BRAIN GYM & ESSENTIAL OILS
The Synergy between Movement, Frequency and Smell
This post is contributed by One Drop member – Angela Lim Jie Yi
I started my oiling journey with Young Living in November 2013, researching and experimenting with essential oils mainly for my children. It was when I became a Brain Gym® Instructor in 2016 that I started exploring the possibilities of combining both modalities together.
So how does Brain Gym® and essential oils work together?
First, let me introduce to you what Brain Gym® is about. Brain Gym® was founded by Dr. Paul E. Dennison, Ph.D, in the 1980s. He was born with processing disorder and dyslexia and didn’t start to speak until he was 7 years old. At that time, he was deemed to be a “failure in life” because of his disabilities. Being a tough man, he wanted to show the world that he could make it in life despite his disabilities. He subsequently became a reading expert and opened many reading schools in USA. It was then that he met his wife, Gail, who is an artist and movement master. Together, they studied and researched on how movements have an effect on the brain. After 20 years of research, they came up with 26 basic movements which we refer them as the Learning Menu. These 26 movements are in line with our developmental milestones and address the different parts of the brain function. Brain Gym® has, over the years, evolved to include many other courses and many more movements! Carla Hannaford, Ph. D, also published a book, Smart Moves – Why Learning Is Not All In Your Head, documenting her research on how movement affects the brain.
So how do essential oils come into play?
In order to stimulate the brain, you can either inhale the oil or apply the oils. So when we inhale a fragrance of an essential oil, the odour molecules goes through the olfactory bulb, then transmits pulses to the gustatory centre (where the sensation of taste is), amygdala (where emotional memories are stored) and other parts of the limbic system of the brain. Because the limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels and hormone balance, essential oils can have profound physiological and psychological effects. The sense of smell is the only one of the five senses directly linked to the limbic lobe of the brain, the emotional control centre. Also, when you set a positive intention on what would you like to achieve when using the oil, the oil’s frequency interacts with your intention, and that increases your body’s frequency as well. So when we use the oils together the Brain Gym® movements, it creates a synergy between them.
Now, I would like to invite you to do some Brain Gym® with me and experience it for yourself!
In Brain Gym®, we have a 4 step process called P.A.C.E., which stands for Positive, Active, Clear and Energy. Now, close your eyes and feel your body and mind. How do you feel? What do you notice about your thoughts, feelings and your body?
Now we will go through the P.A.C.E. process.
The first step, “E”, stands for “Energy”. Sip some water and hold it in your mouth for a few seconds, then swallow it. Our brain is made up of more than 80% water so we need water to bring more information to the brain. By holding the water in your mouth before swallowing, it sends signals to the brain that water is coming. Do you remember a time when you feel thirsty? How do you feel? Were you able to think clearly? Though in Educational Kinesiology (the study of Brain Gym®), we encourage people to drink plain water, I understand that there are times when we don’t like the taste of plain water and even find it awful. In order to add a little flavour to the water, add a drop of Lemon Vitality into your water. How does it taste now? Once when you have gotten used to drinking water, switch to plain water instead.
The second step, “C”, stands for “Clear”. By massaging the Brain Buttons, which is slightly below the collarbone and feels sore when massaged, we clear the toxins that are in our body. To enhance this, apply the En-R-Gee blend on the kidneys and soles. Also, the Brain Buttons accesses the brain for stimulation of the carotid artery for increased blood flow to the brain, so I love to use oils like Clarity, Brainpower or Common Sense to wake up the brain. Use one drop of either one of the oils and apply on your brain stem (which is the indentation at the based of your skull), forehead and temples.
The third step, “A”, stands for “Active”. By doing cross crawl, where we bring one elbow to the opposite knee, we are crossing our body’s midline and access the brain for crossing the visual, auditory, kinaesthetic and tactile midline. With the remaining blends of Clarity, Brainpower or Common Sense in my palm, I love to inhale them deeply and then do my cross-crawl!
The final step, “P”, stands for “Positive”. By doing the hook ups, where we cross our legs and arms and fold in our arms, it accesses the brain for emotional centering and grounding and increased attention. Before doing the hook ups, I love to inhale oils like Sacred Mountain, Peace & Calming or Grounding. At this point, think of what you would like to achieve at the end of the day.
Now that the P.A.C.E. process is over, close your eyes and notice how you feel, think and how your body feels this time. Is there a difference as compared to before doing P.A.C.E.?
Brain Gym® can be done at anytime of the day and it is especially beneficial when it is done before the start of an assignment or activity.
Cheers to a positive life!
If you like my articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils, please drop me a message at angela.lim@thebalancingact.sg. I would love to support you in using the oils for yourself and your loved ones.
