Number 71

On December 20th, I posted my 70th blog post. That's right. Seven. Zero. 

When I started this blog back in May of this year, I didn't really know what form it was going to take. I set about creating it in order to tell the story. 

What story? The story of Brain Fit Academy. The story of what it means to be a part of the company-  both from a parent's point of view as well as a Brain Fit Coach. The story of what it feels like to go through the program as a parent. The story of what it feels like to go through as a coach.

Brain Fit is one of those things that's hard to explain. Ask any of the coaches, parents or Pam Formosa (the owner). It's hard to explain what we do and it's even harder to explain the feeling behind it all. Hence- my blog. Telling the world (or at least whoever would like to read my posts!) about Brain Fit Academy. Telling the world what we do, what we teach, explaining the "why" of the company, and helping those that aren't living it- to understand us. Understand us- even if it's only a little bit better. 

Those are the reasons I started this blog, and this is where I stand now- at post number 71. 

And so? For post number 71, and to wrap up the year of 2020, I would like to highlight some of my favorite posts in this blog. 

Some are favorites because of what they stand for. Some are favorites because of the information they contain. And some, are favorites simply because I like the way I communicated. You decide which ones you like. 

And, of course- you are always welcome to explore the others posts that I didn't highlight because one of those may resonate particularly strongly with you. If that's the case? Great! Shoot me an email and let me know because I'd love to hear from you.

So- here goes. My favorite posts of 2020:

The Smiles are the Reward: "The smiles all around are what melted my heart.  The smiles all around are what made me know that I needed to continue with this work.  The smiles are what brought tears of joy to my eyes."

It's Not About Me- But it WAS About Me: "As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I came to Brain Fit because of my son, but the (unexpected) side-effect that happened is that I also changed."

There's Smiles, but There's Also Tears: "Those tears, that need to let go- was reached that day.  It opened the door to integrating the Fear Paralysis reflex, and it was the turning point in his treatment."

You Don't Know What you Don't Know: "Again- dumb-struck.  Why on Earth is this information not disseminated to every school, teacher, OT, pre-school and day care?"

The Big Green Ball: "But, you see- that ball, that seemingly magical ball was my all-time favorite "prop" (for lack of a better word) for using with Brain Fit Clients."

Primal: "Her mother was working so hard against something that is primal. In fact, it's one of the most primitive responses humans have- the Fight/Flight/Freeze Response."

You Can Change the Story: "Today, I sit in a different place in my life, and am coming at this idea from another, different, perspective.  I am looking at the ability to "change the story" from the perspective of a Brain Fit Academy coach."

The Body Knows-it Just Might Need a Reminder: "When we start working with clients, it's like we "jump-start" the reflexes again.  We jump-start them with intentional movements and activities and play."

I Want to Shout it From the Rooftops: "It's not a new kitchen gadget. It's not a new fad diet. It's a way to change your life."

My Why: "Being a coach, and the passion for my work are because I want to help kids and families be happier.  I want to help them find their smiles. I want them to enjoy the time they spend together as a family. I want the kids to feel happier in their skin and I want the parents to feel less stressed."

Breakthroughs: "But one of the many things that I love about the approach we take at Brain Fit is that we can work others (or ourselves) through strong emotions and feelings without having to talk about them. We literally can move through emotions by setting an intention (a goal) and moving our bodies using different movement activities."

Out of the Loop: "And the inside? Well, here is where the magic is supposed to happen. You see, inside the loop is where (ideally) we want to spend our time."

The Baby Brain: "Well you see, that green part of the brain- the emotional brain- is where that "swirling storm inside" might happen. We talk to kids (and adults alike) about how sometimes we get "stuck" in that green part of the brain. We get stuck in that emotional brain and it becomes the "swirling storm inside".

It's Mom's Turn: "Wow. Have you known many places that you take your children to and they say to you- "Hey mom? Maybe today should be about you!"

Thankful: "In this crazy year of 2020, amidst a pandemic that threw the world into chaos, I am thinking about tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day and all that I am thankful for in regards to Brain Fit Academy"

I Hear and I Forget: "You see, at Brain Fit, we are doers. We are movers and experiencers and noticers. We teach our clients how to move (intentionally) and experience and notice."

Resilience: "Since being involved with Brain Fit Academy- first with my son and then as a Brain Fit coach, I feel like I now have the capability to go beyond coping and have become much more resilient."

Well- there you are. My favorite posts of this year. Read what draws your attention. Explore other posts if you want.

Enjoy- and I'll see you in 2021 with number 72.

Looking Ahead

I think it would be safe to say that most of us start a new year with anticipation of what is ahead. It may be thoughts on how we want to start healthier habits, or maybe we have plans to begin a new hobby or to work on self-care.

