1.OVERVIEW

There are approximately 15 million children with learning disabilities. Learning disabilities include a wide range of different conditions. Physical therapy and exercise has been proven to be a very successful remedy combined with other types of treatment.
Eric Jensen who is a pioneer in the field of brain-compatible learning outlined at the Fragile Brain Conference the causes and brain changes in several learning differences. He concluded that movement, rhythms, physical activity and exercise help control many of the conditions such as ADD, Dyslexia or Hyperactivity. Movement helps facilitate a better integration between both hemispheres.

2.Studies and Research

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CREATES GREATER SYNAPTIC CONNECTIONS William Greenough showed how rats who exercised in enriched environments had a greater number of synaptic connections. Exercise imporves brain functioning in the following areas: the cerebellum, the basal ganglia, hippocampus or the corpsus callosum

3. The Brain Muscle Workout launches a New Exercise Program in Schools to improve children's motor skills, which are associated with higher academic achievement"

The Brain Muscle Workout school program is an individualized program for schools, which will include a personalized program consisting of over 300 different exercises structured in 9 different stages throughout the school year. It can benefit kids 5 years or older. By continuously teasing the body with balance and coordination challenges, the program simultaneously stimulates the brain, muscles and nervous system. The program is currently being reviewed and endorsed by Child Psychiatrist, Md Dr Gregory Lombardo.

According to Dr Lombardo, who is board certified in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry and is a diplomate of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology Gonzalez Wallace's brain muscle workout program may produce children's benefits in three major areas for children development: motor skills (which are associated with academic achievement), Cardiovascular and Psychiatric benefits

Example of some movements of The Brain Muscle Workout Program using physical voice while performing a skilled movement

Review from Donna Williams, autism consultant, Australia:

“thanks for the demo clearly teachers can implement such exercises in classes with children with ASD, many of whom also have Dyspraxia issues with poor left-right hemisphere integration”.

Donna Williams

The Brain Muscle Workout Program for Schools. Benefits

3.1Motor Skills:

Motor skills refers to the abilities which involve the use of hands, develop over time, starting with primitive gestures such as grabbing at objects to more precise activities that involve precise hand-eye coordination. Fine motor skills are skills that involve a refined use of the small muscles controlling the hand, fingers, and thumb. The development of these skills allows one to be able to complete tasks such as writing, drawing, and buttoning. *

The Brain Muscle Workout Program incorporates an active use of motor skills. The importance of exercising balance and coordination may help improve children's brain functioning in the following areas: attention, memory, multitasking, spatial memory and decision-making. For example raising heels and arms at the same time will improve kids’ attention and multitasking skills. This could correlate to listening to the teacher and writing in a piece of paper)

*Wikepedia, Encyclopedia. Search:Motor skills.
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_motor_skill

3.2 Psychiatric Benefits and Benefits in Academic Function

Improving children’s brain functioning through specific exercise movements.

Regarding brain functioning, it is important to refer to the cerebellum, the area of the brain responsible for voluntary physical movement is connected by neurons to all parts of the cortex, the area of the brain responsible for higher order thinking. Nearly 80 studies have suggested a strong link between the movement and memory, spatial perception, language, attention, emotion, nonverbal cues, and decision-making (Jensen, 1998).

A number of studies also indicate that children suffering from even subtle forms of Bipolar Disorder have difficulties integrating the cognitive function of the left with the right hemisphere. This is also thought to be true for children with dyslexia and dysgraphia, conditions that powerfully affect a child’s scholastic function and their self-esteem.

An essential feature of The Brain Muscle Workout is to improve the integration of motor activity carried on between the left and right hemisphere. This cannot help but improve problems with visual integration and with fine motor coordination and sensory-motor coordination, yielding improvement is some children’s reading and writing (both in the sense of handwriting and in the sense of composition).

3.3 Cardiovascular Benefits

Cardiovascular benefits seen with any regular aerobic exercise are particularly important in school age children.

Among children Type II Diabetes caused by decreased physical activity and poor nutrition leading to obesity has reached epidemic proportions. When a child experiences improper weight gain (because of larger amounts of circulating growth hormone) the child increases the number of fat cells rather than their size (as is the case with adults). Consequently, hyper-cellular obesity is especially hard to reverse later on in life.

The Brain Muscle Workout improves cardiovascular function and glucose metabolism while a child is focused on another goal, removing the burden of shame that can accompany explicit attempts at weight management.

