Review the Year and Celebrate!

Wellness QUEST for YOUR BEST! Find a quiet moment to reflect on family, friends and other special people who have helped, loved, and inspired you throughout the past year. Celebrate all of them with an expression of gratitude before the year ends.

Health BENEFITS: Gratitude has a unique relationship with well-being. Wikipedia reports research suggesting how grateful people are happier, more satisfied with their lives and social relationships, and more in control of personal growth. They are less depressed, less stressed, and sleep better.

QUOTE: He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. ~Epictetus

HUMOR: An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan

POST SCRIPT: In addition to being thankful for other people’s positive effect on your life, give yourself credit. Your positive efforts deserve to be celebrated as well.

Note: The Health Cartoon shown above is taken from the perpetual Health Care-toons Calendar by Jeff Haebig and cartoonist Ed Fischer.

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QUEST CRYPTOGRAM answer from December 28th

"Triangle of Fitness... strength, flexibility, aerobics"

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Take New Fitness Steps

Wellness QUEST for YOUR BEST! With the New Year fast approaching, consider how you can improve your physical fitness. If you are not sure, consult a fitness specialist or knowledgeable friend who is physically active. You might want to improve your strength, flexibility, or stamina with aerobic training such as walking. Read the web links highlighted above and consult with your health care provider if you are just getting started. Make sure you start well within your fitness level for safety and ease into any new exercise for maximum enjoyment.

Health BENEFITS: Aerobic training strengthens the heart, lungs and circulatory system for disease prevention, helps boost body and brain energy throughout the day, regulates insulin, burns excess calories for weight management, and improves restfulness and sleep. Flexibility training, such as yoga and pilates, keeps muscles and joints supple for greater range of motion, injury prevention and relaxation. Strength training builds muscle tone, making your daily work easier to manage.

QUOTE: To follow without halt, one aim; there’s the secret of success. Anna Pavlova

HUMOR: He’s developing a more active lifestyle. Now he sits and watches aerobic shows on television.

QUEST CRYPTOGRAM: EAMPRDVZ FJ JMERZWW: WEAZRDEO, JVZKMHMVMEC, PZAFHMBW

Clues: D=g and M=i The solution is given on the next blog posting.

Note: The Health Cartoon shown above is taken from the perpetual Health Care-toons Calendar by Jeff Haebig and cartoonist Ed Fischer.

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Treat Santa to Dulce

Replace cookies and milk with tasty sea weed!

Give Santa a body-brain boost tonight with a delicious health snack that will help him spring to his feet, and spread Christmas joy. Leave a dish of Dulce by the chimney… it’s tasty, and full of vitamin B6, iodine, Potassium and Iron. Santa will love the pan-fried, crispy snack by itself, or crumbled on pop corn or a salad. Santa’s reindeer will love it too!

Daily Physical Education Rush

Go to NFLRush.com and become an advocate… huh?

I can appreciate the NFL’s advertizing campaign through this football season, emphasizing the need for 60 minutes of childhood play and exercise every day. The ads encourage people to go to NFLrush.com and become a fitness advocate. I went to this website and was deeply disappointed. The “Kids Club Fitness Alarm” displayed poorly produced videos encouraging leg squats, side lunges, Triceps dips… as if these calisthenics are key to fitness… Whoa! The videos kept playing despite my many efforts to turn them off.

Nowhere on the site was a compelling case made for physical fitness. Nor was there a way to influence school boards to add daily physical education to the curriculum. Click on ‘Fuel Up to Play 60’ and come to the National Dairy Council’s answer to fitness… Ugh!

This Body-BrainBoogie blog has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Daily Physical Education, with many researched articles making the case. I wish the NFL would have taken time to study, then present the benefits of exercise for disease prevention and academic success.

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Quest Cryptogram answer from December 22nd
"Resolve to do it and then do it"
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Make the Ultimate New Year's Resolution

Wellness QUEST for YOUR BEST! Replace your mega list of resolutions with ‘one’ practical way you want to improve yourself. Spend ‘one’ week thinking about ‘one’ health goal, focused on ‘one’ person (you) that will be completed next year. Write your resolution down and post it on a wall or mirror, making it the first thing you see in the morning.

Health BENEFITS: Keeping a New Year’s resolution can pay many health dividends if you stick to it. Read the article, watch the video... then set your goal and ‘do it!’

QUOTE: We must never try to escape the obligation of living at our best.
Janet Erskine Stuart

HUMOR: A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown

Quest cryptogram: tbnapwb da xa yd omx rzbs xa yd
Hint: A=O... The solution is given on the next blog post.

Note: The Health Cartoon shown above is taken from the perpetual Health Care-toons Calendar by Jeff Haebig and cartoonist Ed Fischer.

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New Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Makes you smarter, prevents cavities, lowers blood pressure…

RealAge.com has a treat for us… more research suggesting body and brain benefits of dark, dark chocolate… 70% cocoa content. More antioxidants, lower blood pressure, heart disease protection, improved cholesterol, longevity and more. Can this be? Read the article and links to salve your guilt about eating an ounce once in a while. Oh yeah!

Health Care-toon taken from the Health Care-toons Calendar (undated) by Jeff Haebig and Ed Fischer.

Fibromyalgia Fitness Facts

There are natural ways to manage muscular and joint pain

Jeanie Lerche Davis writing for WebMD explains how home remedies and alternative treatments work . Moderate massage, pressure put on pressure points, acupuncture and application of heat and cold on tender spots are mentioned. Links are provided helping people understand and manage Fibromyalgia. I especially enjoy the chronic back pain videos.

Fit Teenage Boys are Smarter

Cardiovascular fitness positively influences higher cognition

Newswise.com reports research conducted by Nancy Pederson of the University of Southern California and colleagues in Sweden showing how cardiovascular fitness (not muscular strength) correlates with higher cognitive functioning including verbal ability, to logical performance, to geometric perception and mechanical skills.

Over a long term, boys who were most fit at the age of 18 were more likely to go to college than the less fit counterparts.

Once again, Daily Physical Education is scientifically supported to optimize cognitive performance, as seen time and again on this blog.

Cell Phone Tower Health (video)

Protest cell phone towers – is it worth it?

Read the research on this blog, December 2nd to know people’s deep health concerns relating to the placement of wireless cells, towers and facilities close to where they live and work. I took my little song and dance… it’s really a Rhythm and Rhyme routine to the City of Scottsdale, AZ Development Review Board, who were considering the placement of a wireless communication facility within a 100 yards of our homes and future city park and playground.

Other groups have protested cell phone towers with petitions and lawyers… I just wanted them to postpone the vote until they read health related research. The result…within a heartbeat following my strange appeal, the proposed tower was passed. There was no discussion. However, to the surprise of the Review Board chairperson, one council member voted ‘nay’. The chairperson responded with two words… “Really?” “Really!”