Either way, I think that everyone reading this would probably agree that this year- 2020- did not go the way we anticipated, and it certainly isn't really ending much better either.

Now, I could sit here and tell you that "everything happens for a reason" and "it will all work out in the end". And I believe both of those things- really, I do- don't get me wrong.

But here's the thing. Instead of saying those things to you- I'm going to say this instead:

"Look ahead".

Look ahead to what 2021 can bring. Look ahead to the next day, or week or month and the wonder and joy that it has in store. 

Look ahead to all the opportunities, the new friends, the fun and the learning that can take place in a year. 

Look ahead with the thought that maybe all the changes that took place in 2020 were there to serve a purpose. There to move you- me- society- the world- everyone into a different place. A different place where we all needed to be and didn't know it.

Just like when I first started my journey at Brain Fit Academy, and I was working on myself- I didn't know I needed it. 

I didn't know I was lost. 

I didn't know there was more to be had because all I knew was what I knew. 

What if...2020- with all its heartache, loss, trials and tribulations was really here to prepare us to look ahead. To prepare us to look into the new that can be. To help us feel more comfortable with what put us out of our comfort zone before. To help us turn inward- to our families, our friends, and ourselves. 

For me, 2020 was a year of tremendous growth. I am in a place in my life that I never imagined a few years ago. Some of that growth stemmed from the events of 2020, and some didn't. But regardless, I have grown.

Did 2020 turn out the way I wanted it to? My answer is yes. And no. 

Am I where I want to be in life as 2020 comes to a close? Yes. And no.

What I am doing now though? 

What I'm doing, and where I'm looking- is ahead. 

I'm looking forward to 2021 and what I am planning for myself. 

I'm looking forward to continuing the amazing work with clients at Brain Fit. 

I'm looking forward to teaching new classes and sharing this knowledge that has become almost second nature to me. 

I'm looking forward- looking ahead to the magic that 2021 has in store for me, and you, and for Brain Fit Academy. 

2020 is almost behind us and it's time. It's time to put it to rest and take all that we have learned (and lived) with us into this new year. Moving us along- moving us forward. Moving us into what is to be- and embracing that. 

Goodbye- 2020. Hello 2021. 

"Look Ahead".

Puzzle Pieces

Primitive Reflexes. If you follow this blog of mine you know that we address unintegrated (not finished) primitive reflexes at Brain Fit Academy. 

But in case you aren't familiar, or you need a refresher- primitive reflexes are hard- wired, early motor patterns that all babies go through. Directed by the brainstem, they are automatic, stereotyped movements. They happen without consciously doing them. Baby turns their head a certain way? Reflex kicks in. Sensory input that is possible danger? Reflex kicks in- and that's just a few examples.

These reflexes exist for four reasons:

• Protection
• Facilitation of the development of our sensory systems
• Facilitation of our ability to be comfortable in our bodies
• Facilitation of motor development

Now when primitive reflexes haven't fully integrated (finished) in the first few years of life, a child/adult is left with a primitive nervous system and primitive ways to deal with stress. And, depending on the specific reflex, those same people can also have challenges such as anxiety, learning challenges, balance and coordination difficulties and trouble with reading, writing and focusing. 

Ok, Amy. Thanks for the reminder about primitive reflexes. Can you get to the part about the puzzle pieces now??

Of course- so here's the deal with puzzle pieces:

At Brain Fit, we look at the reflexes as a puzzle. In fact we call them "Reflex Puzzles". 

And more specifically, we look at the reflexes as a series of puzzle pieces- 30 total, broken up into three parts:

• Emerged: When the reflex first shows up. It emerges as a neuro pathway. 10 puzzle pieces.
• Developed: When enough of the reflex movement happened to move it along. 10 more puzzle pieces.
• Integrated: When the reflex "finishes". Enough movement happened to make the reflex "dormant" and has made way for more sophisticated movements to take its place. The last 10 puzzle pieces.

30 puzzle pieces. Broken down to make it easier to track. You see, when we work with our clients we want to have a gauge of where the reflex is on its specific timeline. That way, we can see where we started and when the reflex has "finished" or integrated.  

How do we know where the reflex is on that timeline of 30 puzzle pieces? 

That's where muscle checking comes in. We use muscle checking to get information direct from the source- the person we are working with.

Now, we may not muscle check the reflex every time we work with the client- but that's ok. It's ok because the body knows. The body remembers where it is on those timelines and will give us accurate information when we need it. Read this previous blog post if you'd like a little more information about that- or about muscle checking. Trust me- it's worth the read. 

Thinking about the reflexes as puzzle pieces helps the children to understand what it is we're doing- solving the puzzle of their body (of their reflexes) and what might be missing. It also helps us (as coaches) to keep track and show the client and/or their parents. It's a concrete way to keep track of the progress as we do the work. 

