Brain Gym is a series of body movements or exercises that are believed to help with many learning disabilities and other roadblocks to success.
History
In the 1970s Dr. Paul Dennison and Gail E. Dennison were looking for a teaching aid that would help students with disabilities learn more effectively. The Dennisons were led to brain function research and were impressed with studies done using kinesiology. The research done by developmental specialists stated that physical movements can enhance learning and performance by balancing the flow from the left brain to the right brain.
The Dennisons created Brain Gym based on the research that developed the brain’s neural pathways like the body does naturally with movement. The Brain Gym activities became a new approach in the field of Education Kinesiology, Edu-K or learning through movement.
Skeptics
There are those that do not believe in the mind and body connections and scoff at the research and claims. In order to accept Brain Gym, individuals need to be open to the theory that our body contains energy that flows within a meridian system. William Lee Rand states in his book, Reiki: The Healing Touch, "We are alive because life energy or Ki is flowing through us. Ki flows within the physical body through pathways called chakras, meridians and nadis. It also flows around us in a field of energy called the aura. The free and balanced flow of Ki is the cause of health. When flow is disrupted, it causes diminished functioning."
Believers
Dr. B. McClellan of the UK operates a Brain Gym school and believes that the movements can lessen the symptoms of:
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Attention deficit
- Asperger’s syndrome
- Behavior problems
- Poor memory
- Poor concentration
- Poor organization skills
- Weak body coordination
- Eye-strain
- Chronic stress
- Phobias
McClellan is one of thousands that use the movements and claims the exercises are successful.
Today
Brain Gym is used in more than 80 countries in some of the following areas:
- Public schools
- Private schools
- Corporations
- Performing arts
- Athletic training
More Information
If you are interested in learning more about Brain Gym and the science behind it, neurobiologist Carla Hannaford, Ph.D. writes about how the physical movements work in the brain in Smart Moves: Why Learning is not all in Your Head.
Corporations that want to apply Brain Gym to the business world may be interested in Brain Gym For Business by Jerry V. Teplitz, JD, PhD. It explains the movements and divides them into various categories that could be useful in the corporate world.
For teachers, the most useful text would be Brain Gym by Paul E. Dennison giving brief information and illustrations of each of the 26 movements. For more information, the Dennisons have written Brain Gym Teacher’s Edition. All are available on braingym.com and braingym.org.
Related articles: Left Brains and Right Brains, Right Brain Characteristics, Left Brain Characteristics.
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
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