Teacher leads bodily exercises to increase mental strength
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Southborough - Exercise isn't just for keeping physically fit anymore. Research shows that exercise can help to increase brain function and memory while decreasing stress levels in children, and Jennie Bogaert is making sure that the students at Woodward Elementary School in Southborough are getting the workout they need to increase learning.

Following televised school announcements fed simultaneously to each classroom, Bogaert leads the entire school through a two-minute series of Brain Gym activities with the help of four student volunteers.

Any one of 26 different exercises may be incorporated into the twice-a-week workout, all of which are designed to target different areas of the body that she said are critical to effective learning.

"It's a great way to use the mind and body together with exercise to increase oxygen flow to the brain, release stress through pressure points and get both sides of the brain working together, which is necessary for reading and writing," Bogaert said.

In one exercise, the kids hit key pressure points on their heads, which helps to promote relaxation.

PHOTO/MELISSA MUNTZ (l to r) Third-graders Harry Kuperstein, Zack Nicoletti, Abbey O'Brien Weiss and Siena Hubley help Jennie Bogaert lead the school in Brain Gym activities.

Another has them crossing one leg over the other while standing up, to promote balance and full brain thinking. Bogaert said doing a mix of simple movements that target different areas offers maximum results in a minimum amount of time.

And no matter what area they're focusing on, there's one part of the body that's always being stimulated - the ears.

"I always pick a really fun upbeat song to play while we're doing the exercises, like 'Sweet Caroline,' which I played today," she said. "It gets the kids having fun together and it's a great way to kick start the day and start off on a positive note, which carries through their whole day."

Although most students don't carry the exercises beyond the two-minute timeframe, Bogaert said there are some students who rely on the exercises to get through the day.

"A lot of kids who find it helpful do incorporate the exercises they like into their daily routine," she said. "You can do most of them sitting down and very quietly at your desk, and it really can help them throughout their day."

Bogaert, who is a behavioral specialist at Woodward, said the Brain Gym exercises are especially helpful for the school's Special Education population.

"If you have a child that's really anxious, you can do a couple of activities with deep breathing to help them calm themselves down," she said. "You just pick an exercise that relaxes or energizes the body, whatever they need."

Bogaert attended four Brain Gym training sessions last year. She said she has been talking about the program with teachers throughout the building to help them better understand and better assist their students who may be in need of a stress-relieving or focusing exercise in the classroom.

She's also hoping to meet with parents during an upcoming parent-principal meeting to answer any questions they may have about the program and effective ways to implement different movements at home.