Puzzles are fun to do, and reflexes puzzles are fun too. We do the Primitive Reflex Integration work, we see progress and we monitor it along that timeline of 30 pieces.

And when a reflex is integrated? It's always fun to hear a client say:

"YES! I finished another one!!"

Resilience

Resilience. It seems to be one of the many buzz words going around these days- but what does that really mean?

By definition, resilient means "Able to withstand or recover from difficult conditions."  In other words- deal with, and/or be able to bounce back when bad stuff happens. Fall seven times- stand up eight.

Since being a part of Brain Fit Academy, I've learned how to be resilient. I've learned what that means. I truly think that before Brain Fit, I didn't know what it meant to be resilient. I went about my days hoping, trying to figure stuff out. I worked hard to recover from situations but when they just kept coming up, I wouldn't say that I glided through them with resiliency. I never really withstood difficulties easily. I didn't "bounce back". I didn't fall seven and stand up eight. Instead, I felt like I fell down seven, and eight, and nine- and then maybe stood up at ten. But it seemed like I never bounced back for long. I wasn't being resilient, I was coping.

Since being involved with Brain Fit Academy- first with my son and then as a Brain Fit coach, I feel like I now have the capability to go beyond coping and have become much more resilient. 

How did that happen? 

It happened by learning. It happened by learning about how the brain works so that I can better understand "emotional storms". It happened by learning tools that help me to get "back in the loop". It happened by learning about how movement can help the brain and body move through difficult situations. 

Now having said all that, am I saying that I would call myself resilient 100% of the time? Heck no- but would we expect anyone to be anything 100% of the time? I know I certainly don't expect that because that would be asking for perfection and no one is perfect- no one.

We don't need to be perfect, but we can be more resilient. We can be more resilient overall and still need our support system. It's ok to lean on friends and family during hard times. After all, that's why we have them in our lives! I know that sometimes it feels like it might take too much effort, or we might feel like we just want to wallow in our own dismay for a little while. That's ok, because we're only human after all!

It's at times like that when we bring in our support system. Friends and family are there to help be our strength- our "rock" when it's hard for us to be one for ourselves. They can help us stand up on the eighth time (or maybe even before) when we get stuck on the floor and can't find our feet. They help us to remember that we have tools when we can't remember for ourselves. They may even use the tools right along with us. 

And as a Brain Fit coach? I would like to think that my clients consider me part of their support system. I can help them stand up on the eighth time. I can help them remember their tools. I can help them remember that yes, indeed they are resilient and will get through it. 

Resilience is something you can learn. It's something that others can help you with. It's something that will help you ten-fold in situations where you may have fallen seven times and need to stand up on the eighth.

Don't be afraid of the eighth stand up. 

And if you can't find your feet? Contact us at Brain Fit. We'll hold your hand, pull you up and teach you tools so that you can do it more easily on your own the next time.

Resiliency.

Time

Time is an obscure concept, isn't it? We expect kids to understand the passage of time and when they don't, it's hard for us to understand. Well, at least I found it hard to understand.

For the longest time, my son had trouble understanding time, and the passage of it. He didn't understand how long it would take him to do things. He didn't understand how time was measurable and that you could use it to help guide you through a task or through your day. He knew how to tell time, well mostly anyway- but he didn't have a sense of time. 

That sense of time is what was the hardest part because he wasn't able to gauge how long it would take to put on his shoes, or how long he needed to get ready for bed on time. He also struggled with waiting. Waiting was really hard and I think that it had a lot to do with the fact that he didn't understand the passage of time. It's like asking someone to wait forever- when really it's a short period of time. But- to someone that doesn't understand the passage of time it might feel like forever. Waiting for a few minutes doesn't feel like just a few minutes- and so it's SO hard to do!

Now you may be wondering what this has to do with Brain Fit Academy. Well-what is interesting is that many kids who come to us also have trouble with time- with understanding the passage of time. I know it has a lot to do with the lack of Executive Functioning skills that these kids have. 

If you aren't familiar with the term, Executive Functions are the skills of planning, monitoring behavior, attention to detail, organizing, etc. and the part of the brain responsible for those Executive Functions is called the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is what we think of as the "highest level" of the brain. The last part of the "thinking brain" to develop. And since it is way up there in the "thinking brain", we have to build the neuropathways from the "baby brain" (brain stem) (where the primitive reflexes are housed) up to the thinking brain, and then eventually to the prefrontal cortex. It's entirely possible that building those pathways and "reorganizing" the brain might take awhile. And so- we often teach kids compensations (such as marking out time on a clock) to help them learn while we work to integrate the reflexes. Watch this video that Pam created about this if you're interested in learning about that strategy.

