Brain Gym
Mauro Zappaterra, MD, PhD
Goals
• Introduction to Brain Gym
• Brain Gym exercises
• Have you ever been so stressed that you feel
you can’t make decisions?
• Or so frustrated that you feel your mind is
blocked?
• Or just so tired that you just can’t think?
Brain Gym may help you
overcome these blocks.
Brain Gym
• Turn your head to the left.
– Notice how far you can go and if any tension.
• Turn your head to the right.
– Notice how far you can go and if any tension.
• Massage your ears by unrolling them
beginning at the top going to the bottom.
– Repeat massage 3 times.
• Repeat head turns to assess any difference.
What is Brain Gym?
• Brain Gym is a
program of 26
physical movements to
integrate the body and
mind which enhance
learning and
performance.
During intense learning and stress certain
parts of the brain can shut down and
communication between the brain
hemispheres can become blocked.
Brain Gym Movements Help to
Interconnect the Brain in All
Dimensions
• All parts of the brain
work together for
more effective
learning.
Applications
• To prepare the learner to learn.
• During times of stress and frustration.
• To calm the nervous system and energize
the body.
• To increase blood flow to the brain.
Brain Gym Exercises
• Cross Crawl
Brain Gym Exercises
• Hook-ups
Cross ankles. Extend arms
out in front thumbs down,
cross one wrist over the other,
interlace fingers and draw
hands under and up toward
chest. Put tongue on the roof
of the mouth and be with a
relaxed breathe for a minute
or more until emotions
subside. Place fingertips of
both hands together and put
feet flat on the floor for
another minute or so.
Brain Gym Exercises
• Figure 8’s
Brain Gym developed by Dr.
Paul Dennison
• Started working with “learning disabled” students.
• Found deficits in physical abilities that affected
development which affected learning.
• Found that these children did not have an innate
understanding of their bodies and how they move
in space.
• Movements were unnecessary and un-coordinated.
• Repeated movements that were comfortable and
familiar.
Known For Centuries:
Movement Enhances Learning
• Physical movements
contribute to brain
development and
learning in babies and
young children.
“Movement is the Door to
Learning”
• Encouraged his
students to discover
new ways to move that
were more functional
and coordinated.
• Through movement,
he opened the door to
learning.
Human Brain Function in 3-D
• Laterality – coordinate
right and left sides of
the brain
• Focus – coordinate
front and back
• Centering – coordinate
top and bottom
Fundamental “Laterality” Skills:
Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic
•
•
•
•
•
Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking
Fluid whole body
movements
• Simultaneous moving
and thinking
Fundamental “Focus” Skills
• Comprehension
• Ability to find
personal meaning in
experiences
• Ability to understand
new information in
terms of previous
experience
Fundamental “Centering” Skills
• Organization
• Grounding
• Feeling and expressing
emotions
• Sense of personal
space
• Rational thoughts and
reactions
Brain Function Improves
•
•
•
•
•
•
Learn faster and easier
Increase creativity
Remain focused
Remain alert
Stay relaxed
And just plain feel
better about ourselves
Brain Gym
• Academic skills - reading, writing, spelling and
math
• Memory, concentration and focus
• Communication skills
• Organization
• Personal stress management
• Language development
• Physical coordination and balance
The Brain Gym Premise
• Learning is a natural, joyous activity that
continues throughout life.
• Learning blocks are simply an inability to
move through the stress and uncertainty of a
new task.
• We are all learning-blocked to the extent
that we have been conditioned to inhibit our
movements.
Brain Gym
•
•
•
•
Safe
Simple and easy to learn
For almost any age group
Adapts easily for use in the classroom, in
tutorials, in the office, on the wards!
• Reinvigorates your system in a few minutes