Brain Gym Activities and Exercises

While most consider the term exercise synonymous with physical exercise, mental gymnastics are just as important to facilitate optimal health. Brain Gym is a bridge between the two disciplines of exercise, using physical movements to purportedly stimulate the body's mental capacity. Although Brain Gym admittedly does not subject its claims to peer-reviewed research (according to its website), the benign nature of these exercises makes them safe for anyone to perform in an attempt to stimulate mental health.

  1. Cross Crawl

    • Perform the cross crawl to stimulate your nervous system and coordinate the functions of the left and right hemispheres of your brain. You can perform the cross crawl while standing or sitting, so choose whichever method is most comfortable. Initiate the movement by lifting your left knee while simultaneously reaching across the body with your right elbow, touching the two together then separating them to return to a neutral standing or seated position. Continue the movement by repeating the same action in reverse--touching the right knee to the left elbow. Continue this action for two to three minutes continuously. This can be performed as an effective warm-up to other brain gym activities.

    Lazy Eights

    • Perform the lazy eight eye exercise to help awaken your brain's functionality and improve your concentration level for reading. Stand or sit facing a wall, staring at a point which is roughly at eye level. Initiate the movement by tracing an imaginary figure eight on the wall with your eyes, following its path for one full lap then returning to focus on your chosen centerpoint, then continuing the movement by drawing the same figure eight in reverse. Your head is allowed to move a bit while following the curve of the figure eight, but you should strive to keep the muscles of your neck relaxed throughout. Repeat this for 10 "laps" in each direction.

    Energy Yawn

    • Perform the energy yawn for a simple exercise to loosen the muscles of your face and mouth, improving relaxation and bloodflow to the area surrounding the brain. While sitting comfortably, use both of your hands to lightly massage the muscles surrounding the cheekbones and the jaw. Use mild to moderate pressure, focusing on the task at hand and ignoring everything else. Continue this massage for two to three minutes. Afterward, you should feel relaxed and prepared to learn.