3 Steps To Improving Memory
Stress diminishes memory. In a recent study at the St. Louis University subjects were given high doses of cortisol, a hormone released into the bloodstream under stress. While the cortisol was in their bloodstreams, they experienced memory loss and confusion. Fortunately, as the levels of cortisol decreased, the subjects' memory improved.
Step One: Relax! Sit comfortably in a chair and cross your ankles. Now, stretch out your arms in front of you, cross your wrists, turn your thumbs down and interlock your fingers. Bend your arms to rest the crossed palms on your chest and close your eyes. You can do this for three to fifteen minutes. Then uncross your ankles and touch your fingertips together for another few minutes. This exercise is called "Hook-ups. Many people reported feeling calm and relaxed after doing it.
Step Two: Synchronize your brain hemispheres! Research shows that to be able to memorize and recall you need the right and the left brain hemispheres to work together. The following exercise achieves that immediately. Stand up, lift your left knee and touch it with your right hand. Now change and touch your right knee with your left hand. Keep alternating, marching in place for a minute or two. This is called "cross crawl". Next time you can't remember a fact or a name, do cross crawl - you will usually remember within a few minutes.
Step Three: Switch on your ears! Ears "turn off" because of neck tension or an overload of sound. Since they are connected to the part of the brain that controls short term memory, this impairs recall and makes it hard to remember what you hear. This exercise will help you "turn on"your ears. Turn your head right, then left, to check how far you can go. Now take a hold of your ears and firmly but gently pull them out, unfolding the crease toward the back of your head. Rub three times thoroughly from top to bottom. This called "ears-on." Now turn your head right and left again. Most people improve their range significantly, which means the tension in the neck has decreased. Your ears are now switched on - remembering should be easier.
These exercises come from a discipline of body-mind integration called specialized kinesiology. These and other brain integration activities are used in Brain UpgradeTM Seminars and One-On-Ones.
