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​ Sunning​

An exercise in which you use the energy and healing qualities of the sun to balance and heal your nervous and endocrine systems, and your whole body. It is especially helpful for relieving depression. 

*Since it is done facing the sun, it's best not done an hour before or after noon, when the sun is the strongest and directly overhead. Other times are fine.

Please note that although the Sunning practice has many steps, once you do it a few times it becomes quite simple and easy to do. It's well worth it, because the health benefits are tremendous.  You can share it with others, and you'll have it the rest of your life.
 
 First, a note re cataracts and other concerns: Many doctors are urging their patients to stay out of the sun out of concern that they will get cataracts.  You may want to ask your doctor for his source of information about this, so you can decide how much sun is right for you. 
 
Many alternative eye specialists feel that being in the sun is necessary for your health and well-being and that if you use good judgment (like using sunglasses when you are driving into the sunset, at the beach or skiing, or other special circumstances)  you needn’t wear sunglasses often.

If we wear sunglasses often we are not getting the exposure to sunlight that we need for our pituitary and pineal glands and all the other glands in our body. 

If we don’t have enough exposure to the sun we may become depressed (SAD) and deficient in Vitamin D.  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder in which people may feel depressed, have low energy, and other symptoms at the same time each year, most commonly in the winter.  The sunning exercise is very helpful for SAD.
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Sunlight is a necessary nutrient for all the functions of our body. 

Try to be outside at least one hour a day at all times of the year. For those of us who spend a lot of time indoors, we need to gradually get used to outdoor light.  Our pupils are used to being enlarged and with gradual exposure to sunlight they will become smaller and the light will feel more comfortable.

People with very light and especially sensitive skin need to do the sunning before 10am and after 4 pm.  
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 SUNNING EXERCISE

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Preview of Sunning

 For three minutes, ideally three times a day, stand or sit completely still facing the sun and close and relax your eyes. (Deeply relax your eyes and never look directly at the sun!)  

Now let the soothing rays of the sun penetrate your eyes, your brain and all the nerves in your body. This revitalizes your entire body, especially your nervous system. 

After sunning, slowly open your eyes – you will feel like you are wearing sunglasses for a moment. The body has produced serotonin, which uplifts your feelings and will then produce melatonin, which naturally promotes deep sleep. (During winter days it's especially important to get outside when the sun is visible, even if it's shining through clouds. This will uplift your spirits and heal your body during the dark months of the year.) 

 SUNNING ​  The Complete Directions 
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  • Stand facing the direct sun with closed eyelids. Begin by gently move your eyeballs back and forth under your eyelids as if you are REM sleeping. This gentle movement of the eyes engages the nervous system as well as massaging the internal muscles of the eyes.)  (If more comfortable, you can simply relax your closed eyes).
  • Now draw the warmth and energy of the sun  into your forehead,  the area between the eyebrows, above the bridge of the nose.  Breathe it all the way into this area , so the sun can activate the pineal gland, stimulating the production of seratonin (the "Happy Hormone") and melatonin (the Sleep Hormone).​
  • Bring the energy to your Pituitary gland, between your ears, in the middle of your brain.
  • Next bring this warm energy down into your throat to your Thyroid gland and feel the energy activating and stimulating the production of your thyroid hormones, helping to balance your metabolism.
  • Now let that warm energy move down to your Thymus gland , (a few inches below your collarbone, in the center of your chest ) where it will activate and stimulate the production of your T-cells, bringing balance to your immune system. 

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  •  Next let that wonderful warm energy from the sun flow down into your solar plexus to your Pancreas (under your stomach.)​Feel it activating and stimulating the production of insulin and glucagon which are responsible for balancing your blood sugar levels.​
  • Next feel the energy and warmth of the sunlight flowing to your Adrenal glands, in your back, on top of your kidneys.  (you can still face forward, just be aware of your back.) This helps balance the stress hormones adrenalin and cortisol, and to nourishes the adrenal glands, which have been overworked and stressed out on most people.
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  • Let this beautiful warm sunlight energy travel down into your lower abdomen to your Ovaries (for women) or Testicles (for men) to balance the sexual hormones.  
  • Feel how all these endocrine glands are more connected and bathed in warmth, light and energy. (If any of your endocrine glands have been surgically removed or are not functioning, still connect with the area of that gland, to support and balance the entire endocrine system.)
  • Finally, let the energy and light of the sun flow down the entire length of your spine and radiate out along your central nervous system to the periphery of your skin.  
  • Feel yourself relaxing more and more into the comfort and warmth of the sun's light and energy as it bathes your nervous system,  so that you can move from the sympathetic (stress response) to the parasympathetic (rest and relax) response.
  • Bathe and breathe in​ healing sunlight throughout your entire body, both inside and out. 
  • When you are ready, you can slowly open your eyes and look around you.  You may experience a darker tint to your vision - this is natural polarization, your body's own sunglasses. 
  • You may also notice the improved clarity of your vision, and the vibrancy of the colors around you. Notice how you feel.​
  •  NOTE: If you don’t have access to direct sunlight use a full-spectrum light such as  "Reveal", or other full-spectrum bulb.
  • ​If you have hormonally related issues, like PMS, peri-menopause, menopause, stress, diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyper- or hypothyroidism, SADS, depression, insomnia, anxiety, for example, sunning is highly recommended. You may begin to notice changes in your mood after the first day.  ​Sunning 3 times a day, for a few minutes each time will help to balance  your neuroendocrine system.  ​

​Additional Benefits of Spending Time in the Sun Daily.
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1. Enriches the blood by increasing the number of white blood cells in it. 
2. Increases the amount of oxygen in the blood 
3. Encourages healthy blood circulation 
4. Strengthens the heart 
5. Beautifies the skin giving to it a healthy looking complexion 
6. Improves the eyesight 
7. Can bring new color to gray hair 
8. Helps to Harden the bones 
9. Kills viruses, bacteria, molds, yeasts, fungi 
10. Stimulates the appetite 
11. Improves digestion, elimination, and metabolism 
12. Enhances the immune system 
13. Soothes the nerves and boosts the mood 
14. Improves sleeping 
15. Slows down aging 
16. Balances out the hormones