Watch my brief routine… read a bit of the research posted on December 2nd… and vote. Is this an issue we need to be concerned about?

Cell Tower Health Risks (video)

Learn the serious health risks of Radio Frequencies!

Strong evidence shows electromagnetic radiation from cell phone towers is damaging to human and animal health according to EMwatch.com. Serotonin and melatonin levels are disturbed affecting brain messaging, mood, sleep regulation and immune system function. Cancer rates are higher. Short term effects include headaches, sleep disorders, poor memory, mental excitation, confusion, anxiety, depression, appetite disturbance and listlessness. Living within 400 meters of the cell phone towers has shown to increase risks. BioInitiative.org provides a comprehensive report of RF health risks. Links to many research-based EMF related websites can be found on LessEMF.com.

An insightful article by B. Blake Levitt on EnviroLink.org explains how laws were passed taking away cities and citizen’s control over cell tower placement. Read about the substantial nonthermal hazards of RFs, largely ignored by the FCC. This article is disturbing to those of us working for wellness.

Learning less than two weeks ago that a Wireless Communication Facility is proposed to be built less than 200 meters from our home, I decided to create the Radio Frequency Rhythm and Rhyme routine to share at the Development Review Board Public Hearing. The video entertains people to take this matter seriously. I am hoping it prompts the public and elected officials to take decisive action -- and not dance around this serious health issue!

Body Laterality and Learning

See what side of your body and brain is in control

Prodigy.net offers a most comprehensive series of articles helping us understand laterality, and crossed or mixed dominance. Find out what eye, ear, hand, foot is dominant within your body. Understand ways to correct faulty dominance when it results in learning problems.

Insist on daily physical education to assure your child builds a strong sense of laterality which leads to midline mastery of the hands and eyes needed for effortless reading and writing. Once again movement prevails as the leading way to achieve academic success!

Rope Skipping and Learning (Video)

Watch this amazing video.



These rope jumpers show astonishing skills that can be directly related to high body/brain function. Think of how their sense of balance, rhythm, coordination, midline mastery and directionality enhance academic performance skills, as well as their sense of self-worth, and eagerness to work with others. Remarkable!

Physical Activity and Academic Performance

How does physical activity influence academic performance?

Leslee Scheuer and Debby Mitchell writing for SportaPolis review several research projects analyzing the effect of physical activity and academic performance. California’s Statewide Study of Physically Fit Kids, and Dwyer’s study of academic performance and fitness in children in Australia is briefly mentioned.

The conclusion stated in this article: “Enhanced brain function, energy levels, body builds/perceptions, self-esteem, and behavior have been attributed to physical activity and to improved academic performance. One cannot make direct correlations from the information offered. However it is obvious that many positive relationships have been suggested. Perhaps instead of decreasing physical activity, school officials should consider developing enhanced physical activity programs.”

Beating Time to Success!

Beat competency can be nurtured and improved

Rebecca Eddy writing for MAD Academy expounds on beat competency linked to physical and intellectual capabilities. Reference is made to BBC News article, Poor rhythm ‘at the heart of dyslexia’. It is surprising how many people are unable to maintain a steady beat. More amazing is how rhythm relates to language and reading development, even mathematical success.

Music and Movement

Instrumental in Language Development

Maryann Harman writes a comprehensive article in Early Childhood News citing research showing how music combined with physical movement significantly boosts reading, writing and language skills. The research of Dr. Alfred Tomatis is cited, including how sounds (phonemes) and movement of the fetus are linked during gestation.

One Amazing Brain Site!

What an absolute delight finding this body/brain-based website!

Christopher McPeck has amassed hundreds of articles and links related to body and brain fitness. What a phenomenal contribution Christopher is making. One of his passions is sharing the addictive nature of the Internet and Television. Take a moment to scan the comprehensive nature of this super insightful website including topics focused on the Brain, Arousal, Hearing, Indoor Air Pollution, Muscle Tension, Posture, Sensory Processing, Sleep, Vision, Research Topics, and Other Suggestions.

Smart Foods

Food Combination and Mental Performance

Joshua has compiled a list of articles that make a great deal of sense for those of us interested in optimizing body brain function. This article on Smart Foods advises us how to eat a balanced diet that both stimulates and relaxes the brain. Check out Joshua's website for other helpful information focused on natural brain fitness. Many articles relate to Avoidant Personality Disorders and Depression.

Auditory Function in Academics

Expanding auditory digit span remediates many learning problems

Kay Ness, MS Neurodevelopmental specialist has written an intriguing article citing the importance of the auditory system for reading, conversational language, understanding complex instructions, learning long words using phonics, solving psychological problems and improving maturity. ADD, ADHD, autism and Down syndrome are mentioned. Much of the article is focused on auditory digit span. This is very interesting.

Kay said, “If I was going to pick the greatest functional problem in our society today, I would choose auditory processing.” Kay definitely made her case.

Body Brain BOOGIE’s Birthday!

Can you believe our outreach is one year old, today!

Thanks to the researchers, authors, websites, and body brain-enhancing practitioners who add joy to people’s lives; I have written over two hundred postings aimed to help people find their inspired work.

Our goal is seeking vibrant living and learning potential… naturally.

All the best to you as we pursue the second year of life-enriching discoveries! Let’s boogie on! Jeff

Steady Beat Improves Academics

Reading and Mathematics are improved with steady beat competence

Phyllis Weikart’s article cites research supporting the use of steady rhythm while moving, talking, singing, and reciting poetry as a way to build reading, vocabulary, math and physical coordination. Children’s behavior, concentration, and understanding of body in space were all positively impacted. Many suggestions are given to parents and teachers wanting to help their children explore and develop their steady beat.

‘Poor rhythm is at the heart of Dyslexia’, an article by BBC news, cited research from the University College of London, finding dyslexic children were less able to detect beats in sounds with a strong rhythm.

Success in Teaching

Visit this comprehensive website for many marvelous ideas

Ronald Fitzgerald’s Success In Teaching website is jam-packed with many exceptional articles related to brain-friendly teaching. Ron’s vast experience in education and his passion, moving schools towards excellence is reflected in his keen writings. Plan to visit this amazing website often and enjoy Ron’s articles including his monthly Classroom Tips Newsletters.

Alternate Nostril Breathing (video)

Soothe chronic pain and promote relaxation

Timothy McCall, MD. writes in the Yoga Journal explaining how yoga breathing practices can quickly relax the fight-or-flight sympathetic nervous system, shifting energy to the restorative parasympathetic nervous system. Pain can be effectively reduced.

Researchers from Nepal Medical College found that alternate nostril breathing can have a powerful calming effect. Other research is reported on CRPS/RSD A Better Life blog, including interesting ways alternate nostril breathing stimulates the brain hemispheres. A video describing this technique is shown.

Why Kids Need Recess

Even the Kids Who Misbehave!

