16 | Akwa | March / April / May 2023 Neurobics are mental exercises that challenge the brain in novel ways. There are 2 requirements for neurobics: (1) experience unexpected things and (2) use all your senses every day. These exercises can be purely mental activities or can include a physical component, both will help stimulate neuronal growth and brain health. So, how does this relate to purposeful recovery? Often, when confronted with a mental challenge, we slow down to concentrate, resulting in a reduction in intensity. Chal- lenging your participants’ brains with complex tasks, or sim- ple movements paired with cognitive challenges, should be included for the young and old. The question is how do we include this work while also maintaining focus on our pri- mary goal of fitness? Simply stated, we use it as purposeful recovery. Neurobics for Purposeful Exercise Recovery By Lori A. Sherlock, EdD Recovery is an integral component of exercise and training. Whether considering the recovery or rest, paired with an intense interval, or a recovery day after a few weeks of hard workouts, recovery should be a part of the exercise plan. Recovery, as with all workout components, should be pur- poseful and planned. Integrating neurobics into an inter- val as a recovery bout can provide mental challenge while allowing physical recovery. A recovery day that emphasizes neurobics can turn a physically easy session (often construed as boring) into an engaging, fun workout. Nearly anything can be turned into neurobics. Switching a component of a basic movement that is routine for your participants is a great example. For instance, you may take a basic jumping jack and ask participants to perform a jumping jack while also touching their thumb to each fin- gertip. Suddenly, your brain has to navigate a new move- ment that is engaging, challenging and potentially frustrat- ing. By breaking a routine movement and making it more novel, you are asking your participants’ brains to engage in a different way resulting in greater cognitive recruitment. However, as your participants practice this movement, it will come as naturally as the basic movement. This brings up another important point: variation is key to providing continual mental stimulation. Studies have proven this fact. When individuals practice a given task, they get better at that given task but do not necessarily improve at other com- plex tasks, even if related. In other words, if you practice the jumping jack with finger touches, you will get better at that movement. However, if you change the movement, replacing the finger touch with a wrist circle, you are back to greater cognitive engagement. Another strategy for integrating neurobics into a workout is including a cognitive task while performing a simple movement. Incorporating mental math or memory can be a fun and easy way to challenge the brain without making it physical. Complex physical movements or cognitively demanding mental functions are great ways to make recov- ery more purposeful. Incorporating neurobics can bolster brain health, reduce risk of cognitive decline, and bring a little fun to your classes. RESOURCES Email [email protected] for a listing of article resources. AUTHOR Lori Sherlock is one of AEA’s amazing IAFTC 2023 Presenters. Click here to find out more about Lori and the sessions she is offering. Incorporating mental math or memory can be a fun and easy way to challenge the brain without making it physical.
