Brain Gym® exercises are enjoyable movements specially designed to enhance and ease all learning processes. They can be used for any goal and for any life situation.
Brain Gym® is the registered trademark for an educational, sensorimotor program developed by Paul E. Dennison, Ph.D., an expert in child motor-development. It is based upon more than 80 years of research by educational therapists, developmental optometrists, and other specialists in the fields of movement, education, and child development. Brain Gym consists of simple movements similar to the movements that children naturally do during their first three years of life as they complete important developmental steps for coordination of eyes, ears, hands,and the whole body. The Brain Gym movements have been shown in
clinical experience, in field studies, and in published research reports to prepare children with the physical skills they need in order to read, write, and otherwise function effectively in the classroom. The ability to learn easily is especially important for children in the first years of school, when they are laying the foundation for their future schooling and adult life work.
Paul Dennison, Ph.D., president of the Educational Kinesiology Foundation, developed the Brain Gym program over a period of 25 years as an educational specialist. He began researching the work as founder and director of the Valley Remedial Group Learning Centers in California. These eight learning centers offered Dennison students with whom he could actively explore the effects of specific movements on the ability to learn various academic skills. During this time, he drew from a broad spectrum of innovative work in the fields of education, developmental vision, and personal development as he focused on the causes and treatment of learning disabilities. Dr. Dennison served as director of the Valley Remedial Group Learning Centers for 19 years, helping children and adults turn their learning difficulties into successful growth. In 1980, he synthesized his work and began traveling and teaching internationally. Since that time, the Edu-K processes and applications have continued to evolve.
Dr. Dennison has been an educator for aIl of his professional life. His work is based on an understanding of the interdependence of physical movement, language acquisition, and academic achievement. His effective and ground-breaking approach to teaching grew out of his background in brain research and experimental psychology. He and his wife have published fourteen books and manuals beginning with, 'Switching On: a Guide to Edu-Kinesthetics', published in 1980.
What are the primary aims and outcomes of the Brain Gym program?
It prepares students of all ages to practise and master the arts required for the mechanics of learning
It provides increased self esteem
It provides the ability to harness motivation
It develops skills to identify and avoid stress
It increases awareness and respect for one's own intelligence, body, and personal space
It enhances ability to utilize skills by working through the dimensions of Laterality (side to side), Focus (back to front), and Centering (top and bottom).
