Methods: Brain Gym Brain Gym. What does it mean? Brain Gym is an educational, movement based programme, which uses simple movements to integrate the whole brain, senses and body, preparing the person with the physical skills they need to learn effectively. It can be used to improve a wide range of learning, attention and behaviour skills. Educational Kinesiology and Brain Gym are the result of many years of research into learning and brain function by an educationalist, Dr Paul Dennison PhD, from the United States. It is now used in over 45 countries and is recognised as a safe, effective and innovative educational and self-development tool. How were the BRAIN GYM movements developed? Many of the Brain Gym activities, like the Owl, the Elephant, and the Alphabet 8’s, were developed from the relationship of movement to perception, and the impact of these on fine motor and academic skills. Others were learned by vision training, by study of Jin Shin Jitsu (a form of acupressure), and some studies of Applied Kinesiology. How does it function? Brain Gym works by facilitating optimal achievement of mental potential through specific movement experiences. All acts of speech, hearing, vision, and coordination are learned through a complex repertoire of movements. Brain Gym promotes efficient communication among the many nerve cells and functional centers located throughout the brain and sensory motor system. Blocks in learning occur when the body is tense and information cannot flow freely among these centers. The Brain Gym movements stimulate this flow of information within the brain and sensory system, freeing the innate ability to learn and function at top efficiency. What does it help? The improvement in whole brain function that can result from use of the Brain Gym movements has benefits such as: • academic skills – for example, reading, writing, spelling and maths • memory, concentration and focus • physical co-ordination and balance • communication skills and language development • self-development and personal stress management • the achievement of goals, both professional and personal

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