Showing posts with label Figure 8s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Figure 8s. Show all posts

Sunday, August 17, 2025

The Infinity Symbol and Brain Balance

I have been going through files in my office, as I often do. It's fun for me to find information that I forgot that I have. Usually the files contain handouts from numerous workshops that I've taught at Adult Education, hospitals, holistic centers, networking groups and more.

I uncovered the drawings seen in this post. They are from an adult education program that I was teaching on the topic of brain hemisphere integration and muscle testing. A volunteer offered that she felt she had lost her creativity. I had her draw the infinity symbol - see the original picture to the right. Wow. The small circle on the left, which went to her right brain hemisphere indicated that she was indeed blocked.

I was able to muscle test her to the age when the decreased creativity began. I kept the release simple with Frontal/Occipital Holding and visualization. Back in present time, I had her draw the symbol again.Look at the difference! This took place in about 10 minutes.

Tracing an Infinity symbol is powerful and will integrate the brain hemispheres.

  • Play with the size;
  • Use colored pencils if you wish;
  • Trace with your right hand on the pencil or pen;
  • Trace with your left hand;
  • Trace with both hands on the pen;
  • Follow the tracing with your eyes;
  • Close your eyes and use the muscles of your eyes to trace the symbol.
  • Use your hips to make a figure 8.
  • Experiment and have fun with this symbol.
  • Tune into how you feel before and after. 

 

 

 

Thursday, June 06, 2024

Figure 8's for the Brain and Learning

In the field of Kinesiology - Applied Kinesiology, Behavioral Kinesiology, Brain Gym - figure 8 exercises are used in many ways to reduce stress, relax the mind, integrate the brain hemispheres and make life and learning easier.

Paul Dennison, Ph.D. and creator of Edu-Kinesthetics and Brain Gym developed exercises to enhance whole-brain learning and empower learners. Many teachers incorporate these simple tools, especially figure 8's, into the classroom curriculum.

My first course at Three In One Concepts was called One Brain - Dyslexic Learning Correction and Brain Integration. Figure 8 exercises and the theory behind them were an instrumental part of the course. 

Years ago, I had the opportunity to teach brain exercises to teachers who included them in their morning meetings with students in grades K - 3. Many reported back that the students asked to do the exercises again after lunch!

There is no wrong way to "play" with figure 8's. Just doodling an 8 or infinity symbol activates the integration of the brain hemispheres. A simple exercise to incorporate more movement is below. Add music to make it more enjoyable.

  • Standing, use your arms (or one arm at a time) to sway with your body while creating a sideways figure 8.
  • Go up and over on the right, circle down, then up and over on the left, circle down and then again up and over to the right. Repeat as often as you like.

Find a flow that feels comfortable for you. If standing is too difficult, do the exercise sitting. Your brain doesn't really care! 

If you have shoulder discomfort, grab a big piece of paper and doodle figure 8's. Follow the tracing with your eyes. Reverse the flow and see if one is easier than the other.