Rae Pica originator of Moving and Learning.com, author of 18 books related to movement and active learning has written a number of excellent articles including, 7 Reason Why Kids Need Recess. Check out her other insightful articles, like Linking Literacy and Movement along with her blog, The Pica Perspective.

All the research Rae Pica reports establishes the need for Daily Physical Education, morning and afternoon recess for children, and frequent use of physical movement teaching classroom concepts in order to optimize the body brain and firmly establish new neural networks that comprise in depth learning.

Recess is Really Important!

Study shows the importance of recess during the school day

Linda Ebbing writing for the Middletown Journal cites how vitally important recess is for elementary students. Burned off energy, better behavior, improved concentration, improved motor skills, enhanced social-emotional skills, and better attention are a few benefits mentioned.

Recess breaks as short as ten minutes improve children’s learning efficiency according to Catherine L. Ramstetter who conducted a comprehensive review of literature regarding recess throughout the United States.

Many schools have dropped recess to devote more time preparing for tests to meet NCLB mandates. If that is true in your school district, go to the school board and insist on Daily Physical Education and morning and afternoon recess! Read the Peaceful Playgrounds blog for more recess-related information.

Physical Education Smarter

Yes! One sort of exercise can make you smarter

Compelling research suggests that aerobic types of exercise benefit brain growth and cognition. Gretchen Reynolds writing for The New York Times Well Blog, cites several interesting research projects supporting aerobic conditioning for students, even the elderly, to gain and maintain improved brain function.

Research and comments by researchers Charles Hillman, Arthur Kramer, C.J. Jen, and Henriette van Praag are mentioned.

Insist on daily Physical Education if your local schools and nursing homes don’t offer it!

Body Brain Boosters MeetUp

Start your own MeetUp group to promote total wellness!

We are bursting at the seams with excitement over body brain science. Now there is an easy way meet up with interested people within your community and advance research-based mindbody enhancing practices. Go to MeetUp.com and start your own group of enthusiasts.

Visit my Body Brain Boosters MeetUp group for ideas. Contact me if you need more information or encouragement.

Get ADD Students Organized (video)

Base your teaching approaches on the brain part affected

Kathie Nunley from Brains.org has posted a short video, Teaching Tip 12, explaining ways to help ADD and ADHD students get organized. She relates methods based on whether the hind brain or pre-frontal cortex is involved.

Remember, low dopamine production can be raised through gross-motor movements, helping boost attention what ever areas of the brain or approach is used. Insist on more classroom activity, recess and daily physical eduction!

Feldenkrais Fitness Comfort

Can a fitness exercise program feel this good?

Sara Reistad-Long writing for ThatsFit.com relates her first experience with Feldenkrais, a series of ‘awareness through movement’ exercise routines developed by Moshe Feldenkrais who studied ways our bodies can function with greater ease and skill.

More articles appear on Feldendrais.com. I have experienced Feldenkrais and need to return to this revitalizing practice.

Top 10 Myths about ADHD

Read this article and decide on the 'real' ADHD myth

The first thing I notice as I am reading this article by Jean Rothman on the EverydayHealth website is the Concerta ad above the article, stating “Manage your child’s ADHD symptoms this school year.” Another ad adjacent to the headline says, “Get a FREE Trial.” Start reading this article and notice how many points are made justifying medication to treat ADHD. Notice how many more drug ads are posted along the side and bottom of this article. Are they trying to sell you something?

Now go back and read Thom Hartmann’s article yesterday and Thomas Armstrong’s previous article on this blog giving a different perspective. You tell me… what approach do you want to take… meds or a natural one, accommodating ADHD giftedness?

Be careful, if you or your child is taking meds, a guided approach needs to be taken before removing the drug. Talk with a specialist working with natural dietary, self-management and movement approaches before easing off.

ADD Isn’t the Problem

Attention Deficit Disorder -- a Different Perspective

Thom Hartmann, author of six books on Attention Deficit Disorder takes exception to the seriousness of ADD and ADHD. He insists that poor science casts a negative image on children, giving them a learning defect, when in reality it is the assembly-line, conveyer-belt schools that are dysfunctional. Take ADD and ADHD students out of this constrained setting and watch their learning genius and self-worth excel. Thank you Whole Family website for offering this article which is strangely absent from leading websites counseling parents about ADD.

Ode to Forgetfulness (video)

Listen, do you want to know a secret… about aging (song)

Mack Dryden sings a fun song about mental decline. This video is real fun for those of us becoming forgetful. Let’s laugh before full dementia sets in. Follow wellness practices on this blog and you will postpone, or reduce premature mental aging. Who needs it? Visit Mack on his website for more humor.

Healthy Brain Aging

Why we need to retool ‘Use it or lose it’

Alvaro Fernandez, co-author of The SharpBrain Guide to Brain Fitness starts his article posted on scribd.com by debunking 10 common myths on brain health, then recommends a brain-friendly lifestyle with an emphasis on novelty, variety and challenge. He challenges all of us to reshape and retool by ‘Using it or losing it’.

My Child’s Delayed Development?

What should I do about my child’s physical development?

Esther Boylan Wolfson in consultation with Ziva Schapiro, OTR offers an insightful article on WholeFamily.com website, suggesting what might be done if you suspect your child has a developmental problem. Check out Esther’s other excellent articles addressing Early Childhood Development.

LD Remedy… We Hold the Key!

Helping People… Unlock their Potential

Living and Learning… Movement is Central!

Neuro-education connecting Neuroscientific research and learning suggests the most effective ways to optimize body brain cells and systems to boost attention, sharpen focus, heighten motivation, enhance learning performance skills, and extend memory.

But what if, despite our good intentions and diligent work, these methods don’t work?

Then take a step backwards and return to the basics, helping the challenged learner retool their sensory, processing and motor systems that may be struggling. One or multiple systems might be involved, including the visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, reflex, tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems.

Let’s explore each of these systems over the next few months. Discover what people are doing to mature the sensory input system, brain processing/memory system, and motor output system called upon to express learning through talking, writing, art, music, sport, and other life-enhancing performance skills – this will be great fun!

Exercise Your Brain with Neurobics

Neurobics works to keep your aging brain fit

Lawrence C. Katz and Manning Rubin offer ‘83 Neurobic Exercises to Health Prevent Memory Loss and Increase Mental Fitness’. Thank you Scribd.com for offering this free e-book packed with practical ideas. Chapters include Starting and Ending the Day… Commuting…At Work… At the Market… At Mealtimes… and At Leisure. Hat’s off to David Suter for his novel illustrations creatively representing this science of brain enhancement.

Pump Dopamine Naturally

Use your body to pump this essential brain-boosting chemical

Good-feeling dopamine is a pleasure/reward neurochemical that boosts attention, raises motivation, and orchestrates the prefrontal cortex – the executive brain that focuses on learning and minimizes impulsivity. Stimulant drugs are sometimes prescribed to help people diagnosed with ADD and ADHD produce more dopamine. Brisk, large muscle movements do the same, especially aerobic exercise.

