Just because I have a very active toddler who is constantly running around doing mischievious things, it doesn't mean he's getting enough exercises. Especially exercises to his brain. Yeap... I'm talking about the human brain.
So ladies and gentlemen, today, I present to you a step-by-step visual guide performed voluntarily by my now 16.5 months old toddler on How to Exercise Your Toddler's Brain™ (*I wonder whether I can trademark this hehehe...) :
VISUAL GUIDE
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INSTRUCTIONS & REMARKS
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Step 1: Start by slowly lowering down your upper body.
Try to slowly make your body bow down to a 90 degree position - kinda like you are bowing down to somebody.
Ensure your legs are straight and your hands should be slowly lowered down and touching the floors as you bow forward and downward.
For a first-timer, you can use a small stool or anything that you can sit on temporarily while you slowly adjust your body to the right position.
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Step 2: No cheating by bending your legs!
Your legs must be STRAIGHT! (Or at least almost straight!)
Get up & try again until you got it right!!
Look at the picture of Ben on the left trying to cheat his way out of this.
Now, his hands positions are correct but the legs like I mentioned MUST be at least almost straight.
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Step 3: Once you achieved the right position, stay still and hang on as long as possible.
Look at the hands and feet now both touching the floor, while the head is gently resting on the floor as well. Now back to this, what we're trying to achieve is to get the bloods to go down to the brain. According to this website,
"Although the brain represents only about 2% of the body's weight, it utilizes about 20% of the body's oxygen. Normally, oxygen is carried throughout the body via the bloodstream. When the flow of blood is reduced or blocked, cells which depend on that bloodflow are deprived of oxygen (and other nutrients)"
Which is why this position is so ideal to get the blood to go to the brain! More blood = more oxygen!
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Step 4: Why not throw in a face exercise too?!
While you are still holding up from step 3, why not throw in a face exercise as well? Just smile or laugh while you are trying to hold still to your position for as long as you can.
According to this website:
"Laughter generally increases activity within the immune system. It also decreases stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and suppress immune activity."
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Step 5: Rest
Just like in yoga they have a resting pose, we too need to have a resting pose after exercising the brain!
So, just do what is shown on the left by Ben.
Rest all you want! You deserve it after such a hard workout to the brain!
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(**Note: Parents should always be around at all times to supervise your toddler regardless what stunts he's trying to perform... and yes, this post is just to poke fun of the silly antics by Benjamin, please don't take it seriously, OK?!)