Shifting - A Cross-Patterning Exercise

Shifting is an interesting cross-patterning exercise that can be done with a partner or by yourself looking in a mirror. Along with integrating the brain hemispheres, the shifting activity is also a polarity exercise. Since stress can interfere with the positive and negative charges in the body, this cross-patterning exercise is a great way of balancing many systems.

Shifting with another person:

~ Sitting opposite each other - look out of your RIGHT eye at the pupil of your partner's LEFT eye. Keep attention fully on the pupil.

~ After about 30 seconds, SHIFT so that you are looking out of your LEFT eye at the pupil of your partner's RIGHT eye.

~ Continue alternating eyes until you have completed 9 sets of shifts OR do what you realistically have time to do. 

~ Giggles often happen!

 Shifting in the Mirror:

~ Look into the mirror keeping your attention on the pupil of your RIGHT eye.

~ When the rest of your face becomes blurry, take a deep breath and shift to your LEFT eye.

~ When the rest of your face becomes blurry, take a deep breath and shift back to your RIGHT eye.

~ Repeat until you have completed 9 shifts or what you have time to do. 

 

Cross-Patterning with Eyes

 Cross-patterning exercises are so important for brain hemisphere integration which revitalizes your energy and makes decision making and learning easier. 

You FEEL with your eyes, so often eye exercises bring up emotional responses. If any emotions, tension or pain surfaces while doing the exercise below, place one hand on your forehead and the other on the back of your head. Take a deep breath and release all of the energy. This alone is a wonderful technique for releasing stress and quieting the mind.

CROSS-PATTERNING EXERCISE:

Keeping your head still and using your eye muscles only:

1. Bring your eyes up to the LEFT;
2. 
   Down to the RIGHT;
3.  Up to the RIGHT;
   
4.  Down to the LEFT;
5.  Extend your eyes STRAIGHT UP;
6.  Bring your eyes STRAIGHT DOWN;
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6, seven times;
8. End with steps 1 - 4, tracing the X.

As you do this exercise, really extend your eye muscles with each movement. Take deep breaths as you go.  When this is comfortable to do with your eyes open, repeat the exercise with your eyes closed.

A simple brain hemisphere exercise: 

Just look at an X or close your eyes and imagine an X! 

While your child is doing homework, keep an image of an X on the desk to energize the brain. Also it is helpful when driving long distance and looking at parallel lines for hours. Keep an image of an X on your dashboard and look at it periodically to stay alert.

 

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.