082: RE-RELEASE - Reversing Astigmatism with Esther Joy van der Werf
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
Release Date: 04/01/2025
083: My First Two Teacher Training Graduates with June Milich and Nalini Ramji
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld talks to his first two graduates of his Natural Vision Teacher Training Program, June Milich and Nalini Ramji, about a couple of key concepts that have helped them personally improve their own vision naturally and have started to help others as well. First, Nathan explains a little bit about the teacher training process and how it came about in 2020 and 2021, which led to the launch of the Beta version of his teacher training program in 2022. Then you'll hear from June about the best way to approach your vision improvement...
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082: RE-RELEASE - Reversing Astigmatism with Esther Joy van der Werf
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Nathan Oxenfeld announces the untimely loss of his friend and colleague Esther Joy van der Werf. Nathan and Esther had been teaming up on the Better Eyesight Podcast from 2019-2025, releasing new episodes on the 1st of every month where they read the original Better Eyesight Magazine articles from 100 years prior, which then spurred rich discussions between teachers and listeners in the monthly Better Eyesight League Meetings. Esther was passionate about educating as many people as possible about natural vision improvement, as well as creating communities around that mission....
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081: Anthropology of Eye Care with Anna Bambridge
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher (and anthropologist) Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Anna Bambridge, a natural vision teacher and researcher based in Glasgow, Scotland. The two natural vision educators discuss some of the topics from Anna's piece called "Seeing Details In Context", which can be read in its entirety on her website: 0:30 - Anna on Episode 65 of the Better Eyesight Podcast 2:37 - 6 Month Vision Improvement Program from December 2024 - May 2025 4:44 - Eye Yoga Workshops in Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu in January 2025 7:25 - Anna’s Introduction 8:55 - Anna’s vision...
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080: Nathan's New York Recap (Conference, Gathering, Retreat)
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld recaps his recent experiences in New York in September and October, including the 5 Day Association of Vision Educators Conference, the 4 Day Teacher Training Gathering, and the 3 Day Vision Retreat. The AVE Conference attracted 30+ natural vision teachers from the USA, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and more. The teacher training gathering gave Nathan and his teacher trainees a chance to meet in person. The 3 week NY trip culminated in a 3 Day Vision Retreat with Nathan Oxenfeld and Anat Axelrode, the creater of the Conversations with...
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079: The Fascia Vision Connection with Judy Gantz
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Judy Gantz about her work with the fascia. Judy is the Director and Founder of the Center for Movement Education and Research. She skillfully blends anatomy and physiology with dance and movement. The fascia also plays an important role in the function of the eyes, so the topic of vision gets interwoven throughout. For more information about Judy's work, visit https://cmer.info/ To learn more about Nathan & Anat's upcoming 3 Day Vision Retreat, go to https://integraleyesight.com/2024retreat Thank you for listening!...
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078: Presence and Pinhole Glasses with Peter Grunwald
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher interviews Peter Grunwald, the creator of the Eyebody Method and a special type of pinhole glasses that help get you into a state of "presence" rather than a state of "underfocusing" or "overfocusing". For more information, go to https://eyebody.com/ or https://integraleyesight.com/ Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Vision Retreat in New York this fall, likely October 3-5, 2024. Thank you!
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077: Cultivating Community in Costa Rica
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this solo episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld recounts his recent trip to Central America on an Ecovillage Tour that visited 7 intentional communities in 9 days. Not only was it an enriching experience, but it helped reiterate the important role that a healthy community plays in having healthy vision. Thankfully, he was able to embark on this international journey in January before breaking his leg in March! To read the text version of this piece and see some pictures and videos that go along with the story, go to To listen to Nathan's recent appearance on the TAO...
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076: Listening To The Eyes with Anat Axelrode
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Anat Axelrode about her unique method called Listening To The Eyes. By learning how to have conversations with the eyes, one can learn valuable information about what the eyes need in order to heal. For more information, visit Anat's website - Go to to watch the replay of "Improve Your Eyesight 6 Ways" and learn more about Nathan's upcoming 6 Month Vision Improvement Program. Listen to the new episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast at https://bettereyesightpodcast.com and join the Better Eyesight League at ...
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075: Stress Point Training on Trampolines with Dr. Ray Gottlieb
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Dr. Ray Gottlieb about how to improve attention, memory, coordination, proprioception, and vision using a trampoline! The concept is called "stress point training" and it has shown to help people learn new skills in a positive and productive way. Eventually it can help one master any given skill, whether playing an instrument, competing in sports, or simply seeing clearly without glasses. Dr. Ray tells some incredible success stories of people he has worked with in the past, and even gives a live demonstration of the...
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074: Ten Tips To Improve Your Night Vision
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld takes you on a night vision walk to go over 10 tips to improve your night vision naturally. 1. Take time to adjust, use it or lose it 2. Get light during the day, Sun your eyes 3. Palm your eyes 4. Use dimmer indoor light at night 5. Limit screen exposure before bed, and/or block blue light 6. Use red flashlights 7. Use your peripheral vision 8. Averted Gaze (shifting, swinging, dodging stars/lights) 9. Diet, nutrition, supplementation (lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin A) 10. Practice the Bates Method daily, especially at night!...
info_outlineIn this episode, Nathan Oxenfeld announces the untimely loss of his friend and colleague Esther Joy van der Werf. Nathan and Esther had been teaming up on the Better Eyesight Podcast from 2019-2025, releasing new episodes on the 1st of every month where they read the original Better Eyesight Magazine articles from 100 years prior, which then spurred rich discussions between teachers and listeners in the monthly Better Eyesight League Meetings. Esther was passionate about educating as many people as possible about natural vision improvement, as well as creating communities around that mission.
For more of Nathan's reflections, you can listen to the special Better Eyesight Podcast episode called "Remembering Esther", or go to www.integraleyesight.com/esther to see some photos from their times together over the years.
As a way to honor and remember Esther, Nathan is re-releasing Episode 25 of The Naked Eye Podcast from 2018 when he interviewed Esther for the very first time. This conversation is a big part of what led to the creation of the Better Eyesight Podcast the following year in 2019.
Please enjoy this re-broadcast, and feel free to go back through the first half of the Better Eyesight Podcast archive to listen to Esther's voice whenever you want at https://bettereyesightpodcast.com
ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION:
In Episode 25 of The Naked Eye Podcast, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Esther Joy Van Der Werf about the functional causes of astigmatism, and natural ways to reverse it without glasses or contacts. Whether you're trying to get rid of astigmatism or prevent astigmatism in the future, this episode will provide you with several action steps and insights on how to accomplish that. Esther and Nathan also cover lots of complimentary topics that will help you hone your holistic vision practice and make sure you are approaching it correctly in order to actually experience beneficial results and improvements in your vision.
Esther Joy Van Der Werf's website - https://www.visionsofjoy.org
Dr. Elliott Forrest - A New Model of Functional Astigmatism - http://bit.ly/forrest1
Dr. Elliott Forrest - Eye Scan Therapy for Astigmatism - http://bit.ly/forrest2
Astigmatism Chart - http://bit.ly/astigmatismchart
Click Here to learn more and support the Vision 2020 Documentary - https://vision2020movie.com
Click Here to get a copy of Nathan's book "Give Up Your Glasses For Good: Holistic Eye Care for the 21st Century" - https://www.integraleyesight.com/shop
Music by Audionautix. Namaste!