Daily physical education, morning and afternoon recess, frequent physical activity breaks, and subject matter taught with movement will get dopamine pumping naturally.

This is a great fix for frittering minds!

Note: The Health Care-toon shown above is taken from the Health Care-toon Calendar, 365 Ways to Look and Feel Great by cartoonist Ed Fischer and Jeff Haebig. Visit WellnessQuest.com for a daily Health Care-toon and related wellness ideas.

Jump Start Your Brain

Ten techniques to keep your aging brain fit

Ken Currier’s writing for Stuff Your Brain Likes website, has briefly outlined what we can do to keep our brain vibrant throughout life. His article is a good reminder of brain plasticity – its remarkable ability to refresh itself throughout life, given well chosen exercise and nutrition.

Note: The Health Care-toon shown above is taken from the Health Care-toon Calendar, 365 Ways to Look and Feel Great by cartoonist Ed Fischer and Jeff Haebig. Visit WellnessQuest.com for a daily Health Cartoon and related wellness ideas.

HPERD Boosts Learning Success

Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance are Key

Create ideal learning states shown to grow and speed body brain cells and systems responsible for enhanced learning. Exercise and relaxation are key, along with a healthy diet and wholesome living practices. Read these Body-BrainBoogie postings -- then take daily action creating new dendrite delight adding new receptor sites and more vibrant energy information bytes, making your hippocampus hop, synapses sing and cerebellum ring!

Train Your Brain with Exercise

Make yourself smarter with aerobic workouts

Jean Lawrence writing for WebMD summarizes current research showing how exercise combats ADHD naturally, calms hyperactivity, grows new brain cells with added BDNF, releases pleasure chemicals key to memory and motivation, and helps remedy depression, fatigue and stress. Dr. John Ratey is quoted, “Exercise is really for the brain, not the body.” No wonder daily physical education in school is key to maximizing learning potential.

Vestibular Disorders Cause LD

Remedy learning disabilities by first starting here

The vestibular system located within the inner ear unifies the visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive (body) systems involved with attention, focus, eye tracking, auditory discrimination, posture, laterality, directionality, sitting still – all of which affect writing, reading, language development, concentration and ultimately self-esteem.

If the vestibular system is weak, an overwrought hypervestibular system is easily overwhelmed with school activities. A slow hypovestibular system is underwhelmed with its low muscle tone and weakened sensory and motor functions.

What to do? Test the vestibular system first, then use specific movements to strengthen the hyper or hypo systems.

Daily physical education offers vestibular stimulation needed by students to excel, especially those falling behind. For a spin on this key learning system visit Vestibular.org.

The Body is Key to Reading

There is more to reading success than meets the eye

Of course eye teaming, smooth eye pursuit across the midline, and visual accommodation near and far are important to reading success. Often overlooked is the body’s role in reading. For example, having good muscle tone in the core and leg muscles needed to sit still… integration of primary reflexes ATNR, and STNR allowing steady focus when the body or neck is moved… body awareness including a sense of laterality and directionality, allowing readers to distinguish between a ‘p’ and ‘q’ and ‘m’ and ‘w’ so ‘mom’ doesn’t become ‘wow’… and having a mature vestibular system unifying visual acuity, auditory discrimination and body-in-space skills.

How does one strengthen all of these body systems to assure reading success? Repetitive movement! Ample running, skipping, spinning, rowing, throwing, catching and other vibrant movement activities are essential.

Daily physical education with a focus on body awareness and movement exploration is a must to help young children mature all of the body brain systems involved with successful reading.

Not helping children mature their body brain networks will result in reading delays, dyslexia, and other challenges and learning disabilities we often hand over to Special Ed. Read Physical Activities for Improving Children's Learning and Behavior by Billye Ann Cheatum and Allison A. Hammond available from Human Kinetics for in depth understaning.

Obesity and Quick Fast Food

Proximity of ‘fast-food’ restaurants to schools is a major factor

Newswise reports a study by Baylor University relating adolescent obesity to how close fast-food restaurants are located to schools. The study was selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as “the most influential child obesity research for the past year.”

I wonder why compelling research relating childhood obesity to sedentary lifestyles and lack of sufficient daily exercise and movement wasn’t on top – then again this childhood ‘fat factor’ is most obvious… and who needs to prove the obvious?

Want to remedy childhood obesity? Insist on daily physical education with a fitness emphasis! Daily Health education is needed too, helping people understand high calories of certain fast-foods, and the best nutrition to maintain ideal body weight.

Super Charge Your Brain

Speed up brain impulses through repetitive body movements

Get wired! Become your own electrician laying down new elaborate body brain networks that connect sensory and motor neurons responsible for learning. Expand your neural networks and speed their electrical transmission through physical activities (e.g. talking, writing, drawing, dancing, socializing, playing musical instruments, acting, playing, engaging in sports, etc). All neural networks created through such movements are part of the circuitry regulating mood, boosting attention, heightening motivation, building academic performance skills, and extending memory.

Repetitive movements increase cellular voltage as positive and negative ions surge back and forth between communicating neurons. When the energy threshold is high enough to stimulate genetic expression, genes and chromosomes within the neuron’s cell body nucleus produce new molecules that boost cellular function. One master molecule created is BDNF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, referred to as Miracle-Gro for the brain by Dr. John Ratey in his book SPARK, The New Revolutionary Science of Exercise and the Brain.

BDNF along with other Nerve Growth Factors grow new neurons, help extend neural networks and increase speed of transmission. Exercise produces and pumps more BDNF throughout the body brain to maximize growth. If you want to wire up… then fire up with exercise. You’ll have less mental static and faster neurons in your mental attic needed to excel! Insist on daily Physical Education focused on fitness to super charge your brain!

Learning Challenges Unfold

When physical movement is put on hold…

Writer’s block, reading delays, LD, ADD, ADHD, and a host of other learning and behavioral challenges can result from lack of movement.

Examples include a fetus frozen by excess stress in the uterus, C-section babies who fail to exert themselves during birth, infants lying on their back or trapped in a car seat, baby swing or playpen for extended periods, young children deprived of plenty of robust play, young learners sitting in their desks doing endless worksheets rather than learning concept through frequent sensory and motor activities, lack of repetitions writing, talking, reading, and primary reflexes (e.g., ATNR, STNR, grasp, spinal gallant) not integrated through repeated physical movement… the list goes on.

Daily Physical Education, morning and afternoon recess, and multiple movement opportunities during each class period will engage the body brain, helping resolve some of these learning issues taking root in body tissues. For more severe learning delays a more focused, remedial physical approach is needed to mature neural networks, helping people realize their living and learning potential. Movement is key!

