Brain Gym® is a national organization that brings together folks that are interested in improving their brain function for multi-day retreats in states across the country. During a retreat, participants benefit from mind and body stimulation that can improve memory, stimulate thinking, reduce stress, and lead to a more balanced way of thinking.
Curios about the brain exercises? Brain Gym® focuses on improving creativity and brain function through movement and balance. There are 26 easy activities that integrate the body and mind included in the program. These activities are said to lead to dramatic improvements in concentration, memory, reading, writing, organizing, listening, and physical coordination.
Participants in Brain Gym® programs learn about movements such as fluid Edu-K movements based on the circle, spiral and Lazy 8. This is not a new research technique or trendy solution to solving common memory problems. In fact, the organization began in the 1970’s by educators Dr. Paul Dennison and Gail E. Dennison, who were looking for effective ways to improve performance in individuals who were considered to be learning disabled. Through their research, the Dennisons developed a brand new approach to education called Educational Kinesiology (Edu-K), which they refer to as “learning through movement.”
This educational technique is used in more than 80 countries and is taught in all types of schools to all types of students. One of the major benefits of the Brain Gym® organization is that they are highly focused on research, particularly when it comes to how movement impacts the brain.
The organization publishes papers by researchers, such as The Effect of PACE on Self-Reported Anxiety and Performance in First-Year Nursing Students. In this paper, by Jan Irving, Ph.D., the students that used PACE principals experienced an almost 70% reduction in their stress levels and increase their performance on tests by almost 20%.
In order to learn more about Brain Gym® exercises and how to do them, it is important to enroll in a class or private session, which can be found in locations across the country. Participants can enroll in courses such as Dennison Whole Brain Learning, or the Physiological Basis of Edu-K, which are designed to help participants learn to integrate their senses and connect them with movement, which can lead to optimal brain development.
Brain Gym® may be used primarily as a tool for educators with their students, but all individuals are welcome to enroll in retreats, courses, and private workshops. Through participation in the activities, you should learn how to improve your vision and use movement to increase your creativity and memory.
Check them out – they’re worth a shot if they can increase your brain’s capacity for the long term.
