Looking for a fun activity to do this summer or a way to calm the mind and relieve stress? Look no further than these super simple and fun DIY eye pillows!
My students often asked me, “Can we do relaxation?” throughout the school year. Savasana pose, or ‘relaxation’ pose, is a very important part of my kids’ yoga classes. I wanted to add a new tool, the ‘No Sew” DIY Eye Pillows and without a doubt, they were a huge success! Not only did the kids enjoy smelling the calming scents, but they were a blast to make.
As the school year came to an end, I decided to make a few No Sew Eye Pillow kits to send home with my students in hope that it would give them something fun to do during the summer as well as remind them to maintain their daily practice of yoga and relaxation. As my gift to you, I would like to share my recipe and instructions for the No Sew Eye Pillows.
Why Eye Pillows?
What are eye pillows and why are they important? The light pressure that eye pillows place on the nerves in the brain helps to improve mood and lower heart rate. Specifically, the vagus nerve which regulates heart rate, digestion and is responsible for regulating mood. Because of the placement of the eye pillow, these nerves are massaged and soothed.
Eye pillows have a history of being used in hospitals to comfort the sick, reduce anxiety and encourage sleep. This makes the eye pillow the perfect gift for a child and parent, especially during the summer for it has multiple uses. Without further ado, here is how my students and I make No Sew Eye Pillows!
“No-Sew” DIY Eye Pillows
Ingredients:
- Uncooked long grain white rice or flax seeds
- Calming essential oils (These are good for anxiety)
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- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Cedarwood
- Sandalwood
- Clary Sage
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- Kids size crew sock
Tools:
- Large mixing bowl
Scented rice in mixing bowl
- Wooden Spoon
- Measuring Cups – ¼ cup and 1/3 cup
Instructions: (Makes at least 2 eye pillows)
- Begin by pouring 2 cups of uncooked rice or flaxseed into a large mixing bowl.
- With an adult, add 4 drops of your favorite essential oil to the rice. Use the wooden spoon to stir the rice until the oil is fully incorporated. This is where caution is best! Lightly sniff the rice and scented oil mixture to judge if the smell is too light or too strong.
A good rule of thumb is if you smell more rice than oil, add 1-2 more drops of oil. While essential oils are great, some can cause irritation on the skin, especially in the delicate eye region. In this case, less can be better. In the case that you add too much oil to the rice, simply take out 1/3 cup of the scented rice and replace it with 1/3 cup of unscented rice to try and diffuse the strength of the oil.
- Once you have found the perfect balance of oils and rice for you, stir once more.
- Now it’s time to add the rice mixture! Take one sock and insert a funnel into the opening. Using your ¼ measuring cup, scoop out scented rice and pour it into the funnel. You will add ½ cup to ¾ cup of scented rice. This may vary depending on the size of the sock.
You want to make sure that the tip of the funnel is wide enough to allow the rice to pass through. Shaking the funnel a few times will help the rice fall into the sock. If you don’t have a funnel, no worries! Open the top of the sock and hold it open while the child pours the rice in. You can also use a piece of paper rolled to make a cone shape where the small end of the cone fits within the sock opening.
- Stretch the sock to evenly distribute the rice and pull it to better fit across the child’s face. Eye pillows are not supposed to feel heavy on the eyes, but light like a pillow. Feel free to remove rice or add it to get the weight that is perfect for you.
- Now take the top of the sock and tie it into a knot.
- Finally, have the child test the pillow on their face and eyes. Ask if the scent is too strong or if the pressure of the pillow is too much. To adjust weight or scent strength, see previous steps.
- Stretch the sock to redistribute the rice evenly and give it one last test. There you go!
Relaxation time with No-Sew Eye Pillows
Uses
Eye pillows promote relaxation and calmness. These prove to be very useful in the more meditative and relaxing parts of yoga. For some students, the calming scents even help to relieve headaches.
Besides relaxation, the eye pillow has many other uses! For hot days during the summer months, your eye pillow can double as a cold compress and provide an escape from the heat. Place your No Sew Eye Pillow in the refrigerator for an hour or two. Take your chilled pillow and apply it to your neck or anywhere else that needs cooling relief.
In addition, your No-Sew DIY Eye Pillows can be used as a heating pad for sprains or muscle pains. With the help of an adult, warm the eye pillow in the microwave for no more than 15 seconds. Be careful not to burn the rice inside, for it will create a very unpleasant smell. Again, less is more! Test the warmth on bare skin and apply to the area that is in pain. Just like that, a heating pad to help reduce aches!
Another use is to use the eye pillow as a bean bag or a fidget toy for restless hands.
Care
Keep your eye pillow in a dry and cool place to keep the rice fresh. Because it is a no-sew pillow, you can untie the knot and change the rice and scents to your pleasing. I would recommend changing the rice out at least every three months to keep the rice fresh. If you must wash the sock for any reason, please ensure that all the rice is emptied out of the sock before washing like normal.
The many uses of these No Sew Eye Pillows make this a perfect DIY craft project for the summer. It is quick, easy and fun. Not to mention, a great sensory tool. They benefit your health and encourage relaxation. I hope you try this at home and have as much fun as my students and I had creating these.
