Nice try, and why not Now?

Yesterday, Sonoma was graced with a visit from
Mike Merzenich
otherwise known, as Dr. Michael Merzenich
and he's a famous brain plasticity guy.

He discovered that monkey's brains,
if they learn something
and if it's marked for them,
if it's significant
(like learning leads to FOOD),
then their brain which lay
down neurons,
grow,
change.

He went on to make a program
the helps kids listen
to sounds
and words
better

and then older
folk
listening
better

and it improves the brain
and since up until recently
the myth was that you couldn't really improve
or change
the brain
or lay down new neurons,
this is a big deal.

So he's got this program
and it's probably great.

I'm going to offer
for a high fee
to make it twice as effective
because I hear it's not really
that fun
and it wears people down
and requires a sort of relentless
effort

all of which
are NON hallmarks of real learning

okay
okay
the brain is improved
the speed of processing goes
up
kids get better at reading
old folks get better at hearing and being engaged
by life

and still
if it ain't got that
swing
where is it's zing?


so,
what to do?

right now,
key into any
MOVEMENT LESSON
I've already offered in this blog

every one
will improve your
brain
and your
breathing
and your
body awareness
and your flexibility
and your
sexuality

yeah,
yeah,
Chris,
but how about something new?

okay:

he also has someone's vision
improvement
program,
helps people re-acquire access to
the periphery

fine

let's improve
vision
and sex
and
have
a little fun:

1. find something far away to look at
look at it
and enjoyt it and
follow your breathing

2. Now rock your pelvis forward so your belly comes forward
and back
so your belly comes in
do this a bunch of times

3. rest and feel how it is to be you right now

4. Sit at the front edge of your chair and do
the pelvis rocking thing, and add awareness of your back,
so
a. pelvis forward (hands behind you
on the chair might help)
belly forward
back arching
chest coming up a little (and breathe,
don't tense,
smile,
don't tense)

and
b. pelvis backward
belly in
back slouching, rounding, folding,
chest coming down a little
smile don't tense

5. once more
rest,
breathe,
notice yourself
in the moment

6. look at the far thing again
and keep looking at it,
and do a funny,
interesting
brain building thing:

keep looking at the thing
at let your nose and head go
up
and
down

so your eyes stay fixed
and your head and neck move

rest again, breathe, notice the now

7. now
keep your nose pointed toward the thing
and let your eyes move up
and down
so
you'll be looking
above and below the thing

breathe
and enjoy the looking

rest again, breathe, notice the now

8. Now look at the thing,
do the pelvis rolling and rocking,
and let your head go up and down

so

eye keep looking at the thing

and sometimes
a. pelvis comes forward
back arches
head goes up (nose points up,
and eyes keep looking at the thing)
belly comes out
breathing comes in

and sometimes
b. pelvis comes backward
back slouches, rounds, folds
belly comes in
breathing goes out
head goes down
and eyes
keep looking at the thing



9. Rest, breathe,
do something fancier in the other direction

look at the thing
and let your head go
right
and left

breathe

there would
be lots more in a
class
or a private lesson,
but this gets
learning
moving,
breathing,
the pelvis
and vision
all improving

good start

yes