Kinesiology in Writing (Stimulating the Brain to Enhance Creativity)

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tamara_McCallan]Tamara McCallan
If I were to tell you that writing was a whole brain function, would you agree? At the basic level, most people know that the right hemisphere of the brain handles creativity, while the left hemisphere deals primarily with logic. Therefore, writing is a whole brain function since an author needs both creativity and logic to bring his or her story to life.
I am fortunate enough to have an acquaintance who is a Kinesiologist. In other words, he uses the brain and the body in conjunction with each other to increase the performance level of his clients, most of whom are internationally known open-wheel race car drivers.
So I got to thinking, if educational kinesiology shaves off lap times for a bunch of guys driving around a racetrack at Mach 1, why couldn't that same science be used to stimulate creativity and increase concentration in a writer? Good news. Kinesiology can do just that. Shortly, I will list some of the more common exercises one can do to stimulate concentration and creativity but first, let me explain how it works.
We've already established that the brain has two hemispheres. The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body. The hemispheres can work independently of one another, in other words, they can work unilaterally. Unfortunately, a person with a brain working in this fashion can have difficulty with whole brain activities such as learning to drive, or sports, or any activity that requires high level processing and multi-tasking.
But let's assume we have a brain that's working correctly. What scientists and researchers have discovered is that if they can stimulate the communication between both hemispheres of the brain via the corpus callosum, which is that bundle of nerve fibers that join the hemispheres, a person will perform a given skill or task at a higher level than if that stimulation hadn't occurred. The process is known as "integration" and it happens by doing some very simple movements commonly called integration exercises.
CROSS-CRAWLS
Let's start with the first, most basic exercise I use to get my brain on track. They're called cross crawls and they are very simple. First, find an open area; you have to be free to move. Begin marching in place. As the left knee comes up, reach across with your right hand (or elbow) and touch it. Do the same with your right knee, touching it with your left hand (or elbow). Continue doing this for about a minute.
What's the science behind this simple exercise? Easy. As soon as you cross the center line of the body and contact your knee, you are forcing the hemispheres of the brain to communicate and work together.
COOK'S HOOK-UP
If you're to a point in your writing where you're frustrated, maybe a scene, or chapter, or a character isn't turning out quite the way you wanted, Cook's Hook-up is your answer. This is a calming exercise as well as a brain integration exercise. Stand (or sit). Cross your right leg over your left. (Spread your feet and look at a point in the distance to help you maintain balance if you are standing). Stretch out your arms in front of you, palms facing each another. Cross your arms. Flip your hands so your palms are once again facing each other. Link your hands. Roll your linked hands towards your chest. Your clasped hands should now be resting on your sternum. Stay in this position for a couple of minutes, breathing deeply. Visualize writing a successful chapter, or developing a character, or whatever you hope to accomplish. This is also an excellent exercise to relieve test anxiety.
LAZY EIGHTS
I don't think there's a writer out there who hasn't, at some time or another, run up against writer's block. Lazy Eights can help overcome it.
Lazy Eights can be done two ways. The first: Hold your dominant hand in front of you about nose height, thumb up. Keep a slight bend in your elbow. Move your thumb in the pattern of an eight on its side (think of the mathematical "infinity" sign). Make the lazy eight no wider than your shoulders. The pace of the movement should be moderately slow. Now track your thumb with your eyes only, keeping your head still. Do this for about a minute with first your dominant, and then your non-dominant hand.
The variation to this exercise involves a pen and a piece of notebook paper. For this version, simply draw the lazy eight, tracking the movement of your hand with your eyes only, keeping your head still. Repeat with your non-dominant hand.
The benefits of doing Lazy Eights are many. Some of which include: improved visual tracking, clearer thinking, improved hand/eye coordination, increased attention span, increased writing flow and speed, improved memory, and as I already mentioned, freeing up writer's block.
BRAIN BUTTONS
Before you sit down to write, prepare your brain for this sometimes psychologically exhausting activity. Stimulating one's "brain buttons" increases blood flow to the brain. This helps improve creativity, helps with reading and writing tasks, and increases concentration.
To stimulate your brain buttons, spread out your hand. Place your middle finger and your thumb in the slight indentations just below your collar bones. Lightly massage this area. At the same time, place your other hand over your navel. Lightly massage this area as well. Do the exercise for about two minutes. Remember to breathe deeply.
So there you have it, some basic integration exercises to help improve the quality of your writing by stimulating creativity. It is my suggestion that you do all the exercises right before you sit down to write. If you are consistent, the integration exercises will act as a sort of trigger, which notifies your brain that you are about ready to get down and get busy. Remember, a busy brain is a creative brain. I also suggest that you "reintegrate" occasionally while you're writing. This keeps the brain active and communicating.
If you have any questions about the information contained in this article, please refer to the book Brain Gym, written by Paul Ehrlich Dennison and Gail E. Dennison, pioneers in Educational Kinesiology or contact me via my website.
Source: Dennison, Paul and Dennison, Gail, Brain Gym, Edu Kinesthetics. 1992.
Ms. McCallan is the author of several articles depicting ways to enhance character development and stimulate creativity in writing. She writes primarily fiction and is a paranormal romance and paranormal thriller novelist. Learn more about her and her other works at: http://www.tlmccallan.com/
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