Prime the Brain Before Studying

Move your muscles to produce and pump learning chemicals

Chemical messengers communicating between neurons are needed for the brain to pay attention and focus. Since attention precedes learning, it makes good sense to produce and pump enzymes, hormones, and neurochemicals needed, especially for people with ADD, ADHD, and other attentional challenges.

Large muscle movements (e.g., circling the arms overhead) produce dopamine, the pleasure/reward motivational chemical that orchestrates the pre-frontal cortex called upon to learn. Moving the arms and legs across the body engages both sides of the brain, helping with sequential and global brain functions involved with writing and math.

Daily Physical Education and frequent movement activities throughout the day will help brain cells excel. Why rely on stimulant drugs when the body can do the work!

Do the Body and Brain Cell dance to prime the brain.

Body and Brain Cell Dance (video)

Show brain cells working best through movement and exercise

Follow a sequence of gestures showing how movement and exercise help produce new neurons (neurogenesis), extend neural networks (dendrites and receptors sites), generate more genetic expression, produce more myelin on axons for faster body-brain transmission and make synapses smile.


Get a leg-up on current research with more detailed body-brain cell dances coming soon. Make this science come alive movin' and groovin' along!

Maximize Learning -- Physically!

Improve learning by engaging your body more often

What if schools and workplaces adopted practices shown by neuroscience to improve attention, focus, motivation, learning and memory -- helping all people maximize their living and learning potential? What immediate changes would take place?

The most noticeable change would be much more movement and exercise throughout the day. Increased blood flow carrying oxygen and an assortment of body-brain enhancing chemicals (dopamine, norepinephrine, adrenaline, BDNF, serotonin, etc.) would heighten physical, mental, social and emotional states shown to enhance learning.

So why do we sit on our duffs? Why is recess and physical education on the chopping block when our goal is to excel and meet the highest learning standards?

Desk Workouts

Workouts for the workaholic to keep the body and brain sharp!

Loyola Center for Fitness offers a quick way to increase energy level while working at your desk. Move the body! Invigorate the brain! Mini workouts in three main fitness categories (cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility) are described. Print out this list provided by Newswise and post it by your desk. Program yourself to use various exercises every 15 or 20 minutes. “If co-workers give you a strange look while you are exercising, ask them to join you,” said Kara Smith, special programs coordinator at the Loyola Center for Fitness.

The body greatly influences the brain… let’s use it often to boost the mind!

Learning Disability Links

Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and other LDs explained

NeuroEducation.com describes learning challenges and offers links for more information. Included is NonVerbal Learning Disability, Brain Trauma, Developmental Delays, Language Processing Problems, Cognitive Output Disorder, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia.

I like this website and their Mission Statement which reads in part, “Our treatment plans are aimed at assisting our patients in triumphantly overcoming learning and/or emotional disorders. A workplace that is joyful, energetic and aimed at continual personal and professional growth is our goal.”

Neurodevelopment Intro

Brain stem, midbrain and cortex development and problems

Toni Hager, originator of Kids Can Learn website, presents a thorough overview of brain and central nervous system, identifying stages of development, and pinpointing what learning and behavior problems result when the spinal cord, brain stem, midbrain and cortex fail to properly develop. Visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive competence, as well as mobility, manual, and language proficiency are affected.

What is often perceived as learning and behavioral problems in school have neurological roots that can often be remedied naturally, targeting the source of dysfunction.

Bodies In Space

Whole brain, whole body Blog is wholly worthwhile

M. A. Greenstein offers insightful articles, podcasts and more on her inspired Bodies In Space Blog, focusing on global, whole-brain and whole body learning. Her Immersive Attention Change the Brain! article provides commentary on Dr. John Ratey’s book SPARK, a must read for people interested in the science of exercise.

Beyond the Mind-Body video of Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz is shown on her article titled, ‘Just how easy is it to change our brains (and our minds)’. Thank you Dr. G. for your GGGGreat Blog!

Neuro-education Jubilation (video)

Capture the essence of Neuro-education with a movement sequence

"Mental and physical education, total mindbody integration... maximize your learning potential, understanding first what is most essential."

These words take on special significance during this movement sequence that brings Neuro-education to life. Rather than watching and listening, mimic the movements and echo the words. Not only will you prime your body/brain with more super-learning chemicals getting you ready for your upcoming mental activities, you will sense the significance of Neuro-education, connecting neuroscience to learning.

Intelligence of Play (video)

Real playing is how real learning takes place!

Building the foundation of intelligence through play is the subject of a videotaped interview with Joseph Chilton Pearce, author of Magical Child. Permanent neural patterning involved in learning is established through play. The absorbent mind of the child, observing and becoming part of the universe builds the child’s identity and connection to the world through thought, feeling and action. This happens through play.

Other videos and articles related to play, learning and intelligence are available on the Touch the Future website.

Myth of ADD

Look at ADHD in a new light with natural solutions

Dr. Thomas Armstrong is author of 13 books including 7 Kinds of Smart and The Myth of the A.D.D. Child, 50 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Behavior and Attention Span Without Drugs, Labels or Coercion. His website offers his books and articles worth pursuing. I like how Thomas Armstrong uses positive, natural, wellness-based approaches to build each child’s ultimate worth.

Isn’t it strange that leading websites addressing ADD and ADHD fail to mention Thomas Armstrong and his natural methods of remedying behavioral and learning problems? They also fail to mention how brisk exercise boosts dopamine levels in the pre-frontal cortex, alleviating much of the problem. Medications are suggested.

Pedometer Walking Programs

Top 10 Pedometer Walking Programs are suggested

Wendy Bumgardner writing for About.com has done her homework, describing free and fee online walking programs that use pedometers and journaling to keep on track. Assistance is provided, helping people choose the right pedometer.

H. P. E. R. D. is Key to NCLB!

Exercise Natural Steps… ‘Leave NO Child Behind Developmentally!’

Students falling behind in school most often possess immature sensory and motor systems. Such developmental delays have an adverse effect on academic performance skills, including reading, writing, spelling and math.

Strengthening visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive (muscular) and vestibular systems builds a more solid body brain neurological foundation upon which enhanced attention, academic skills, memory, and motivation are built.

Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance provide activities designed to mature the body brain, allowing people of all ages to achieve their vast living and learning potential.

Soon this Body-BrainBoogie Blog will feature short videos that ‘Shake, Rattle n’ Role-model’ research-based methods that tap, tap, tap the body-brain! Get the beat on neuroscience, assuring NCLB, NO Child is Left Behind developmentally! Watch the upcoming videos -- better yet, perform the routines lead by Jeff Haebig.

Video sequences will include the following.

