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.

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.

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.

Embodied Cognition

Research Shows Body Movements Can Influence Problem Solving

Physical movements can aid in learning and memory. Research reported by Newswise.com cites Alejandro Lleras’s study at the University of Illinois showing that a person’s ability to solve a problem can be influenced by how he or she moves. Embodied Cognition describes the link between body and mind. Our main goal of this blog is reporting research demonstrating how the body and brain work together to optimize vibrant living and learning. BINGO!

Embodied Cognition defined by the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy and Six Views of Embodied Cognition by Margaret Wilson, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Wellness Cheer Video

Experience the enthusiasm of International Wellness Coordinators

International Wellness Coordinators meeting for their first IWC Conference last month in Phoenix, Arizona joined me in a movement sequence that captures the essence of wellness promotion. Notice how passionate people are about vibrant living and learning. What an incredible conference this was, thanks in large part to the incredible enthusiasm of the participants! Jeff

Reflex Development Comes First

Build a strong neurological foundation supporting successful learning

Thad Trahan shares what New Zealand Educators are doing with Brain Based/Movement Based learning. He sent a video clip of a new DVD showing the importance of reflex development first so that learning can take place easier.

Thad visited schools in New Zealand in Oct 2006 and again in May 2007. He said, "It was very much like what is showcased on the DVD. There is a real passion for learning at all levels in their schools."

Thad teaches Double Doodle Play. It is part of the Educational Kinesiology program using the Double Doodle and other movements from Brain Gym® and Vision Gym® to explore and enhance visual perception and artistic expression. Participants gain finer understanding of the relationship among visual skills, hand-eye coordination, and creative expression. The course teaches the use of both hands in drawing and painting.

He also teaches Touch for Health, Bal-A-Vis-X (Balance, Auditory, Vision, eXercises) and is a consultant for Rhythmic Movement Training. Thank you Thad for your contributions!