GB: SHIFT Part I - The Neural Path

In today’s fitness world, not much thought is put into educating gym-goers on the importance of training the mind to assist in shaping one’s body.
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Popular fitness continuously emphasizes a focus on bodybuilding, with little to no attention given to the strengthening and development of the brain. It’s imperative to understand that it all begins in the mind.

For example, as children begin to grow they set foot on a neural path of discovery as the brain begins to form new, rich connections within its various parts. These connections bond rapidly, increasing the development of new motor skills, and linking distinct areas of brain function that enhance learning and capability. Their daily experiences in life lead to environmental adaptability, which subsequently increases the effectiveness of these connections.

Conversely, children with both Autism spectrum and developmental coordination disorders can find this neural path more challenging to navigate. Often times, these children do not easily learn new motor skills, since there is a difference in the way their brains integrate information and form new connections. Ultimately, this results in a less effective pathway. 

These radically diverse versions of the same story point to a central theme: that brain development is instrumental in the shaping of the body and its functions. We must braintrain, with as much commitment and intensity as we exercise the body, to perform and achieve at an optimal level.

An Agility Ladder is a great tool to integrate brain training into your exercise routine. This inexpensive piece of equipment can be stretched out on any flat surface and provides an effective means of enhancing physical performance, as well as cognitive capability. 

At any level of fitness, training the mind will effectively build stronger neural connections and pathways that play a major role in increasing your potential and shaping your body.

​Written By: Coach DJ Williams

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Photos By: Martha Pimentel Photography
Ad Photo By: Blue Eagle Society Photography

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