Turn On Neurons! Energize! Exercise!
Expand Dendrites Grow Receptor Sites
Hip-Hip Hooray! I Revise My DNA!
BDNF – Body-Brain Cell Miracle Gro
Hippocampus Chop, Retention Tip-top
Gain Brain Speed with Smilin’ Myelin
Rum-rum! Energy Across Cerebrum
Synaptic Adhesion – Give Gap Naps
Peptize! Move Cerebral Spinal Fluid
Prime the Brain – Go-Go Chemicals
Boost Attention – Pump Dopamine
Reticular Activation -- RAS Matazz!
Serotonin Steady! Adrenaline Ready!
End Excess Stress – Neocortex Hex!
Stress for Success, Breathe with Ease
Rah! Rah! Rah! Amygdala De Dah!
Nah-nah No-no GABA Take Control
Calm Down -- Relax Muscle Spindles
Integrate Celebrate! Primary Reflexes
Auto Sequence -- Ring the Cerebellum
Pedal Brake – Regulate the Cingulate
Hypo-slow Vestibular – Fidget is Legit!
Hyper Vestibular – Rock It to Calm It!
Rock and Roll, Balance and Spin
Eye-eye! The Eyes Have It! Acuity
Hear-here! Ears Can Hear It! Clarity
Hand It To You! Fine-tune Tactility
Gross-motor Laterality Directionality

Boys Need Dance!

Strength, Grace and Emotional Balance

Anne Green Gilbert, Founder and Director of Creative Dance Center, points to the critical interplay between how we feel, act and think in her article titled Boys Need Dance. Her article cites many benefits of dance including the need to balance cortisol stress hormone with serotonin to produce feelings of well-being and self-confidence. Creative Dance Center offers many fine articles and Fabulous Resources for Parents and Teachers.

Breathing, Relaxation, Yoga

Workplace Yoga and Meditation Can Lower Feelings of Stress

Newswise reports a study by Janet Buckworth and William Malakey from Ohio State regarding a noon-time, “lose dose” program combining breathing, relaxation and yoga to music with discussions and contemplations of stress at work. Quality of sleep improved as well as mindfulness – the ability to change one’s perception of stress, considering options to manage it.

Here’s another effective way to apply body and brain power for higher productivity and zest for living!

Physically Ready to Learn

Tummy Time to concept-based dance and much more!

Spark Plug Dance website offers exceptional articles on body brain-boosting activities. Tummy time and movement ideas for newborns, toddler activities, and creative movement activities for all ages are offered – along with the research! What a rich resource for improving social, emotional and cognitive learning through body and brain physical engagement. Hats off to Teri Page and Rachel Carnes for being spark plugs for movement and dance!

Neuro Physical Education

Connecting brain science to gym class with upcoming videos

Neuro-education connects brain science to learning. Advances in brain imaging suggest how the body-brain learns best. Most striking is how movement and exercise is essential to attention, focus, learning skills, memory, and motivation. We will soon break this down, using video to shake, rattle n’ show how the body is integral to enhanced brain function.
Learning problems related to sensory and motor system development will receive special attention. Natural movement-based remedies for anxiety, depression, and excess stress will be featured as well.

Rather than talking about this, we will add ‘hip to lip’ making this science come alive with spirited movement. Our goal – helping people of all ages and learning styles achieve their vibrant living and learning potential joyously. Stay posted, interactive Body-BrainBoogie videos are soon to follow.

Brain Gym ® Exercises

Simple PACE exercises prime the body and brain

A short article by Kenneth Beare writing for About.com describes four Brain Gym PACE exercises designed to help students become Positive, Active, Clear and Energetic. Other interesting body brain-enhancing articles are linked to this article. One needs to keep an eye on the research supporting these activities.

Massage Video Collection

Watch dozens of videos showing massage techniques

The School of Massage Therapy at the Minnesota School of Business in Rochester Minnesota offers a free collection of short videos showing how to massage the body. 15+ different styles of massage are shown including music massage, full body, reflexology, Shiatsu, Swedish, self-stretching, Thai Massage, deep tissue and more. What a marvelous contribution by the Massage Nerds!

Aging -- Fit Body, Fit Mind

Workouts help preserve mental fitness through aging

An interesting article by Christopher Hertzog and team featured in Scientific American supports physical fitness as a hedge against age-related dementia. One study cited showed how the most physically active women had a 30% lower risk of cognitive decline. In this study walking distance was related to cognition, but walking speed was not. Jennifer Weuve’s research team at Harvard University found a significant relation between energy expended in physical activity and cognition. Other interesting research is cited related to the body’s impact on the brain, giving elders an effective way to stay mentally sharp.

Obesity -- Top Health Concern

Obesity Remains No. 1 Health Problem for Kids

Newswise.com reports research released by the University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. Obesity ranks number one among the Whites, Blacks and Hispanics surveyed.

Does it seem strange that schools are cutting recess and physical education at this time?

Daily physical education with a fitness focus, leading children into pleasant activities not only will help resolve the obesity crisis, but strengthen learning as repeatedly shown on this Body-BrainBoogie Blog.

Movement and Learning Development

Movement integrates primary reflexes to ease learning

Take time to read this article by Eve Kodiak explaining in detail Sensory Integration through Movement. Understand how infant or primary reflexes turn thought into language. Integrating reflexes through movement can remedy writing and other learning problems.

Eve has developed a new approach to learning combining developmental movement and music. She has a number of articles to share on her insightful website.

Regenerating Our Bodies (Video)

Future concept of accelerating healing and creating new body tissue.

Imagine the body growing new organs and tissues, healing debilitating diseases. Alan Russell talking at TED, shows how this might be done in the future. Treating and curing diseases, rather than treating symptoms makes sense… but is it possible? If a newt can grow new limbs, why can’t we?.

Senior Fitness

How to maintain vibrancy through the aging process

For Baby-boomers and beyond, exercise is the best hedge against premature aging, including coronary artery disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and even the common cold and flu. Solve Your Problem website does an admirable job explaining how exercise boosts the immune system to help protect us from illness. Lots of other relevant wellness articles are shown on this “Believe In Yourself… You Can Do It!” website

Achieve Happiness (Video)

Why are we happy? Why aren’t we happy?

Dan Gilbert speaking at TED expounds on happiness, relating your feelings to research. Enjoy this lighthearted talk reinforcing our prefrontal cortex’s capacity to manufacture happiness. Interesting how bounded and unbounded ambitions and fears impact us differently. Quite surprising.

Actively Engaged Leisure

Looking at Leisure to Promote Mental Illness Recovery

Newswise reports new research that will explore how actively engaged leisure involving enjoyable and meaningful recreational activities impacts people of multiple cultures living with mental illness. The community-centric approach builds a partnership between academics and members of a community who share equally in this research project.

Race to the Top!

National Competition to Advance School Reform is Afoot… but?
Education Secretary Arne Duncan has announced the $4.35 billion dollar ‘Race to the Top’ program leading the way to school reform and innovation in classrooms, I wonder whether effective body brain enhancing methods featured on this Body-brain Boogie Blog, using exercise and movement to effectively build academic performance skills will be in the mix?