Just recently however, in the last primitive reflex class I was teaching, we got into an interesting discussion related to time and how it relates to the reflexes. One of the participants is a preschool teacher, and I was teaching everyone about the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR). A few of the potential effects of an unintegrated (not finished) TLR are poor sense of time and poor sequencing skills. 

Poor sense of time- see? There it is. This teacher was asking me if that could be why some of her preschool students take so long to eat. They just don't know how long it takes to eat and take way longer than other's the same age. While it's entirely possible there are other reasons, if that symptom was coupled with others from the TLR list, then it definitely could have something to do with it! So not only could that difficulty with understanding the passage of time be related directly with an underdevelopment in the frontal lobe- but it could also be directly related to an unintegrated reflex- the TLR. It makes perfect sense-poor sense of time and also poor sequencing skills. When you stop to think about it, what is time really? It's a sequence of course! A sequence of minutes and hours and days and years. No wonder kids with an unintegrated TLR also can have trouble with that sense of time!

Like I said, time is such an obscure concept. But, like so many other things we think about at Brain Fit- when we look at it from a different lens- as an immaturity in the brain, we find the root cause and then we can work to change it.

One thing I know for sure is that as we do this work, kids find it easier to understand the passage of time. It worked for my son, and it works for others too. Time becomes less obscure and more understood, and it's pretty cool to see it happen!

I Hear and I Forget

You've probably heard the famous saying above. If you're a teacher, it might have even been part of your teacher training. It's one that always stuck with me as a teacher, and it sticks with me even more in my job at Brain Fit Academy.

Last weekend I taught the second part of our Primitive Reflex Integration class. I taught it online due to us being in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. But as Pam Formosa (owner/director of Brain fit) and I were planning in order to move this class online, one of the main things that we wanted to do was to keep the class as experiential as possible.

You see, at Brain Fit, we are doers. We are movers and experiencers and noticers. We teach our clients how to move (intentionally) and experience and notice. We experience our reflexes, we experience what it's like to do intentional movement, and we experience what it's like to see positive change. 

I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember. 

I do and I understand.  

I do and I understand. I experience and I understand. I experience and I understand because I was able to feel what it was like. I experience and I understand because I was able to feel what it was like when something changed. Or I experience and I understand because I make connections to myself- or to my family members, or to those I work with.

At the reflex class, I was helping people experience. I was helping the participants to learn the reflexes, but then experience them as well. Experience them through discussion. Experience through practicing them. Experience them through trying out some of the movements for themselves.

Now, was all of that easy over a video conference? No. Did we make it work? Yes. Would I like my participants to have had even more time "do-ing"? More time experiencing? Absolutely! 

But ultimately- ultimately?? We maintained the integrity of what Brain Fit stands for. We maintained the integrity of the class and brought "doing" to the participants. We brought doing and understanding to a great group that came (from across the country!) to join me online for an amazing journey of ah-ha moments and personal connections. We maintained what we stand for- the "I do and I understand" part of Brain Fit.

I am eternally grateful to be part of a company that brings such amazing learning, and teaching and doing into this world.

I may hear, and forget. I may see, and remember, but when I do- I understand.

And at Brain Fit Academy? 

I understand.....

Tune Up

Need a tune up?- and no, I'm not talking about the car type of tune up. I'm talking about a Brain Fit tune up.

If you read my blog post titled The (Last) Day, you will know that at Brain Fit Academy, we don't want to see clients forever. As a Brain Fit coach, that includes me- I don't want to see clients forever. I want there to be a "last day" when my client is ready to fly on their own.

However, we always have "tune-ups". And they can be a great thing.

You know when you go to a "traditional" OT or PT? Isn't it commonplace that you work with the person for awhile, until you resolve whatever issues you were having in the first place. Then you leave, right? Have you ever had someone like that say- "Hey, you're welcome to come back any time for a tune-up!". 

Um...maybe you have, but I have not. In my experience (and I've had my share of them because of my son or because of my own personal injuries) when you finish, you finish. "Congratulations, you're done and can move on with life!" sort of thing.

Not at Brain Fit Academy. Our clients (and parents!) are always welcome to come for a "tune up" session even if one of the coaches doesn't see them regularly anymore. 

Why is that? Why are we different from other people in the field? Well, for one, we understand that the sort of work we do can be useful for anyone- from kids all the way through adults. We also understand that everyone has times in their lives that are more stressful, or trying and that people need support. Even, if it's just for one session to "tune up" and get back on track.

When I (or the other coaches) finish with a client, when the time comes for their last day- we let the parents know that they are always welcome to come for a tune up session. All they have to do is get in touch. Yup- that's it- just get in touch! 

What if the client finished with Brain Fit a few months ago- are we available for tune ups? Yes, yes we are.

What about if the client finished with Brain Fit a year ago? Yes, then too.

