Some young people openly express their frustration toward “school,” others seethe silently, still others lash out or drop out when they perceive no one is hearing them. Unfortunately, the way in which students react often results in their becoming marginalized, if not just kicked out of school on the spot. Nevertheless, their behaviors are trying to communicate something—something about how the current educational environment is not meeting their learning needs and, in fact, may be making it more difficult for them to learn.

Although research hasn’t exactly pinpointed how the brain learns, studies have shown how the brain learns best. This is at once exhilarating, because with some effort and innovation the process of learning could be enhanced significantly for most, and depressing—since millions of brains are experiencing sub-optimal learning as they move through or drop out of the educational process in a variety of environments, some of which are at least demeaning if not outright punishing or abusive at some level. Following are just two examples.

• Some brains learn best seated in a traditional chair or chair-desk position; others in a nontraditional body position (e.g., sitting or lying on the floor, curled up / stretched out on a couch, standing, walking around, in a beanbag). If in traditional chairs, the seating arrangements need to be movable (e.g., circles, U shapes, V shapes). Studies by Rita and Ken Dunn have shown that 20% of learners are significantly affected, positively or negatively, by seating options or lack of options. An increase in physical space between students leads to an increase in on-task time and a decrease in disruptive behavior.

• Students learn best when they are not only permitted but also are encouraged to stand and to get up and move around. Studies of adolescents have shown that 50% needed extensive mobility while learning, 25% needed occasional mobility, and 25% needed at least minimal opportunities for physical movement—not just at recess or meal breaks but throughout the learning process. The brain is activated during physical movement, which helps to optimize its performance. Just standing up creates more attentional arousal, increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain by 10-15%, and can speed up the processing of information by 5-20%.

It’s no wonder some students are frustrated. Moreover with brains only partially completed, they are unable to articulate what isn’t working—they just know they’re struggling.

In this 21st century, educational systems could be capable of providing learners with brain-compatible environments and with curricula that support the way in which the brain naturally learns best. The question is, will they? For the sake of millions of brains on this planet, the answer needs to be “yes!”

References are available at Brain References—Learning and Memory.

Exercise is critically important for both the brain and body. Here are two examples:

• The most important value of exercise is to stimulate and cleanse the bodymind. —Candace Pert PhD
• Almost any physical exercise can improve the brain’s performance but some are better than others. —Richard Restak PhD

My criteria for doing Brain Aerobic Exercises have nothing to do with whether or not I “feel” anything. My brain’s opinion is that challenging your brain for a minimum of 30 minutes every day is more than worth the work and generally pays high dividends in the future. Interestingly enough, I recently received an unsolicited e-mail from a woman who attended one of my brain seminars years ago. In part, this is what she said:

“Last April a young snowboarder crashed into me so hard that it caused me to fly through the air and bounce several times on my head on hard ice. The snowboarder did not stop! Unfortunately, I sustained a bloody right eye and a concussion that was identified by CAT scan. An MRI also revealed a serious injury to my right knee.

“In the Emergency Department the doctor’s first question was, ‘Are you really 69?’ As he reviewed with me the results of my brain scan, the doctor described how the brain halves begin to separate with age, allowing the tissue in the middle to become more fragile from lack of protection. The doctor also explained that tissue, when separated, is at increased risk for tearing and massive brain ‘bleeds.’ He wanted to know what I was doing to keep my brain ‘exercised’ and to maintain such a healthy ‘tight’ brain. So I told him about you and your work, including your research, seminars I have attended, your educational books, DVDs, and CDs.

“My point is that your information and brain exercises have really worked for my brain and, without knowing it, you probably saved my life. Thank you so much for providing me with tools to help me help my brain!”

The writer was very generous. The key phrase for me was “to help me help my brain.” I gave her some tools, definitely. She decided to use them, consistently. You will have to decide how much time and energy you want to invest in your brain, in challenging your neurons to keep stretched out and as healthy as possible, and in age-proofing your brain. You may never experience such a potentially life-threatening concussion. But your brain is aging minute after hour after day after year. My brain’s opinion is that doing Brain Aerobic Exercises is absolutely worth the work. Almost daily another piece of research confirms how critically important it is for you to keep your brain challenged, stimulated, and active!

Good question. Walking is my favorite general exercise (although I also do some stretching, balance, and rubber-band exercises a couple times a week). And you are correct. I want to walk briskly enough to benefit my heart, but I certainly never jog (too hard on the knees and ligaments).

An article published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine indicated that a pace of 100 steps per minute is considered “moderate intensity” and would qualify as brisk walking for many people (jogging starts at about 140 steps per minute). [https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/12/776]

My pace is about 120 steps per minute broken up into two or three 10-minute segments.

Having said that, if strolling is all you can do safely, then stroll. Check with your healthcare provider. You may be able to work up to 100 steps per minute. Who knows? My brain’s opinion is that moving actively at a safe pace for you is far better than doing nothing—even if 100 steps per minute is unsafe for you.

The brain is dependent on physical exercise to push the blood circulation through it bringing oxygen, nutrition, and needed micronutrients, as well as removing waste products. In recent studies, the participants reported more enjoyment of the outside activity. In addition, on subsequent psychological tests, participants scored significantly higher on measures of vitality, enthusiasm, pleasure, and self-esteem and lower on tension, depression, and fatigue after they walked outside.

You may be interested in a book written by Harvard physician Eva Selhub, MD, and Alan Logan, ND: Your Brain, On Nature: The Science of Nature’s Influence on Health, Happiness and Your Mojo.