Move Your Body, Build Your Brain
Monday August 20, 2007
When you exercise, your brain is kept busy. It has to make estimates about speed, depth, timing and much more. Your brain needs to coordinate different muscles groups and plan ahead. Basically, exercise is a great brain workout.
So combine your daily exercise with a mental workout. Choose exercises that involve snap decision making like tennis or other competitive sports. Be sure to engage your brain in strategizing better ways to maintain your form when lifting or even just walking. Don't try to shut off or distract your brain while working out, but engage it in improving your performance.
More on Mental Fitness and Exercise
So combine your daily exercise with a mental workout. Choose exercises that involve snap decision making like tennis or other competitive sports. Be sure to engage your brain in strategizing better ways to maintain your form when lifting or even just walking. Don't try to shut off or distract your brain while working out, but engage it in improving your performance.
More on Mental Fitness and Exercise
It’s not surprising at all that exercise improves the brain body connection, so vital as we age. (Important anytime, really.) But did you know body movements are represented in the brain as maps? And these maps can change, no matter what your age. More information on this on the brain body blog.