Since reading My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. I've become more interested in my brain, poor neglected thing that it is. It makes sense to me that both hemispheres could use a little exercise. I found these basic ones:
- Blood Flow Switch On (especially good before studying or concentration) Sit or stand. On one of your hands, open your fingers so that your thumb and index finger are as wide as possible from each other. Place this open index and thumb into the slight indentations below the collar bone on each side of your sternum. Put the other hand over your navel. Press lightly in a pulsing way for about 2 minutes.
- Cross Crawl (helps balance the flow between your 2 hemishperes, esp. for spelling, writing,listening, reading, and comprehension) Sit or stand. Put your right hand across your body to the left knee as you raise it, then left hand on right knee as if you were marching. Do this for about 2 minutes.
- Hook Ups (good for situations where you are nervous to calm your mind and improve concentration) Sit, or if you must stand do so carefully. Cross your right leg over your left at the ankles. Lay your right wrist over your left wrist, link up your fingers, turn your hands toward your body. Rest your clasped fingers on your breast bone (center of your chest). Stay in this position, keeping ankles crossed and wrists crossed and breath evenly. You will feel noticeably calmer in a few minutes.
Another tip: Drink Water (before and during class or any stressful situation) Drinking water is very important since the brain is comprised of more water than any other organ of your body and under stress you can de-hydrate, negatively affecting your concentration.
The site I got these from was:
http://www.iolani.honolulu.hi.us/Academics/UpperSchool/English-Upper_School/EnglishFac/9braingym.htm
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