We don't go away just because the client "finished" with regular sessions. We understand (and know!) that things come up. We understand that kids have goals in their life that they need help working through. We understand that parents can still struggle, even when they were feeling good when we "finished" with their child.

Tune up sessions are a way to get back on track.

Tune up sessions are a way to reconnect with the Brain Fit Community.

Tune up sessions are a way to be reminded of the tools/strategies taught during the 1:1 sessions.

Tune up sessions are a way to get help moving forward in life.

Tune ups don't mean you have to start up regular weekly sessions again. They also aren't an indicator of failure on anyone's part. 

Tune ups are just that- tune ups. Just like your car- and yes, now I am talking about your car! Tune up your car- tune up your brain and body. They both should happen regularly- just to keep things flowing/moving smoothly.

So, if you're a former Brain Fit client (or your child is) don't forget about tune ups. We're ready for you any time. And if you're not a Brain Fit client yet? Well, just know that tune ups will be available for you at some point too.

We don't forget about our clients when they leave Brain Fit. 

We don't say "Good Bye". We say "See you later- when you need a tune up."

Did He Crawl?

I don't remember the exact conversation that took place between Pam Formosa (owner/director of Brain Fit Academy) and my husband and I. However, I'm sure that it happened during our initial screening appointment with her and I know it went something like this:

Pam: "Did he ever crawl? As a baby, did he crawl?"

Me: "No- he didn't. He started walking at nine months."

Pam: "Hmm...let me explain something...."

At this point, she would have explained the STNR reflex to us. 

STNR stands for Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex. Also, sometimes referred to as the crawling reflex. This is the reflex that when the baby raises its head against gravity, the baby's arms extend, lifting the chest off the floor. The knees and hips bend and the baby sits on their heels. If the baby looks down while on all 4's, their arms bend and their legs straighten. 

The primary purpose of the STNR is to get the baby into the crawling position, and it is expected to emerge (show up) at around 6-9 months after birth, and integrate (finish) by around 9-11 months. But you see, the STNR plays a bigger role in the grand scheme of things because this reflex (once integrated) gives way to the emergence and development of life-long postural reflexes.

Now as a young mother, I can remember thinking (and perhaps even bragging!) about how my children must have been so ahead of development that they didn't have to crawl. 

Neither of my children crawled. They both went from pulling themselves up on the furniture, to cruising the furniture, to walking. Literally no crawling. Not even a funky, different type of crawl, or a creep. Nope- right to walking. Both right around 9-10 months of age. And, my children are 18 months apart, so let me tell you- that made for some busy times!!

You may be wondering at this point- why is it so important that babies crawl? Well, remember how I've explained in other posts that primitive reflexes are early motor patterns that babies go through? And how that early movement sets up the brain for later development? The STNR reflex (and the integration of it) also plays an important role for later development.

If the STNR reflex is unintegrated (hasn't finished it's job) some of the things you might see are:

• The inability to crawl on hands and knees
• No isolation in upper/lower body
• The tendency to slump when sitting- particularly at a desk or table
• Difficulty doing activities where one side of the body must do a movement that is opposite of the other. For example, holding a paper steady or tying shoes.

Just like the other primitive reflexes, the body needs to work through the motor patterns of the STNR in order for life-long reflexes to take over. 

The STNR is kind of like a culmination of earlier reflexes- it helps to pull them together. Without integration of earlier reflexes, the STNR has a hard job emerging and doing its job. 

So when I think about how my children didn't crawl, and with what I know now about primitive reflexes, I see the connections. Especially for my youngest son- who is the one that went through the Brain Fit program. 

When he started at Brain Fit, he couldn't sit in a chair properly. He would sit on his foot, or he would stand. Although he had learned to tie shoes, it had taken us a really long time to teach him how to do it. He had such a hard time using both hands to do different things. Same for holding a paper while writing. 

In fact, I remember when he was in maybe 2nd or 3rd grade? One of his teachers helped him to "name" his left hand. The purpose was so that he (we) could say- "Don't forget about ----. He wants to hold the paper while you write!" Kind of silly when I think about it now, but it was a compensation, and it helped at the time. However, that compensation wasn't getting to the root of the problem- that pesky unintegrated STNR!

So no, my children didn't crawl. And, their STNR reflex didn't integrate. For my youngest, that was a problem. For my oldest, not as much. His body had managed to work around it somehow and it didn't interfere with his daily life. Not all kids need Primitive Reflex Integration just because they have a few unintegrated reflexes. In fact, many of us have unintegrated reflexes- at least a few.  

The thing to remember here is that there is a link between crawling and brain development. So if you're reading this and have a baby (or maybe a grand baby) in your life, encourage them to crawl before they walk. It can't hurt, and it will help set up the brain stem for later development.

