Movement of the Month

The Rocker

The Rocker is a Brain Gym® integrative movement that accesses the Cerebral Cortex of the 3-Dimensional Brain. As part of the Midline Movements category of the Brain Gym® Menu, The Rocker is used to simulate the side to side movement pattern of the Laterality Dimension.

Keywords associated with the Laterality dimension are reason, insight and communication.

• Integrated creativity
• Planning and visualizing
• Sequencing and naming
• Intellect and intelligence
• Sense of time and space
• Pattern sensing and coding
• Science, art, math and music
• Distinctions and associations
• Speech, language and communication

How to do the Energy Yawn

Notice the level of relaxation in your hips and lower back.

Sitting on the floor (on a padded surface to protect your tailbone), lean back on your hands and massage first one hip and then the other by rocking yourself gently back and forth or in small circles or Lazy 8s, as tension melts away.

Notice again the level of relaxation in your hips and lower back.

Benefits of this Movement

The Rocker releases the low back and sacrum by massaging the hamstring and gluteus muscle groups, and stimulating nerves in the hips dulled by excessive sitting (e.g. at a desk or motor vehicles).  When the sacrum is freed to move, the brain, at the other end of the central nervous system, is activated as well.  Circulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the spinal column is then stimulated, and the body works more efficiently. 

This Brain Gym® movement stimulates both brain hemispheres simultaneously; this is the ideal warm up to all skills which require crossing the body’s lateral midline.

What this looks like in day to day life.

• Versatility
• Follow up
• Study skills
• Team building
• Reading aloud
• Sense of humor
• Binocular vision
• Improved study skills
• Organizing paperwork
• Ability to work in the midfield
• Attention and comprehension
• Whole body coordination
• Energy levels (alleviates mental fatigue) 
• Modeling favorable co-worker relations
• Deeper breathing and more voice resonance
• Focus and more forward body posture & stable pelvis

History of Movement

At about eight months of age, when a balanced sitting posture is being developed, the infant establishes body rotation toward the midline and coordination between the occiput and sacrum.  The important relationship of the sacrum to the base of the skull has been noticed and researched by osteopaths and doctors of chiropractic (especially those practicing the Sacro-Occipital Technique, known as SOT).  Dr. Dennison discovered that students who were unable to focus and comprehend the material they were reading would often be able to do so after doing The Rocker.

To learn more about The Rocker and other Brain Gym® movements join us for one of our workshops, go to www.brainworksglobal.com .

Some "Movement of the Month" content is derived from the following publications, Brain Gym® for Business, Brain Gym® Teachers Edition and the Brain Gym® 101 Manual. Do not reproduce - Format © Brain Works Global Inc. 2012