Brain Gym® is a series of exercises that enable the brain to work at it’s best. The techniques are a combination of many different sciences primarily based on neurobiology and have been found to increase learning in learning-impaired children. However, the results of using Brain Gym® have proven to be highly effective for all learners.
Parents will find that these exercises enhance student performance, particularly before taking a test, but they also work well before doing homework and studying. They may also relieve stress.
How does it work?
Carla Hannaford, Ph.D., neurophysiologist, states in “Smart Moves” that our bodies play an important role in all of our learning, which is not an isolated “brain” function. Every nerve and cell is part of a network contributing to our intelligence and our learning capability. She states, “Movement activates the neural wiring throughout the body, making the whole body the instrument of learning.” Carla states that “sensation” forms the basis of the concepts from which “thinking” evolves.
The Brain Gym® exercises consider the bi-cameral, or two-sided, nature of our brain. The brain has a left and a right hemisphere, each one performing distinct tasks. Often, one side of our brain works more than the other, depending on the tasks we are performing. If the two halves are working fully and sharing information, then there is a balance of brain function. Without this balance, there is always going to be something that is not understood or remembered. Brain Gym® assists in making the two sides of the brain work together when learning, which in turn enables our full capacity for problem-solving or learning.
The following are simple but effective ways to awaken the brain and get it working optimally and all at once.
Cross Crawl- This exercise forces signals to pass between the two halves of the brain, crossing over the mid-point, the corpus callosum. The corpus callosum is the thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain and allows them to communicate with each other.
- You can stand or sit for this. Put the right hand across the body to the left knee as you raise it and then do the same thing with the left hand on the right knee, just as if you were marching.
- Do this either sitting or standing for about 2 minutes
Hook-Ups- This works well for nervousness before a test or special event, such as making a speech. Anytime there is nervousness or anxiety, this will help calm you.
- Sit for this activity and cross the right leg over the left one at the ankles
- Extend your arms, palms down, and cross your right wrist over the left one. Rotate your arms so that the palms face each other and lace your fingers together.
- Now rotate your clasped hands downward, turning 270° until they come to rest on the sternum (breastbone) in the center of the chest
- Stay in this position
- Touch your tongue to your palate
- Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth in slow, deep, belly breaths
- Keep your ankles and wrists crossed and breathe evenly in this position for a few minutes
- You will be noticeably calmer after that time