This section has been reviewed and endorsed by Gregory T. Lombardo MD, PhD, Adult, Child and Adolescent psychiatrist; author Understanding the Mind of Your Bipolar Child, St. Martins 11/2006; doctor of English and Comparative Literature, Columbia University; and former teacher of writing and English literature at Columbia College and at The Trinity School N.Y.C.

4. THE BRAIN MUSCLE WORKOUT PROGRAM HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY NATIONAL AND LOCAL MEDIA.

Michael Gonzalez-Wallace’s innovative fitness program "The Brain Muscle Workout" incorporates intense brain activity through balance and coordination movements to improve concentration and attention while performing hundreds of challenging exercises.

Michael Gonzalez-Wallace has recently been awarded from the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty for its unique program. His innovative exercise program is presented to a vast audience of viewers and readers throughout USA.

The Brain Muscle Workout has been featured in different media sources such as The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune(online edition), O (Oprah magazine), ABC Eyewitness News, Fox & Friends, CNN Headline news, Prevention or Fitness magazine.

Children covering media news include: Teens news (National show, FOX & Friend, release date to be announced), Atlanta Parent, Raising Arizona Kids, Charlotte parent, Central Penn Parent

5.THE BRAIN MUSCLE WORKOUT PROGRAM -OVERVIEW

Length of the program:

- Duration: 6-8 months
- Initial Results after 10 weeks
- Session duration: 20-30minutes (for youngsters time will be reduced)
- Frequency: 2-3 times per week

Expected Goals (initial results after 10 weeks)

- Improvement of motor skills (balance and coordination)
- Blood pressure (reduction)
- Fitness Heart (Reduction of resting heart rate)
- Improvement in children’s attention
- Improvement in concentration
- Improvement in multitasking
- Improvement in learning and memory
- Improvement in Cardiovascular functioning
- Weight loss (if neccesary)
- Increase strength and stamina
- Body fat reduction
- Kids will benefit individually from the program
- Apply the principle of individual differences if neccesary
- For special ed, the program will be slightly modified

6.STAGES OF THE BRAIN MUSCLE WORKOUT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS

6.1Design stage:

- Define the goals of the program
- Design the different exercises
- Select the most effective exercises to improve children’s health.
- Design specific exercises to foucs in the cardiovascular system
- Select the most effective exercise for each grade
- Apply the individual differences if neccesary

6.2Implementation stage:

- 3 weekends seminars. Interactive seminar with educators, parents and kids - Once that the exercises have been designed and approved we will select the schools and implement the system - Brainstorming with the educators - Professional development - Community development - Observations

6.3Monitoring stage (Optional;)

Bimonthly monitoring Optional. In the case of been applied it should be coordinated with the school nurses or school doctors. Monthly Regular readings of blood pressure, resting heart rate, weight and body fat are recommended

Package

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

- TRAINING DIFFERENT EDUCATORS ( 8 HOURS), WEEKDAYS
- 2 HOURS FORMATION, 2 HOURS PRACTICE, 2 HOURS MODELLING, 2HOURS EXAMS AND MONITORING

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION STAGES

VISUAL MATERIAL OF DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS ( aprox 200 MOVEMENTS)

VISUAL MATERIAL EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ANATOMY INVOLVED IN EACH EXERCISE

COMMUNITY EDUCATION (BILLINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH IF INTERESTED) 4 SEMINARS WITH PARENTS AND CHILDREN, 1 HOUR EACH)

COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES EXHIBITS (CLASSES WHERE FAMILIES WILL BE EXERCISING TOGETHER PROMOTING FAMILY INTERACTION)

WEBISTE CONTENT:SCHOOL’S WEBSITE INTERACTIVE FORMATION FOR CHILDREN,FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS.GAMES

EVERY 2 WEEKS FOR THE FIRST 2 MONTHS: CONFERENCE CALLS WITH EDUCATORS (8 CONFERENCE CALLS, AFTER THAT ONCE A MONTH)

- OPTIONAL:
NUTRITION SEMINAR FOR FAMILIES (optional)
NUTRITION BOOK FOR THE SCHOOL (optional)
NUTRITION material will be provided by a registered Nutritionist, RD COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY)

PROGRAM FEE:
$15,000 PACKAGE (ex-nutrition)
$2,000 Nutrition package
Additional hour fee; $200/hour
Extras: Travel and expenses

RESILIENCE-NMPST,LLC is a limited liability company owner of the Brain Muscle Workout Program. Founder: Michael Gonzalez-Wallace