Read the press release. What do you think? Are we about to see more recess, Physical Education, and evidence-based methods using art, music, and movement to build academic performance skills… or is money going to be pumped into more extensive Testing and Awarding pursuits. Hearing Arne Duncan on the PBS Newshour enthusiastically refer to the Institute for Learning, I fear that Effort-based Education will be guiding the process.

When are we going to embrace Neuroeducation… and utilize the science showing how the body brain works best?

Sounds of Learning

Studying the Impact of Music on Children with Autism

Newswise.com reports research conducted at UCLA using music to help children with autism spectrum disorders experience emotions, an essential part of relating to people (challenging for many people with ASD). The 12-week program uses the Orff method, developed by 20th century German Composer Carl Orff. Music and movement activity are “elemental” according to Orff. Singing, clapping, dancing, musical games are used to connect learning to emotions, in an interactive setting. Interesting how educational practices a hundred years ago knew what body brain research confirms today! It’s time educators today get with it, rather than cutting music and physical education programs, making these programs central to learning.

Exercise Brain Growth

Move Your Feet -- Grow New Neurons in Your Hippocampus

Brenda Patoine’s article on the DANA.org website cites research suggesting neurogenesis (new brain cell growth) resulting from exercise (e.g. hour a day, four times a week). MRI scans show growth takes place in the dentate gyrus within the hippocampus, an essential part of our memory system. The research suggests that exercise helps protect your brain throughout your lifetime. BDNF, is a major nerve growth factor involved in new brain cell growth and connectivity according to Carl Cotman, neurobiologist at the University of California, Irvine.

Enhance Fine Motor Activity

Improve Hand Writing and Other Hand Functions Using these Activities

Children with Challenges website offers many engaging fine motor activities designed to help people control hand function. This wonderful informational website points out the importance of posture, sensory processing, trunk and shoulder stability, and visual motor and visual perceptual skills involved with handwriting. Once again, the body is central to improving academic performance skills.

Alternative Therapies from A to Z

Dozens of natural (non-drug) therapies for LD

Karen Johnson and Jodee Kulp have briefly described dozens of natural non-drug approaches to help remediate learning challenges. It is one impressive list offered by Tool Box Parent.

Keep Your Aging Brain Sharp

Avoid Negative Brain Plasticity with fitness software

Michael Merzenich writing for Scientific American Mind, warns us of age-related cognitive decline. “Called negative brain plasticity – the cerebral equivalent of what has happened to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biceps,” Merzenich advises training the brain. He promotes brain fitness software offered through Posit Science. Circuit Training, Computer Games for Mental Workouts, an article by Kaspar Mossman also gets you thinking. Is juggling, playing bridge, eating your fruits and vegetables, exercising, trying new wholesome activities, and building new social networks enough? Or should we spend money tapping into new brain stimulating technology?

Brain Science Comes to Life!

A website you can readily use to enhance your body brain!

Brain Leaders and Learners website authored by Dr. Ellen Weber offers ‘Practical Tactics from Neuro Discoveries’. This is one of the most useful sites for people wanting to understand and apply neuroscience to enhance their learning, work and lives. It is so heartening to visit this exceptional site and see how adaptable our brain is… we are continually revising our body brain to meet new demands we put on it. ‘Action’ is key to the process. Take action and visit this site regularly – it is a true gift!

Stretches at Your Desk

Video sequences for the back, shoulders, arms, and neck

Sitting at a desk for an extended period of time cause tightness, muscle soreness and fatigue. Mayo Clinic offers five short video clips you can follow to keep yourself loose and energized. Sitting on a stability or fitness ball keeps you mobile while working, pumping cerebral spinal fluid to the brain. Standing up and walking in place or stretching while in front of your computer makes your desk area a fitness zone. Productivity skyrockets!

4th of July Movement Routine

Feel physical fireworks following the actions

Rather than sitting and listening to the 1812 Overture performed to fireworks, why not create your own sparkle, mimicking my complex movement routine and echoing the lyrics. Dress in red, white and blue to experience total release. Can you do it? Engage your pre-frontal cortex, motor cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, visual, auditory, vestibular and kinesthetic body brain systems. This is the same body brain network that involves academic performance skills. Ka boom! What a blast!

Stimulating the Autistic Brain

Using Motor Patterning and Childhood Reflexes

Suzanne Amanor-Wilks article explains, “how cognition and movement are really the same” and how therapies for autism, leading to higher levels of behavior and learning are centered on movement, reflexes, posture and muscle control. Suzanne briefly explains the role of primitive reflexes, motor patterns, sensory-motor integration, and brain stimulation.

Dr. Svetlana Masgutova, who is developing a body of research showing how brain structure can change after a few hours of reflex integration therapy, is offering an extensive Family Education Conference for Children and Adults with Challenges and Gifts. The program is open to children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Down’s Syndrome, Developmental Delay, Speech and Language development delay, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Emotional Instability, and other symptoms, such as chemical imbalances, metabolic disorders and allergies.

Moderate Exercise Is Defined

Strive for 100 steps per minute, 30 minutes a day walking

Many body brain benefits derived from exercise are dependent on the intensity of the workout. 30 Minutes of moderate exercise, 5 days of week is often suggested by organizations, such as the AHA, American Heart Association.

BBC News posted an article showing the research at San Diego State University. Using a pedometer is helpful, however it fails to measure the intensity of exercise shown to release important body brain enhancing hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters and nerve growth factors essential to optimized function.

Why Exercise?

Reasons for exercising fails to include learning enhancement

AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggest reasons for exercising. I enjoy the content on their website, however, the reasons for exercising provided in the brief article fails to include the impact of exercise on the brain… and how it enhances memory, motivation, attention, and boosts academic performance skills – the focus of this body brain enhancing Blog. Still the AAOS website is well worth your time, especially the safety guides citing ways to prevent muscle and joint injury.

Exercise Carrot Power!

You will be astonished how healthy carrots are!

They contain “beta-carotene, alpha carotene and phytochemicals that may reduce the risk of cancer, strokes, hinder the aging process, balance hormonal metabolism, and have antiviral and antibacterial properties,” according to the World Carrot Museum. This is a must read body brain super nutrition website! Eat more carrots – you most likely won’t be asking, “What’s up Doc?”

Health Benefits of Music

Stroke recovery, heart benefits, healing, and cancer therapy

BBC News has posted several articles showing how music can foster higher well-being. Music can aid stroke recovery. Learning a musical instrument could be good for the heart... Music aids the healing process... and harp therapy for cancer patients...

