Exercises for Whole Brain Learning

Brain hemisphere exercises make learning so much easier, more fun and less stressful. When you are able to access both right and left sides of the brain, you are more productive and focused.

In the last article, a simple, brain hemisphere exercise called cross-patterning was introduced. Marching in place while bringing your opposite hand to your opposite knee wakes up the brain and recharges the energy in your body.

Another way of integrating your brain hemispheres and focusing your mind is an exercise called Crossing the Midline:

1. Hold a pen in your RIGHT hand and draw the infinity symbol on a piece of paper. Trace the symbol several times and follow the tracing with your eyes. The larger the paper, the more eye muscles can be used.
2. Repeat while holding the pen in your LEFT hand.
3. Repeat while holding the pen in BOTH hands.

 Eyes are so important for reading, learning and processing whole brain information. The simple act of reading can weaken the eye muscles due to the continuous movement of the eyes back and forth across a page. Add fatigue, stress, poor lighting, etc. and vision can be inhibited.

Moms, for years have been telling their children that they have yes in back of their heads. Well, Moms you are right! You actually "see" in the area in the back of the head called the Primary Visual Area.

To reduce stress in the eyes, locate the bump, called the mastoid process, in the back of the head - about 2 inches right and left of the midline and about 2 inches above the base of the skull. Or, think about shining a light through the pupil of the eye and having it come out the back of the head. that's the spot!

1. Massage the eye points gently - the Primary Visual Area - while;
2. Slowly bringing your eyes around a giant imaginary clock, both clockwise and counter-clockwise;
3. Repeat with eyes open and then closed, taking deep breaths as you go.

An energy exercise to reduce stress and integrate the brain hemispheres is called the Overload Exercise. Use this any time you are stressed, overwhelmed or overloaded.

1. Place one hand on your navel, while the other hand massages below the clavicle (collar) bone, to the right and left of the sternum;
2. Massage above and below the lips while continuing to hold the navel;
3. Massage the tailbone;
4. Reverse hand positions and repeat steps 1 through 3.

You will find yourself or your child taking a deep cleansing breath after this exercise. The cob webs in the brain seem to go away and the lights come on! Now it is easier to go back to the task at hand. thinking is so much easier.

Whole Brain Learning

In the 1960's, Roger Sperry and other scientists began research that confirmed that our brain has two hemispheres, left and right, with each one performing a different function. Their investigation led to a Nobel Prize and a better understanding of the different styles of learning, perceiving and functioning.

The LEFT brain hemisphere controls the right side of the body and processes information logically, analytically and sequentially (one step at a time).

A child with left brain dominance likes to be in a more structured environment with rules and systems in place and prefers to work alone in a quiet setting. Their focus is on details.

The RIGHT brain hemisphere controls the left side of the body and sees the big picture without breaking it down into parts.

A child who is right brain hemisphere dominant is creative, intuitive, imaginative, flexible, a "free spirit" and often "flies by the seat of her pants."

Despite the fact that we all have a dominant brain hemisphere, learning is much easier when we can function from a whole brain approach - when the brain is "switched on." Information needs to shuttle back and forth from the right side of the brain and body to the left side and back again.

For example:
When we read, the left or logical side of the brain processes individual words while the right side puts all of the ideas together.

Stress influences our learning ability. Sometimes stress switches us off and clear communication between right and left brain hemispheres is blocked. It becomes a mental tug-of-war with each side wanting to be in charge. Reading, reading comprehension, math, spelling, focusing and even physical coordination becomes difficult and challenging.

A simple brain hemisphere integration exercise called Cross-Patterning or Cross Crawl switches on the brain, revitalizing your energy, making learning much easier.

1. March in place while bringing your OPPOSITE hand to your opposite knee. Do this 3 or 4 times.
2. March in place while bringing your SAME hand to your SAME knee on the right side and then the left side. Repeat 3 or 4 times.
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2, ENDING WITH STEP 1.

Any exercise that requires crossing the middle of your body is a wonderful way to keep the brain hemispheres working together, keeping you clear and focused - walking, running, tennis, ping pong, playing the piano, soccer, patty cakes, etc.