Our minds and bodies can degrade overtime for a variety of reasons, mostly because we fail to use them. Cross-body therapy is a way in which we can teach our mind and body to learn in new ways. The mind and body work together in order to coordinate everyday task; and as we age our minds tend to develop habitual patterns that allow us to preform common task without thinking about them. This auto pilot function of our brains tends to increase with age however, over time these habits can get harder and harder to break. Serious mental health issues such as Depression, Anxiety, and Obsession Compulsion Disorder, can develop as a result of poor neural plasticity. One way that we can actively work towards building new neural connections in order to fight against aging is by doing exercises that cross our bodies mid-line. By using visualization and actively thinking, the cross-body practitioner can preform movements that activate both sides of the brain simultaneously while learning new coordination movements.
The left hemisphere of the brain controls the right side of the body. The right hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body. When we actively cross our bodies mid-line, both sides of the brains hemispheres become engaged in the task. This is a new state of learning which is different from the auto pilot mental state in which we normally learn. This new mental state gives us a clean slate in which we can lay down new neural pathways in much the same way that we did when we were learning things for the first time as children. This new "clean slate" of learning is free from the habitual emotional baggage that we as adult learners tend to carry around. This is one of the reasons why it is so easy for young children to learn and why it is so difficult for adult learners. Children don't have the emotional habits getting in the way of the learning process. The following are some crossing the mid-line exercises that will help all learners develop neural plasticity.
According to the North Shore Pediatric Therapy website http://nspt4kids.com/ the following exercises are recommended in order to improve a child's crossing the midpoint development. These exercises are great to practice at any age.
Reach for bean bags, balls, stuffed animals, or other objects across midline, then throwing at a target.
Draw large figure eights (the infinity sign or an 8 turned on its side) on paper, on the floor with a finger, in the air with a finger.
Touch the opposite elbow and knee.
Cross one foot over the other while walking sideways.
Do “grapevine” walks.
Knee slap walk- Walk around raising each knee while touching/slapping it with the opposite hand (or elbow). Change it to a skip while touching the opposite knee as it comes up.
Windmill-stand with feet spread apart and arms extended out to the sides. Bend over at waist and tap right hand to left foot. Stand back up and then bend and tap left hand to right foot.
Point your left finger out and put your right thumb up. Switch them, and switch, and switch, and switch…
Hold your nose, then cross the other hand over and grab your opposite ear. Slap your thighs and switch your hands…switch, slap, switch, slap…
Write your name in the air while rotating your foot in a circle clockwise.
Wash the car and make sure the arms cross midline while scrubbing.
The following is a simple exercise that can yield great benefits.
Cross arms and legs and willfully move each one in a predetermined sequence. First wiggle your right toe, then wiggle your right hand. Then switch and do the other side. Then mix it up as much as you can and try to confuse your mind and body.
Work Cited:
http://nspt4kids.com/
Written by Eliza Rachael Harris