Bates and Emily's legacy; the delightful work of helping children
to keep or regain their perfect eyesight.
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Workshop (3 hours):
Astigmatism
- How to regain muscle balance
Astigmatism is a very common vision
problem. As many as
three in ten children between the ages of 5 and 17 are diagnosed
with it and many wear glasses to 'correct' it. A number of studies
have found that the prevalence of astigmatism increases with age.
The use of lenses obviously does not help much, if at all, to
reduce this problem.
I
believe as Dr. Bates did, that astigmatism is the result of an
imbalance between the muscles around the eyes.
Undue strain on a combination of the recti and oblique
muscles creates a lopsided eyeball which results in seeing straight
lines blurry at some angles of vision.
This workshop will look at how
that imbalance begins, and at how to regain muscle balance so
that the astigmatism reduces or clears and vision improves.
We will go over the techniques that Dr. Bates used with
his patients and also draw from the research on astigmatism by
Elliott Forrest OD.
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October 2009:
22nd International Holistic Vision Conference
Spa, Belgium.
Closing keynote lecture (1
hour):
Relax
into Seeing ~ Relax into Life
-
Learning to let go of tension in our eyes and mind.
The
'Relax into Seeing' lecture
notes can be read here. (PDF file)
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Workshop (3 hours):
The
Physical and Mental Tensions
We Can Release to Improve Vision
In
this workshop we will explore the typical physical and mental tensions
that interfere with clear vision. As
we play with letting such tensions go, we discover how eye-charts become
useful tools rather than 'a test that we keep failing'.
As
a participant you will become able to demonstrate to yourself how your
mind influences your sight, and you will be given simple hints to use
your mind to your visual advantage!
We
will explore the natural order of movement for vision, and learn to see
movement in the world around us from a different point of view.
With
some simple mental and physical tools that do not require any special
equipment, you learn to transform your vision.
In this way you can integrate your vision improvement practice
into your daily life without needing to take time for specific
exercises.
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