Cross-Patterning - So Simple, Yet Powerful

I love when something simple produces powerful results! And, that is where cross-patterning exercise, also called Cross Crawl, comes in. Every time you walk, run, play tennis, dance, you are activating your brain hemispheres by physically crossing the
mid-line of your body. 

Cross-Patterning can be done sitting or standing. Bring the opposite hand to the opposite knee and repeat with both hands. That is the basic move. To make it more fun, put on music and try different variations such as reaching behind to touch the opposite foot. To improve your balance, cross pattern with your eyes closed or pretend to swim with your eyes closed.

Next blog I will talk about using just your eyes with Cross-Patterning.

What are the benefits of this simple exercise?

• Body awareness;

• Right/left brain hemisphere integration;

• Improved balance;

• Resets and rebuilds your nervous system and spinal muscles;

• Decreases stress;

• Improves learning ability;

• Sharpens vision;

• Improves memory;

• Better coordination;

• Improves academic skills: spelling, reading, listening, comprehension;

• Improves whole-brain learning.
  

 As a figure skater and ice dancer, I always watched the Olympics in awe of what these skaters could do. In the 1980 Olympics, Brian Boitano was seen cross-patterning before he went on the ice to perform! I was so excited because few people knew about energy exercise at that time. He went on to win the Gold Medal for the United States.