Comments on: Brain Gym Makes Me Sad

By: Veronica

Veronica — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:39:21 +0000

Very interesting. Many scientists also don’t believe God because he can’t be quantified and proven. But, anyway, that’s beside the point. I am a professional dancer with undergraduate and graduate movement based degrees. I am also certified to teach dance in secondary and elementary education. I have incorporated yoga into my life long before it became obsessively popular and have studied many other movement based theories. I am also a visual artist and avid fabric artist. During the last year of my graduate dance education, I began doctoral studies in anthropology. I had not had a very happy relationship with mathematics, so I was terrified of population statistics. By applying several things I learned during my BrainGym training, I was able to make small changes in the way I approached my learning and in my learning environment that made a HUGE difference in focusing my thoughts and attention. No movement education or training that I had prior to that provided these same results. I personally have not studied much of the science behind BrainGym, perhaps because I am a very experiential person, I determine whether or not something is working based on the physical/emotional/psychological RESULTS that I am having. Currently, I work for the government and, of course, am a tax payer. For all the money I am spending to pay for other people’s children to go to school — both public grade and elementary school as well as the State university and local area trade school — I, personally don’t mind if my tax dollars are use for experimental approaches to focusing learning when they work. And, BrainGym does work.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:15:21 +0000

I must add… I have taken Brain Gym training classes and I don’t think there is anything in Brain Gym that could hurt anyone (Just an opinion). Maybe that’s a marketing ploy, maybe it’s a way to get people to get proper training so they can use the techniques properly and understand why they work.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:11:19 +0000

I agree that movement should not be trademarked. People have been able to trademark “systems of movement” because they want to protect their ideas and make money.
Brain Gym exercises are not random. Just because the scientific community can’t explain something, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.
The best explanation is #22 Karen the PT. I’m an OT and have used some Brain Gym exercises, as well as PNF, NDT, sensory integration therapy, and yoga with patients/students of all ages over many years. Exercises that the midline of the body stimulate integration of right and left brain function. Sometimes things just work, whether the science community can “prove it” or not.
If you want to know more about movement and learning read A. Jean Ayres or Carla Hannaford.

Maybe you should just try it and see for yourself.

By: srinivasa rao

srinivasa rao — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 06:37:19 +0000

Your way of approach is excellent.further send all your information to my mail id

By: Liz S.

Liz S. — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:18:48 +0000

As a teacher, I find that a time for movement is a welcome addition to the student’s day. I have also noticed a quietness in the classroom once students finish the brain gym exercise and begin working. I did not see any information on the Brain Gym website that suggested that people shouldn’t use them before paying for a class. The books I bought, allowed me to find a couple exercises that I can focus on teaching. I like doing these as a whole group, as well as suggesting it as a calming down exercise for those that are upset. So far, I have observed positive outcomes by including Brain Gyms in the weekly routine.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:25:25 +0000

I’m a PT who has used brain gym exercises in school based therapy. First, I would say you aren’t required to take the courses to learn the exercises – you can buy the books for less than $50 I think. That doesn’t certify you as a provider, but at least you know what the exercises are and what they are supposed to do. Second, I would suggest that perhaps there is a missing link. For example, the Figure 8′s you described here may improve reading because it practices the skills of crossing midline – to read from left to right, we must have the visual motor coordination (using both sides of our brain) to cross midline. Do the movements make us smarter? Maybe not – do they serve a purpose – maybe so. Another example is the skipping type activity (I’m sorry I don’t remember the name) – again we have crossing midline, now add in bilateral coordination – both keys to handwriting. I can’t speak much to the “buttons” and “owl” exercises but I would say that there are certain exercises that can be helpful to students in a classroom. That said, is there empirical data that THESE exercises are better than other exercises that practice, say crossing midline or bilateral coordination? I’m not aware of any. So in that sense, you are correct. Can it just be ANY movement breaks to help kids? No – the movements should be chosen based upon the targeted objectives. Part of MY job is to help teachers recognize what movements may be beneficial to students – if a student has difficulty with hand-eye coordination – maybe that is a part of why they have difficulty copying from the board. My point is – there is a reason for the movements we choose for students. The training is to help people understand these choices. Some of these choices are supported by research, some are not. Pediatric practice in general lags behind in research, compared to other therapy practice settings. The research has often followed, but until then it’s up to the individual provider to make the decision. I’d suggest, if you want to integrate movement into your classroom, consult with a PT or an adaptive PE teacher. Both are valuable resources and are there to assist you.

By: Catherine H.

Catherine H. — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 15:20:29 +0000

I tried it and it works for me at age 49 . However this is my 6th try entering the words may need to do some brain gym first to get it right LOL well make it 7

By: Catherine H.

Catherine H. — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 15:19:55 +0000

I tried it and it works for me at age 49 . However this is my 6th try entering the words may need to do some brain gym first to get it right LOL

By: Catherine H.

Catherine H. — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 15:18:37 +0000

I tried it and it works for me, at age 49.

By: Catherine H.

Catherine H. — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 15:17:58 +0000

At age 48 it works for me.