We all know about whole body workouts. Exercises for the brain, cranial callisthenics and whole brain gymnastics are part of a new phenomenon in healthy living. With Alzheimers Disease on the rise, along with an ageing population, elderly people are encouraged to exercise their brains. Programs have also been developed for schoolchildren and to boost employee performance in major companies. There are even brain exercises for babies. The efficacy of brain exercise for brain-damaged patients continues to be explored.
The Cross Crawl
Cross Crawls
The adult cross crawl is believed to have various benefits, including promoting immune system function and assisting in dyslexia. It is a whole brain exercise because it is designed to boost communication between right and left brain hemispheres, through the corpus callosum. To do the cross crawl, touch your left knee with your right hand, and then do the same with the left hand and right knee. If seated, touch the opposite knee with your elbow. Repeat for 2 minutes or approximately 25 times each side.
Lazy Eights (the Infinity Sign) and Rhythmic Eights
These two exercises are variants of a movement recommended by kinesiologists. Repeated daily, they are said to help with hand-eye co-ordination, improve mood and concentration and lower tension levels, amongst other benefits. With a piece of paper and pen, first with your dominant and then your non-dominant hand, draw sweeping figures of eight (tilted 90% to resemble the infinity sign), for up to two minutes each day.
Lazy Eights are said to exercise both sides of the brain, with benefits including enhanced attention, hand-eye co-ordination and emotional wellbeing, as well as reduced stress. With a pen and paper, using first your dominant, then your non-dominant hand, draw the infinity sign (the number eight lying on its side) for 1-2 minutes daily.
An alternative that doesn't require pen and paper is Rhythmic Eights. Also derived from kinesiology principles of rhythmic movement, Rhythmic Eights consist of drawing figures of eights in the air for up to a minute daily. This movement is said to balance the two hemispheres of the brain.
Other Exercises
Many other exercises have been promoted as components of workouts for the whole brain. They include movements to activate the brain button, hook-ups to stabilize mood, hand-eye tracking exercises and energy yawning. Many ordinary exercises can be helpful too. Juggling is believed to exercise many areas of the brain. Intellectual puzzles and brain games all help to promote concentration and alertness and keep the brain in condition.
The Cross Crawl
Cross Crawls
The adult cross crawl is believed to have various benefits, including promoting immune system function and assisting in dyslexia. It is a whole brain exercise because it is designed to boost communication between right and left brain hemispheres, through the corpus callosum. To do the cross crawl, touch your left knee with your right hand, and then do the same with the left hand and right knee. If seated, touch the opposite knee with your elbow. Repeat for 2 minutes or approximately 25 times each side.
Lazy Eights (the Infinity Sign) and Rhythmic Eights
These two exercises are variants of a movement recommended by kinesiologists. Repeated daily, they are said to help with hand-eye co-ordination, improve mood and concentration and lower tension levels, amongst other benefits. With a piece of paper and pen, first with your dominant and then your non-dominant hand, draw sweeping figures of eight (tilted 90% to resemble the infinity sign), for up to two minutes each day.
Lazy Eights are said to exercise both sides of the brain, with benefits including enhanced attention, hand-eye co-ordination and emotional wellbeing, as well as reduced stress. With a pen and paper, using first your dominant, then your non-dominant hand, draw the infinity sign (the number eight lying on its side) for 1-2 minutes daily.
An alternative that doesn't require pen and paper is Rhythmic Eights. Also derived from kinesiology principles of rhythmic movement, Rhythmic Eights consist of drawing figures of eights in the air for up to a minute daily. This movement is said to balance the two hemispheres of the brain.
Other Exercises
Many other exercises have been promoted as components of workouts for the whole brain. They include movements to activate the brain button, hook-ups to stabilize mood, hand-eye tracking exercises and energy yawning. Many ordinary exercises can be helpful too. Juggling is believed to exercise many areas of the brain. Intellectual puzzles and brain games all help to promote concentration and alertness and keep the brain in condition.
About the Author:
Ready to find your own balance? Deborah Lindholm is a Serenity Empowerment Coach that shows you how to awaken your Inner Power Source to live an empowered life every single day. Download free pre-recorded telecasts, grab your 5 Simple Steps To Get What You Really, Really Want report and more here: Free Stuff at Serenity Matters
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