We’re going to start the new year reviewing a book by Dr. John Ratey who is a leading expert in the field of how exercise improves brain functioning. While we have always believed that the purpose of exercise is to make our bodies feel better, research now shows that exercise allows the brain to operate at peak levels and that’s what makes us feel so good and produces the best results. Ratey makes this shocking statement, “The sedentary nature of modern life is a disruption of our nature, and it poses one of the biggest threats to our continued survival.” Physical inactivity actually shrinks the brain and Ratey is on a campaign to reconnect brain and body functioning.
Ratey will cover the following 4 areas;
1. Exercise cues the building blocks of learning in the brain
2. How exercise affect mood, anxiety, and attention
3. How it guard against stress
4. How it reverses the effects of aging
After recent knee surgery, I was unable to exercise and felt the effect of listlessness and lack of energy. Recently back swimming laps, I have found Ratey is right about how exercise not only improves physical functioning but also improves my overall attitude.
Next week we will talk about how one school district was able to greatly improve national test scores just by increasing the activity level of students before taking the test. As persons working in education with children, we should be strong advocates for the importance of having our children afforded ample opportunities at school to exercise. I hope you run around the room three times after you finish reading this!