Exercizing and the Brain

Sometimes I use the Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board to exercize. The Wii Fit offers Yoga and Strength training, with 15 different exercizes for each type of workout. The training focuses on almost every part of the body, including the abs, hips, legs, arms, and back. I prefer doing the yoga workout exercizes because I enjoy the clear thinking I experience after each workout. Deep breathing is a big part of every yoga exercize, it helps relieve muscle stress and provides oxygen to the brain.

From what I've read, the brain is divided into two halves, the left and right brain, as they are commonly referred to. Experiments have been done to find out what distinguishes the left brain from the right brain, and what scientists have found is that the left brain is responsible for logical, analytical, thinking and also likes numbers and words. The right brain is responsible for associating patterns, images, free association of thoughts, and intuition. People tend to be either left brain dominant or right. And for some reason, the left brain control the right side of our body, and the right brain controls the left side of our body. There is also a pathway that connects the two halves of the brain so that they can communicate with one another.

When we exercize, we normally have to use both sides of our body. That means both sides of our brain are being used simultaneously to control our movement, the left side moving the right limbs and the right side moving the left limbs. There is a total stimulation of the mind when we exercize our body in that both sides are trying to accomplish the same goal and are undergoing equal stimulation. I would guess that regular exercize would help balance the dominance of both halves of the brain, so that a person would not tend to be either left or right brain dominant. Why would someone want to be both? Being a balanced right and left brain thinker will help solve more problems creatively, and will help finish your creative projects with more objectiveness and focus. Every great artist is also a great scientist, and vice versa.