Words: Andrea Kellerman, Educational and Sport Psychologist
Most of us know that physical exercise is good for our general health, but did you know that it can increase academic performance too?
Physical exercise has a positive effect on brain function, as it increases our heart rate and pumps more oxygen to the brain, and it assists in the release of various hormones that aid and provide a nourishing environment for the growth of brain cells. This all leads to lower stress levels, heightened self-esteem, self-confidence, and provides a greater sense of belonging.
Most of us know that physical exercise is good for our general health, but did you know that it can increase academic performance too? Physical exercise has a positive effect on brain function, as it increases our heart rate and pumps more oxygen to the brain, and it assists in the release of various hormones that aid and provide a nourishing environment for the growth of brain cells. This all leads to lower stress levels, heightened self-esteem, self-confidence, and provides a greater sense of belonging.
Exercise is a natural part of life, although these days we have to consciously include it in our daily routine. Potential benefits that can be gained from structured sporting and physical exercise are as follows:
Improved focus and concentration
According to leading sport academics, a person who moves well is also likely to perform well in school, due to the increased blood flow that brings more fresh oxygen to the brain, thus fuelling it.
Improved neural connections
Sports can improve a child's mind and body connection, since he or she will need to train the mind to help the body to react quickly and accurately on the sports field. With regular physical exercise and repetition of certain physical activities, we experience reinforcement of the neural pathways (our brain’s information pathways, roads, and highways). This means that while we are training our body to develop faster and have more accurate muscle control, we are training our brain as well, by focusing it on goals and targets.
Improved emotional intelligence
Team sports allow athletes to develop camaraderie, friendship, and connectedness in the sporting environment, which is essential to develop emotional intelligence skills in our everyday world. People who feel part of a team and are accepted by others will experience less anxiety, stress, and social phobia. Furthermore, being accepted and successful in a team has a huge impact on self-esteem and self-confidence.
Improved rest
With increased physical activity, the body and mind are more likely to experience quality rest and rejuvenating sleep. We all know that when we have had a proper night’s sleep, our mental stamina is that much greater. On top of this, when the body feels rested, the mind feels fresh and ready to deal with the stresses of the average day at school or work.
Improved self-worth
Neurotransmitters are chemicals within our brain that help our brain communicate with the different parts in our body. Certain chemicals, such as serotonin, are responsible for our mood levels. High levels elevate moods (such as happiness), while low levels are associated with depression. Physical exercise increases the levels of serotonin, which makes us feel good about ourselves and our experiences.
Brain training
Your brain is no different than rest of the muscles in your body - you either use it or you lose it. To enhance brain health and ideal functioning, it is not always necessary to take medication. Nowadays there are a number of alternatives to choose from such as Neurofeedback training, which trains the brain in a similar way as physical exercise trains the body. Neurofeedback or brain training strengthens the brain and allows new, optimal pathways to form. This is often sufficient to help you concentrate better, feel de-stressed, less anxious or depressed and sleep better.
As you can see it is extremely important to train the body and mind from an early age and keep at it. A holistic approach to wellness will lead to the desired affects of feeling, behaving and functioning optimally, so make sure you and your children exercise enough, eat healthily and sleep well.
For more information and tips on how to train your brain visit: www.eq-advantedge.co.za
