#Brain gym movements series

Many educators use Brain Gym activities (PACE: Positive, Active, Clear, Energetic) as warm-up exercises for reading, writing and mathematics because it was found that overall concentration in the classroom improved.

Moving the whole body in the shape of a lazy eight leads to increasing focus and attention, spatial awareness, lateralization and bilateral integration of eyes, ears and limbs. The movement consists of tracing a lateral eight over and over, sweeping across the lateral midline of the body again and again, which activates both the right and left hemispheres of the brain encouraging them to process together. Lazy eights have been recognized and used for years by occupational therapists, developmental optometrists and various practitioners as a very valuable tool for learning disabilities. One of the most important Brain Gym movements that integrate both hemispheres in the brain is the “lazy eight” or the “infinity” sign. When all parts of the brain communicate together, then “laterality”, “focusing” and “centering” take place. To create brain coordination, the Dennisons put forth the idea of coordinating the right and left hemispheres of the brain along with the front and back and top and bottom. Learning is not an isolated aspect of just brain functioning, but rather an integral part of every nerve and every cell connection to our bodies. When the brain has energy, the learning process improves. These movements are based on the fundamental idea that simple exercises help increase blood flow to the brain which provides oxygen and keeps the brain more alert.

#Brain gym movements series

They designed 26 Brain Gym activities in a series of exercises that improve academic performance. Brain Gym or Educational Kinesiology (Edu-K) was developed in the 1980s by educators Paul Dennison PhD and Gail Dennison who recognized the concept of “brain-body” integration.