Whole Brain-boosting Exercises and Activities

Whether it’s called brain training or cranial callisthenics, you may have noticed the new interest in exercising the brain. With Alzheimer’s disease rising as the population ages, brain games and problem-solving activities are gaining popularity. Brain exercise isn’t just for elderly people. There are brain games for babies, people with brain damage and for those with declining brain function due to stress and information overload. Programs to enhance brain functioning are being implemented in schools and are endorsed by major employers.

Scientists are divided on the usefulness of brain workouts. Some studies seem to show positive results, but some neuroscientists say that they are based on over-simplified ideas about brain function. Regardless, users report that regular brain games improve concentration, memory and alertness. Unlike exercises that claim to develop abilities allegedly located in the right or left brain, whole brain exercises are geared towards integrating the two sides, or comprise a range of exercises targeting all brain areas. They include:

Cross Crawls

Derived from kinesiology, the basis of the cross crawl is rhythmic movement. The idea is that babies are born ‘homolateral,’ with the right brain governing the right side of the body, the left brain the left side. It is claimed that cross crawls for babies help transfer the energies, so that right-brain/left body and left-brain/right body connect.

In adults, it is said to help integrate the functioning of the two sides of the brain, speeding communication through the corpus callosum, improving dyslexia and boosting the immune system, amongst other benefits. It involves alternately touching the right hand (standing) or elbow (seated) to the left knee and vice versa, 25 times each or for 2 minutes.

Lazy Eights (Infinity Sign)

Lazy Eights are said to exercise both sides of the brain, with benefits including enhanced attention, hand-eye co-ordination and emotional wellbeing, as well as stress reduction. With a pen and paper, using first your dominant, then your non-dominant hand, draw the infinity sign (the number eight lying on its side) for 1-2 minutes daily.

An alternative that doesn’t require pen and paper consists of ‘drawing’ figures of eights in the air for up to a minute daily. To do this exercise:

• Make a fist with your dominant hand and position your thumb up
• Hold your arm out straight in front of you and bend your elbow slightly
• Line up your extended arm and thumb in front of your nose
• Lifting your thumb up slightly, begin making horizontal figure eights in the air for 30 seconds to a minute
• Then switch to the non-dominant hand and arm to begin another series and complete the exercise

This movement is said to balance the two hemispheres of the brain.

Other Exercises

Hook-ups for calming, ‘energy yawns,’ ‘brain button’ activation, visual tracking exercises and other activities are promoted as brain boosters. Ordinary activities like juggling and dancing are also good exercise for multiple parts of the brain. A combination of Sudoku, crosswords and other puzzles may contribute to a varied brain workout that keeps your brain in shape.

A healthy brain is important for maintaining a sound mind and body, and brain exercises may be part of the equation. A good mental workout boosts the processing capabilities of the brain and can help with assimilating new information. In a way, the brain is kind of like a muscle that atrophies due to lack of use. If you’re not exercising your brain, you could lose valuable brain power.

© Deborah A. Lindholm

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