Brain Gym: Simple Activities for Whole Brain Learning

Recently I have had the opportunity to become familiar with Brain Gym. I was looking for answers to why it was difficult for a normal intelligent child to have such a difficult time in school. This was one of the answers to prayer. It showed how simple exercises can enhance a student's learning potential WITHOUT DRUGS, EXPENSE and a HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME. I believe that it has made a difference in the life of my child and it can do the same for you. There is a listing in the book of what exercises to use for specific needs. The only possible draw-back might be that the drawings could be more "polished". For the little amount of money you invest, you receive a large return and can bring hope to a child's learning potential.

I use the activities in this book every day with my special education students. They are having fun and it is helping them with their motor skills and their academic skills. I would recommend it to any teacher.

This book is oversimplified and short because it is an instructional reference written for children who may, or may not have learning disabilities. In short, it's perfect for the intended audience. As someone who has coped with severe learning disabilities all of his life, I wish this book was around when I was in elementary school. If you need a book on Brain Gym that is written for adults please try "Brain Gym For Business" or "Brain Gym (Teachers Edition)". You can also visit braingym.com for information on other books and classes taught by certified instructors. Be advised, most alternative books tend to be poorly printed, poorly illustrated, and pricey until the subject becomes popular and picked up by bigger publishing houses.

This book is an excellent introduction and manual for Brain Gym. It not only explains in detail how to do the simple excercises, but gives many scientific explanations for how and why they work. For those who don't know, Brain Gym is a method whereby brain functions are accessed by performing simple physical movements, and it has been found to profoundly improve ADD/ADHD/Dyslexic conditions as well as other learning disabilities. It is a series of exercises (drawn from all areas of movement -- from the calisthenics we did in phys-ed class to the eye exercises of behavioral optometrists, to acu-pressure points) specifically studied and narrowed down after many years of research to those that were found to optimally affect brain functions. Luckily they are all easy and take only minutes (or even seconds) to do, and they get immediate, verifiable results. In my experience they help students and professionals of all ages learn faster, improve memory and coordination, and generally reduce the stress of adjusting to new situations or learning foreign or difficult tasks. In my own experience, I no longer teach violin without integrating Brain Gym exercises because the students learn so much faster and develop better technique because they are more relaxed, naturally. I have also taught Brain Gym to writers, musicians, actors, doctors, mathematicians, teachers, dancers, investment bankers, producers etc. and the feedback is consistently positive. If you are a teacher and are interested in this kind of thing, classes are recommended, but the next best thing is to have this little book!

As an educator I have searched for techniques to help children extend their attention and stay focused. The exercises in this little orange book really work. I have recommended it to other teachers who agree wholeheartedly. Give it a try (and get a copy of the book for parents and educators that explains why it works so well!)