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.