You can be sure that when I have babies in my life again I'll be encouraging them to crawl first. 

I might even end up on the floor crawling right along with them. After all, why not? My STNR probably could do with a little work too... 

Thankful

In this crazy year of 2020, amidst a pandemic that threw the world into chaos, I am thinking about tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day and all that I am thankful for in regards to Brain Fit Academy.

I am thankful for smiles. The smiles on the faces of my clients and their parents. Smiles when they are able to do something they couldn't before. Or smiles when they no longer do something that they used to.

I am thankful for tears. Healing tears that move kids/teens/adults forward in their lives and in their goals.

I am thankful for the vestibular system. That amazing balance system based in our inner ear that provides the brain with information about our relationship with gravity. 

I am thankful for the "baby brain". The most primitive part of our brain that is the first to develop and allows us to do automatic tasks such as breathing and reflexive movements.

I am thankful for the proprioceptive system. Another sensory system that gathers information from our muscles, joints and tendons and helps us to know "where we are in space".

I am thankful for the "emotional brain". The part of the brain that allows us to "swirl" with emotion and feel all that we need to feel.

I am thankful for the "Learning Loop". This visual is such a beautiful and easy way to help kids understand what is happening when emotions get the better of them.

I am thankful for Brain Gym®. The 26 movements in this program that can help kids (through adults!) in a myriad of ways.

I am thankful for the "Thinking Brain" that allows us to use our brain to "respond" instead of "react". 

I am thankful for Primitive Reflex Integration. The form of work that can help children feel more comfortable, confident, coordinated, and happy.

I am thankful for my "Big Green Ball". My trusty helper that rides in my car and assists me whenever I call on it to work with kids.

I am thankful for my clients, their parents, and families. Being able to work with them brings tremendous joy to my life.

And finally, I am thankful for Pam Formosa. Owner/Director of Brain Fit Academy and the person who brought this amazing work to me and has taught me so much.

 

Yes, it sure is a time to be thankful. 

What are you thankful for?

We Use Movement

Survival. We all need to survive. Physically, emotionally, cognitively- survive. We go through our days, sometimes only seemingly "just surviving". It happens- to all of us, right?

We have stressors in our life that can push us into that "just surviving" mode. And, when in the middle of a pandemic, those stressors seem to keep coming, don't they? At least I feel like that for me. 

It could be the stress of remote learning and how it affects everyone- not just the kids. The stress of uncertainty- in the world as a whole as well in our own little world. Or the stress of trying to play multiple roles at once. The roles of parent, spouse, secretary, employee, friend, teacher or --add your own role here--. All of those stressors can put us into survival mode. 

But that's just us- the adults. What about the kids? 

Now in "normal" times, we might talk about kids being in survival mode due to learning challenges, anxiety provoking tests, social difficulties, other challenges such as ADHD/ADD, Autism, Dyslexia, or multiple unintegrated Primitive Reflexes. But add in COVID-19? Well- take all those stressors I mentioned above and throw in even more!

Now before I go further, let's back-up a minute. I mentioned at the beginning that we all need to survive- physically, emotionally, and cognitively. What do I mean by that? Well, if we're in survival mode, here is how a child might be affected:

• Physically: Having difficulty sitting still, manipulating pencil, coordinating your eyes to focus, sleep and eating patterns are disrupted.

• Emotionally: Reactive vs responsive. Difficulty controlling frustration- there’s no joy. A pervasive sense of fear and stress and anxiety over issues that are not a real threat takes over and experienced on daily basis. 

• Cognitively: Having difficulty thinking straight, can’t remember things. There is no long term or medium term plan, it’s all about getting through the next 24 hours. No goals. Planning and organizing is challenging.

Read those again. Read how kids can be affected. 

In that state, that state of survival, do you think much learning is going to happen? Go ahead, raise your hand if you think learning can happen when someone is physically, emotionally and cognitively in survival mode. And now, please tell me that you don't have your hand up!

How on earth could we expect someone to learn when all of that is going on? 

We can't!! They are just trying to make it through the next 24 hours!

Just.trying.to.survive.

Ok, so by this time, you may be wondering- what's the point here Amy? 

I'll tell you. The point is this- there is something that can help people come out of survival mode. Can help kids come out of survival mode. And what's strange to me? Is that this "mysterious" thing kind of seems like a secret, but it really isn't at all.

Want to know what it is?

It's movement.

Yup, you heard that right- movement. Intentional movement to be more specific. 

Not some miracle drug, or new-fangled therapy- just movement. Moving our bodies in intentional ways, with purposeful movements. 

We can move from "survival mode" to "learning mode" with movement. Isn't that amazing, and awe-inspiring and oh-so-easy?!?

