Brain Gym Exercises to Boost Focus and Learning in the Classroom

When students struggle to sit still, focus, or retain information, the solution might not be stricter routines or more screen time it might be movement. Brain Gym exercises, a system of light physical activities, are designed to help children (and even adults) improve their learning, memory, and focus through simple body-based routines.

Used in classrooms, corporate settings, and even senior care centers, Brain Gym is a flexible and low-impact way to bring movement into the learning environment. Here’s how it works and which exercises are easiest to try with your students.

What Is Brain Gym?

Brain Gym is a set of 26 exercises developed in the 1980s by Dr. Paul E. Dennison, a reading specialist, and his wife, Gail. The exercises are designed to mimic the natural movements of early childhood development when children learn to coordinate their eyes, ears, hands, and bodies. These movements are believed to help the brain process and retain new information more effectively.

Rather than focusing on physical fitness or strength, Brain Gym emphasizes coordination, stability, and sensory integration, making it especially helpful for students who need support with attention, memory, and emotional regulation.

The Benefits of Brain Gym in the Classroom

Several studies support the potential benefits of incorporating Brain Gym into daily routines:

• A 2019 study in the Indonesian Journal of Science Education found that Brain Gym exercises paired with visual learning tools improved students' thinking skills and created a more relaxed classroom environment.

• Researchers at the University of Maine, Farmington, found that preschoolers who practiced Brain Gym were better prepared to recognize letters, possibly due to improved motor and cognitive development.

• Even older students and adults may see benefits. A study in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity showed that Brain Gym exercises improved overall fitness levels in older adults similarly to traditional workouts, though more research is needed to explore cognitive improvements.

Whether you’re teaching pre-K or high school, these exercises can offer a welcome brain break and reset.

Easy Brain Gym Exercises to Try

These Brain Gym exercises require no special equipment and can be done right at students’ desks or in open areas of the classroom. Each activity takes just a few minutes.

1. Deep Breathing with Body Posture

Use to calm nerves and reset focus.

• Scrunch toes and cross ankles while seated.

• Press palms together and stretch arms forward.

• Bring hands to the chest and take five deep breaths, holding the pose for about 30 seconds.

• Release the posture, uncrossing legs and relaxing arms.

• Take another five deep breaths to finish.

This exercise helps regulate the nervous system and promotes a sense of calm.

2. Cross Crawling

Activates both hemispheres of the brain and improves coordination.

• Begin on all fours or standing.

• March in place, touching your right elbow to your left knee, and vice versa.

• Continue for 30–60 seconds.

• If on the floor, crawl forward using opposite limbs (left hand with right leg and right hand with left leg).

• Crawl backward to reinforce the pattern.

Cross-lateral movement supports reading readiness and motor skill integration.

3. Figure of Eight

Prepares the brain for focused learning by enhancing visual tracking and motor coordination.

• Stand tall and extend one arm forward.

• Use the index finger to draw a sideways figure eight (∞) in the air.

• Repeat with the opposite hand.

• Finally, draw the figure eight using both hands together.

This movement engages both sides of the brain and is ideal as a warm-up before a test or new lesson.

Tips for Bringing Brain Gym Into the Classroom

• Keep it brief. Just a few minutes before lessons or after transitions can make a difference.

• Stay consistent. Incorporate Brain Gym into your daily routine so it becomes a familiar ritual.

• Encourage creativity. Let students invent their own movement patterns to keep them engaged.

• Observe changes. Note improvements in focus, behavior, or classroom atmosphere after introducing these exercises.

The Bottom Line

Brain Gym exercises are a low-effort, high-impact way to support learning readiness in students of all ages. Whether you’re addressing attention challenges, reducing classroom stress, or simply offering a movement break, these exercises are a valuable tool for teachers and caregivers alike.

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