#Pace brain gym movements series#

Also, they’re very quick – and I know you all lead busy lives! I’m sharing them with you because they don’t carry any risk, and they may do a lot of good. They may be effective on some people and not others or we may not yet understand the mechanisms behind them, because the mind/body connection is so complex. My feeling is that if these techniques work for you, it doesn’t necessarily matter why they work.

aromatherapy), but not much scientific evidence, because it is difficult to conduct double blind studies. In this respect, it resembles many complementary therapies for which there is plenty of anecdotal evidence (e.g. Brain Gym isn’t well substantiated by research. Those of you who know me, or have attended any of my seminars, will know that I have a scientific background and I like to back my advice with research. For instance, the ability of the eyes to horizontally track a line without moving the head, or the ability of the hands to write without contracting the shoulders or the back, or the ability to sit squarely on a chair allowing for a better grounding and concentration. Its goal is to support the physical skills required for learning. Brain Gym – exercising your brain and preparing it for learningīrain Gym is a movement-based programme, composed of 26 movements. Today, I’d like to share with you a few simple yet powerful techniques that can help you beat stress and achieve better focus and concentration, using the mind/body connection. And the (very) positive was giving birth to my two children at home, with no drugs or medical intervention, using visualisation techniques and deep relaxation (and a pool – there’s definitely a theme there…). I also have no doubts whatsoever that, conversely, the mind can influence the body in very powerful ways, both negative and positive in my case, the negative was developing a 12 year driving phobia after a minor accident when driving my boyfriend’s car. Now you know why I like Strictly Come Dancing. Looking demure in the 80s.įeistier in the 90s.

All of this left me with decent posture, good core strength, and a deep appreciation of the benefits of exercise, not just on physical health, but also on mental processes, from concentration and alertness to emotional regulation and stress management. I did ballet for 11 years, followed by competitive ballroom dancing, and then I trained as an aerobics instructor and personal fitness trainer. But I’m also very fortunate in that the mind/body connection has always played a big part in my life. I’m a big one for lists, action plans, and self-analysis. A bit like synchronised swimming (but without the pool).Īs it happens, I’m actually a very cerebral person. It was super-fun watching everybody tilting their heads to one side, clasping their hands, and breathing in and out in sync.

#Pace brain gym movements series#

Instead I had them all close their eyes and do a series of stretching exercises, some deep breathing, and a quick autogenic training sequence.

The room was packed, and too small to get the audience lying on the floor for some deep relaxation. Last week, I was at the London Language Show demonstrating simple techniques to help interpreters and translators beat stress, whether acute or chronic. Mind/body techniques for concentration and stress relief