At Brain Fit Academy, we can teach people how to do just that. We teach kids, teens, adults, parents, teachers, professionals (anyone who wants to learn!) how to move out of survival mode and be ready and able to learn, grow and enjoy life!

And those intentional movements? What are they? Well, we have a host of them. The 26 Brain Gym® movements are a staple, but we also incorporate other movements such as those from the Rhythmic Movement Training program, additional movements that mimic Primitive Reflex motor patterns as well as from a host of other tried and true programs. 

As I said- movement, intentional, purposeful movement is what can help us get out of that survival mode and back into learning mode. Doesn't that sound good?

It's not a secret. It's not a miracle. 

It's movement. We use movement.

Roots

What would happen to a tree if it didn't have strong roots? 

• Would it grow healthy, strong and tall? 
• Would it be able to stand erect in the ground and maintain its stability in the wind? 
• Would it be able to withstand the ebbs and flows of weather patterns? 
• Would it support the tree in the best way possible?

I'm no arborist, but I would say that the answer to all of these questions would be no. Would you agree?

Just like roots of a tree, our brain stem serves to support us- right from the earliest beginnings of our development. You see, when you look through the lens of the Triune Brain Theory (explained in more detail in this post) you will come to think of the brain in three parts. The earliest, the brain stem- or the "baby brain" as we say at Brain Fit, is like the roots of a tree.

The baby brain develops first. Establishing (or it is supposed to establish) a solid foundation for the rest of the brain to develop. It serves as the "roots" of the brain- upon which the other parts of the brain can grow. It governs survival mechanisms such as breathing and digestion and is where the primitive reflexes are housed.

But herein lies a potential problem. If the baby brain doesn't develop quite the way it should- if the primitive reflexes don't emerge, develop and integrate smoothly, those "roots" (the brain stem) can get- what we call- a little "disorganized".

Think about those tree roots again for a minute. Let's just say that the roots of the tree represent the primitive reflexes. The roots are those early motor patterns- the primitive reflexes. Now, picture those roots all tangled up. Growing every which way- left/right, crossing over each other and intermingling. Not really forming a flowing, organized pathway to the ground and the nutrients it holds. 

If the roots of the tree grew in that tangled, mixed up way, would the tree be at its best? Would it be able to weather the storms of life and do all of those things I mentioned at the beginning of this post?

So remember, those roots represent the primitive reflexes, right? What if the primitive reflexes "grew" or developed in the same way that those roots did? Picture that. 

The early motor patterns that help us to survive, facilitate the development of our sensory systems, facilitate the ability for us to be comfortable in our bodies, as well as facilitating motor development growing in that same tangled up way. 

The primitive reflexes developing in that same, mixed-up way- left/right, crossing over each other and intermingling. Never really forming a flowing organized pathway to the upper parts of the brain. Remember- the brain develops from the bottom up, so if the lower parts of the brain aren't organized and those roots are all tangled up and not flowing- the upper parts of the brain don't have the foundation they need in which to grow!

That's what has happened with many of the clients we see at Brain Fit. The brain stem didn't grow in an organized way. Or, maybe it started to grow and somehow got interrupted. Either way, there is disorganization in the lower parts of the brain. The roots are all mixed up. The foundation isn't strong enough to support the person.

• They may not grow healthy, strong and tall
• They may not be able to maintain (emotional) stability in the "winds" of life.
• They may not be able to withstand the ebbs and flows of the "weathers" of life.
• They may not have the "support" of the brain in the best way possible.

The brain stem, AKA "baby brain"and the roots of the tree- they both support. They both need an organized flow to do their best work. They don't always have it.

At Brain Fit, we support the brain stem by integrating the primitive reflexes. 

As for the tree? I have no idea. You might want to consult with an arborist...

The Show Must Go On!

I love the work I am doing in my life right now. It is the "eve" of my teaching the Primitive Reflex Integration course online for the first time. I am so excited that we have been able to pivot the course and that I can continue teaching this important information in a new way- on Zoom!

As I have mentioned many times before, Primitive Reflex Integration is something I wish people all around the world knew. So much so that I want to Shout it From the Rooftops!

When I was thinking about how this "show must go on", it also got me thinking about kids. My clients, other Brain Fit clients, and kids out there- in the world who's show doesn't "go on". 

I'm talking about the kids that are so stuck in the Fight/Flight/Freeze response that their parents can't even get them to school some days. 

I'm talking about the kids that hear others talking behind their back about them and feel so badly about it that they refuse to go to school or other places where they would need to be around their peers.

I'm talking about the kids that struggle with math, or reading or writing. Or struggle with sensory issues, or social interactions. Or those that have other learning challenges, or live with chronic- daily, anxiety.

For those kids- is the show "going on"? 

• Are they living a full and happy life? 
• Is the rest of the family calm and content? 
• Are they able to "pivot" and go with the flow of life? 
• Do they have the resiliency and self-regulation to get themselves through their day?

