Brain Gym

What is brain gym?What is brain gym? Brain Gym is a program of physical Brain Gym is a program of physical

movements that enhance learning and movements that enhance learning and performance in ALL areas.performance in ALL areas.

Brain Gym includes 26 easy and enjoyable Brain Gym includes 26 easy and enjoyable targeted activities that integrate body and targeted activities that integrate body and mind to bring about rapid and often dramatic mind to bring about rapid and often dramatic improvements in: concentration, memory, improvements in: concentration, memory, reading, writing, organising, listening, reading, writing, organising, listening, physical coordination, and more. physical coordination, and more.

How to use brain gymHow to use brain gym

Why brain gym worksWhy brain gym works

Brain gym uses simple, enjoyable Brain gym uses simple, enjoyable movements to enhance whole brain movements to enhance whole brain learninglearning

Activities enable students to access parts Activities enable students to access parts of the brain previously unavailable of the brain previously unavailable

Depending on the activity, reading, writing, Depending on the activity, reading, writing, thinking and/ or self awareness can be thinking and/ or self awareness can be activatedactivated

When to use brain gym When to use brain gym

BenefitsBenefits

Brain Gym Brain Gym develops the develops the brain's neural brain's neural pathways the pathways the way nature way nature does – through does – through movementmovement

Enhance whole brain learningEnhance whole brain learning

Midline MovementsMidline Movements

Integrate right and left sides of the brain and body

Cross crawlCross crawl

This contralateral exercise, similar to walking in place, helps access both brain hemispheres simultaneously and is the ideal warm-up for crossing the midline

Lazy 8sLazy 8s

Extend one arm in front of your face. With one thumb pointing upwards, slowly and smoothly trace a large figure '8' on its side in the air. Keep you neck relaxed and your head upright, moving only slightly as you focus on the thumb and follow it around.

Helps with: reading, speed reading, writing, hand eye co-ordination.

Lengthening Activities

Help students develop and reinforce neural pathways that enable connections between what is known in the back of the brain and the ability to express and process that information in

the front of the brain

FocusingFocusing

The Owl - Improves The Owl - Improves listening, listening, comprehension, comprehension, thinking, spelling and thinking, spelling and MathsMaths

Arm Activation - for Arm Activation - for concentrationconcentration

The GrounderThe Grounder

The grounder relaxes the ileopsoas muscle group. These muscles tighten in response to excessive sitting or to stress in the pelvic area and have the effect of restricting movement and flexibility.

Activates the brain for centring and grounding; helps focus.

Energy exercises/ Deepening Energy exercises/ Deepening attitudesattitudes

Help re-establish neural connections between body and brain; facilitate the flow of electromagnetic energy

Make ConnectionsMake Connections

Hook ups to play, work or Hook ups to play, work or cooperate (defuse stress)cooperate (defuse stress)- While sitting or standing- While sitting or standing

The Thinking CapThe Thinking Cap

- use both hands - use both hands simultaneously to help simultaneously to help listening and improve short listening and improve short term memoryterm memory

Positive PointsPositive Points

Lightly touch the point above each eye halfway between the hairline and the eyebrow with fingertips of each hand. Close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply.

Helps release memory blocks; prevents flight or flight response

Connecting brain neuronsConnecting brain neurons

Enhancing LearningEnhancing Learning

More Information?More Information?

www.braingym.org/

www.braingymwa.com.au/