Exercise Yourself Ssmarter - Drum Magazine Article

It is exam time and Bongani very nervous. He is writing a test today but even though he studied hard, he is shaking and feeling ill. Luckily he remembers exercises their teacher taught them. It is called Brain Gym and it helps children and grown ups to concentrate and relax.

Bongani sits behind his desk and takes his index finger and slowly begins making a lazy eight (an eight laying on its side) on the desk. Up on the one side, down on the other side, up on the one side, down on the other side. He starts to relax. When he starts his exam he is more focused and he can concentrate till the end. And it is all thanks to drawing a lazy eight on his desk.

Why did something as simple as this help Bongani relax and cocentrate better? By drawing the lazy eight, Bongani relaxed the muscles of his hands, arms and shoulders and helped his brain focus so that he can understand everything he reads.

The brain is a complex and interesting part of the body. And just like the body needs exercise, the brain needs exercise to keep fit and strong.

Brain Gym © was developed in the 1970's by Dr. Paul Dennison and his wife Gail. Dr. Dennison was an American educational therapist and was looking for ways to help children and adults with learning disabilities. Through his research he learnt more about Kinesiology, the science of body movement and the study of the relationship of muscles and posture to brain function. Dr. Dennison realised in his studies that the movements babies and young children naturally make to develop, can be adapted and used by children and adults to stimulate their brains.

Brain Gym uses movement to help the brain and the body integrate. It has proved to not only help children and adults with learning difficulties, but enhance the abilities of students young and old.

It is very important for children to drink enough water. They need about 500 ml to one and a half litres per day and must drink a glass of water before they do their Brain Gym exercises. The reason for this? Water is a major component of blood and therefore water is vital for getting oxygen to the brain.

• Lazy Eights - Let them extend one arm in front of their face. With one thumb pointing upwards, slowly and smoothly trace an eight on it's side. Follow the thumb with your eyes. Repeat ten times. This helps with speed reading, writing and hand-eye co-ordination. It also helps to relax the eyes in times of stress.
• Belly Breathing - The child places his hands on his abdomen. He breathes out through his mouth in short little puffs until his lungs feel empty. He then breathes in as if his lungs are balloons. In other words one big breath. Breathe out slowly and fully. Repeat four times. This helps relax the central nervous system and increases energy. Can improve reading and speaking abilities. Controlling your breathing can also control exam nerves!
• Brain Buttons - The child makes a C shape with their thumb and forefinger and place it on either side of the breast bone just below the collar bone. Rub gently for 30 seconds while holding the other hand over the navel. Change hands and repeat. This exercise increases concentration and relaxation.
• Cross Crawl - The child moves his right knee up and touches it with his left hand and then his left knee with his right hand. Repeat 15 times slowly. This might sound like a simple exercise, but it helps the right and left areas of the brain to connect. It is useful for spelling, writing, reading and left-right co-ordination of the body.
• Hook-ups - Stand with both feet flat on the floor. Cross one foot over the other. Stretch out arms and cross right wrist over left wrist and link fingers so that the right wrist is on top. Bend the elbows out and gently turn the fingers in towards the body until they rest on the breast bone in the centre of the chest. Stay in this position and breathe evenly for a few minutes. It helps calm the mind and is a stress reliever.
• Thinking Caps - Similar to the exercise that you can do with your baby. Take the index finger and the thumb and gently pull and unroll the outer part of the ear. Start at the top and move to the lobe. Pull the lobe gently. Repeat three times. This helps with spelling, short-term memory, listening ability and abstract thinking.
• The Elephant - Stand up and relax the knees slightly. Place the left ear on the left shoulder and point with the left hand across the room to the left. Use the ribs to move the whole upper body as the child traces a lazy eight on it's side. The child must look past his fingers. Repeat on the other side. This activity activates all areas of the mind and body and is recommended for children with ADD.

Any of the above exercises can be done by teenagers and adults and will have the same effect. The relaxing techniques and exercises to "wake up" the brain, are excellent to do before a big exam, presentation or for any time you feel stressed. Some of these exercises are even used by some in heavy traffic and is thought to relieve road rage!

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