Autistic Developmental Challenges

Six basic developmental skills lay a foundation for learning

ICDL, The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders website provides insight of the milestones needed to lay a solid foundation for learning and development. Autistic and other special need students need more time and help to master these skills. ICDL addresses this challenge with their DIR®/Floortime program that targets social interactions and problem solving, as well as sensory-integration therapy, designed to change the way the brain processes sensory input.

An article written on Edutopia focuses on Overcoming Autism: Public Schools Deal with a Growing Problem

Health Benefits of Generosity

Giving is Good for Our Health

M. J. Ryan author of The Giving Heart describes the positive effects of generosity on the mindbody. Not only do we make others feel good, we can also increase our physical well-being, raising endorphins in the bloodstream to relieve pain, increasing the number of T-cells in the immune system to help resist disease, feeling simultaneously energized and calm, and extending our lifespan.

Let’s be mindful of Etienne de Grellet’s words, “I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

Or remember Ellen Glasgow words, “You can't take it with you. You never see a U-haul following a hearse.”

Yoga for All Ages

Older Adults Increasingly Turn to Yoga for Health

John Hanc writing for the AARP Bulletin Today offers good reason for older adults to practice the physical type of yoga designed to keep the muscles and joints resilient. I agree wholeheartedly with John about picking a knowledgeable yoga instructor sensitive to the aging body. Every pose has its variations suitable to people with stiff joints and those most supple. The key is keeping within your own daily comfort level. Proper breathing is also essential.

Serious Need for Play

Social, emotional and cognitive development rises from play


Scientific American Mind article written by Melinda Wenner cites compelling reasons to extend childhood play largely for social and emotional reasons. The article failed to address sensory motor development that comes from play. The visual, auditory, vestibular, tactile and kinesthetic systems are strengthened, allowing children to be more successful later on in school, writing, reading and carrying on other academic performance skills. This Body-brain Boogie Blog playfully works to fill in this gap, showing how play is core essential to learning.

Fuzzy Kisses

Early Childhood Brain Insights Blog

Early Childhood Brain Insights written by Deborah McNelis is well worth your time. Be sure to click on the videos showing the baby getting hysterical tearing paper and the baby finding the dog’s paw -- precious. Many excellent child development ideas are found on this body brain enriching Blog – Fuzzy Kisses and all -- way to go Deborah!

Squeeze In Daily Exercise

Finding Fitness: 10 Easy Ways to Fit in Exercise

Everyday Health website’s article by Beth Orenstein suggests ten ways to get your 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activities spread over five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity on each of three days a week. Be less efficient carrying groceries and laundry, making more trips carrying lesser amounts on each trip… and other useful ways to bring more movement to each day. Are you standing up, stretching while reading this post? I am standing on my balance board while writing it. Let's have fun exercising the body brain. Jeff

Mind Your Room Design

How Room Designs Affect Your Work and Mood

Emily Anthes writing for the Scientific American Mind cites brain research showing how to craft spaces that “relax, inspire, awaken, comfort and heal.” The article urges us to fabricate rooms and buildings with the Mind in Mind. Ceiling height, greenery, sunlight, room contents, furniture choices, all have a bearing on our moods and our ability to attend and think. In fact, students can perform better on their test scores with wise school design. Neuroeducation the new buzz may get into furniture and light fixtures… as well as body brain enhancing teaching and learning methods – the focus of this Blog.

Exercise Brain Wellness

Train Your Brain to Be Happier

Alvaro Fernandez writing for Sharp Brains starts his article with the understanding that our ‘mind’ or awareness emerges from the physical brain. Yes! That is why I continue to write “body brain” throughout this blog. The brain without the body is like the Pope without a church… or rain without the sky. From now on, say “body brain” ok? OK! Then pay particular attention to how your body is nurturing your brain to be happy.

Music and the Brain Video

Master my movement routine to speed your body brain!

Current body brain research shows the significance of learning novel and complex movements to extend neural networks. The new, speedier connections created between the sensory and motor system are the same pathways used during academic pursuits (e.g., writing, reading, calculating, spelling). Myelin is being added, speeding visual and auditory processing along with fine and gross motor movements.

How long will it take you to memorize the movement sequence and lyrics? When you do master it, send me a video clip. I will send a free copy of my perpetual Health Care-toons Calendar, 365 Ways to Feel and Look Great to the first five respondents who demonstrate mastery doing the entire routine (reciting the lyrics and mimicking the gestures), straight through without stopping the camera!

Drum Therapy

Rhythm for self-expression, healing and heightened well-being

Michael Drake cites research on About.com, showing how drumming can reduce tension, anxiety and stress… control chronic pain…boost the immune system… deepen self-awareness… induce altered mental states of euphoria… team with others… connect with the natural rhythms of life… integrate the body, mind and spirit… and heighten self-expression. What a fun way to get the beat on overall health! For more resources check the Shamanic Drumming website.

Autism Games

Use play for social, emotional and sensory motor development

Tahirih Bushey has developed a playful site full of articles and fun videos showing how to play with an autistic child. Autism Games shows a variety of effective ways to use play to build language and boost attention. Sensory and motor skills are being developed through repetition. Visit Tahirih’s blog and enjoy her engaging ways to help autistic children "regulate emotions… navigate the social world… and interact in the physical world.”

Creative Breath Taking

Boost mental clarity/creativity with breath taking

Enchanted Mind website suggests several ways to enhance your creativity. As a body brain enthusiast, I was impressed with the article on breath control, explaining how holding the breath, and alternate nostril breathing is effective. How about the deep water method of writing down ideas – hopefully you won’t drown of a writer’s cramp. Jeff

Relax to Soothing Music

Enjoy the rich aural delight of peaceful music

Change Your Thoughts blog brought to life by Steven Aitchison offers ten beautiful pieces of ambient music. Sit back and enjoy!

Eye! Eye! Learning Success!

Strengthen vison needed to read, write, learn!

View the All About Vision website for many insightful ideas about vision, including eye nutrition. One glaring omission occurs on their page citing how important eye exams are for children, relating various aspects of vision needed for learning – but failing to offer exercises that can be used to strengthen visual processing. Such exercises can be viewed on Eye Can Learn website! Seems strange that children’s eye exams in school do not measure these visual skills, and little thought is given about strengthening vision to help students better focus as they read, write, calculate, draw, catch a ball, etc. People talk about No Child Left Behind, but can't see that many children are left behind because of visual challenges. Let's change their view!

Music and the Brain

Music training changes brain networks

The DANA website reports the most current research related to brain science. For those of us interested in ways to enhance body brain function, exciting research has been reported relating musical rehearsal on the developing brain. Research by Ellen Winner and Gottfried Schlaug shows, “that children who receive weekly music instruction and practice regularly perform better on sound discrimination and fine motor tasks. Furthermore, brain imaging shows changes to the networks associated with those abilities.” Sound discrimination is central to reading and fine motor movement is key to writing. Let’s convey this research to educators who often fail to understand the importance of music to academic performance.