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Brain Gym

rain Gym: this was an are sharp and ready for the mental every half an hour during the day,
expression I heard for the tests ahead. One of the videos I according to one instructor. The other
Bfirst time a week ago, in a watched was for finger exercises, a instructor was one I could relate to,
conversation about the facilities in bit like Incy Wincy Spider going up he could not quite touch his left toe
an upmarket retirement complex. My and down the water spout, or the sort with his right hand, but at least he
immediate reaction was – how nice, of thing bored CEO’s might do when made an effort. The people behind
tables with jigsaw puzzles, books full they are ‘steepling’ their fingertips, him were also slightly confused, and
of crossword puzzles and Sudoku (‘steepling’ is body language for did not always follow the instructions
puzzles (old fashioned hard copy of supreme confidence), then they start perfectly, especially when he added a
course), maybe even quiz shows. to roll each pair of fingertips around hop into the routine.
each other, instead of rolling their
Dr Google showed me how wrong eyes. Wikipedia comments that the whole
I was – this is a term that has been idea is considered pseudoscience.
registered by a Californian educator I am not sure if the Brain Gym at It is apparently linked to Kinesiology,
for mild physical exercises designed the retirement complex was for this, which is the study of movement, and
for young children to begin with, to get but apparently the light exercises correction of imbalance in the body,
their physical and mental coordination are designed to get your heart rate so this may give Brain Gyms some
on track from an early age. The up, and then to bring it gently down street cred.
concept has been extended for young again. Touch your one toe with your
adults, to get them in the right frame opposite hand, roll your shoulders.
of mind before exams, so their brains Paramount is to drink water; at least Gill Butler