I would guess that in most of those cases, the answer is no to a lot (if not all) of those questions.

What I love about Brain Fit, is that we work with these struggling kids and families.

We work with our clients to integrate the primitive reflexes and get to the root cause of many of these challenges. We teach them tools that they can use in their daily life to calm the nervous system and bring them back to homeostasis. We give them knowledge about their brain, and what to do when they find themselves "out of the loop". We teach adult classes- such as the reflex integration course I'm teaching this weekend and Brain Gym® 101. We also (in "normal" times) offer professional development sessions for teachers and other professionals that work with children. 

The show must go on with people’s lives. These kids and families that are struggling need ways to cope, ways to help. 

Ways to help ease anxiety so that kids can get back to school and feel more self-confident about themselves. 

Ways to make learning challenges less challenging. Ways to help kids "pivot" and be resilient throughout their day and life. 

I am grateful and proud to be a part of this company- Brain Fit Academy, that helps kids and families on a daily basis with all of this.

My "show" is going on tomorrow in the form on an online Reflex Integration course. Meanwhile, Brain Fit will continue working with all of those who find us and need help keeping their own show running. 

We're here, let us help. The show must go on!!

Just Breathe

I'm sure at some point in your life you have had someone tell you- "Just breathe!" You may have been going through a rough patch, having some kind of meltdown, been in the midst of an argument, or perhaps even a panic attack.

I know I've had people tell me this before- several times. And- I've said it to people on different occasions too. But there's some very interesting things about breathing and how they relate to stress. I found out that it's not quite as simple as we might think- to "just breathe" I mean.

Have you ever heard of the psoas (so-az) muscle? Maybe you have- if you're a doctor, OT, PT or massage therapist. 

Me? I'd never heard of it until about a year ago. And, I learned about it in an interesting way because I learned about it in relation to the work we do at Brain Fit Academy. In relation to Primitive Reflex Integration.

The psoas is a basically a large hip flexor that directly links the spine to the legs. There's actually two psoas muscles- the major and the minor. I'm referring to the major one here. But what is interesting, so, so interesting is that the psoas plays an important role in the Fight/Flight/Freeze response. Yes, that's right- the response that keeps us safe in the face of danger- real or perceived.

According to Liz Koch, the author of The Psoas Book, "....the psoas plays an important role in the survival response of the organism: the fight-flight-freeze response." "When fetal curl is activated, the psoas (along with other flexor muscles) neurologically fires bringing the extremities together into a fetal-c curve." She goes on to say that that c-curve "creates a sense of safety while protecting the soft, vulnerable parts of the body." 

Ok- so let me put that into layman's terms. When we go into a "freeze" response, the body (literally) gets pulled into a c-curve, AKA the "fetal position". The psoas- that muscle that many don't really know much about, does that. It helps "pull in" the body to that c-curve- that fetal position.

Great Amy, I get that now. But what does that have to do with breathing?

Well you see, the psoas is also correlated with our diaphragm- one of the main muscles responsible for breathing. The diaphragm and the psoas connect along the same vertebrae in the lower spine. So- when the psoas is tight, we are unable to fully extend our diaphragm. Which means- we aren't able to take a full breath!

Fight/Flight/Freeze=tight psoas=less movement in diaphragm=shallow breathing. 

So asking someone to "just breathe" when they are in the middle of a F/F/F response is probably not going to be as fruitful as you might like.

And for those that are constantly in that F/F/F mode? Breathing- real, deep, belly breaths are most likely just not happening. They just aren't because they can't!

So what do we do? Well, one of the ways we address this at Brain Fit is that we work with our clients to release some of that tension in the psoas. We do movements that help relax and stretch the psoas. Thereby, allowing the diaphragm to more fully extend. 

We also teach a Brain Gym® movement called Belly Breathing. Belly Breathing teaches how to breathe more fully into the "belly"- expanding the rib cage in all directions and allowing for more oxygen to reach the brain.

You'd be surprised at how many kids I've worked with that have had trouble learning how to belly breathe- and I'm sure it has a lot to do with the psoas muscle!

When we work with clients to integrate the MORO and Fear Paralysis reflexes, these breathing and psoas exercises and activities correspond nicely. It's really interesting to see how much more relaxed a person feels after stretching the psoas and then breathing. I feel it myself when I do the exercises along with them. Loosening up the tension in that psoas muscle can have such an impact on the breath and gives a whole new meaning to "just breathe".

The psoas is an important muscle and deserves more attention than we typically give it. Work with your own (or your child's or whomever!) and see if it makes a difference.

Hey- maybe- I can start a new saying. What do you think? 

"Stretch the psoas before the breath, that will help you calm your stress..."