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Want to Super Charge Your Learning When You Have Parkinson’s?

After our ladies boxing class, I was talking to my fighters about how you have to change things up in order to create brain change through neuroplasticity and improve your fitness level. One of my ladies (a retired teacher) said there was a study in which students learned a topic better and their scores improved when the environment was changed just a little (such as lighting). Wow! I haven’t seen that study, but I do know that when we mix a cognitive exercise with a physical exercise, it improves both. One of my ladies said that she plays solitaire on her phone upside down for a change and a challenge!

The brain is amazing! In our boxing classes my students may think they are learning the same exercise, but I will change the direction, speed, emphasis, surroundings or add a cognitive or verbal drill to it. We see improvements every time!

According to the John Hopkin’s research this is true of any skill (like learning to play an instrument). Practice makes perfect. However, if you do the same thing in the same way over and over, you will improve in the beginning and then plateau, or even decline. If you tweak it just a little (faster, slower, eyes closed, etc.) you will learn it faster initially and continue to improve. If you change it too much or too soon, it becomes a new memory and then you will have to start all over.

When you are in my class the next time, watch how we tweak the task. It may be subtle, but it’s there!

Delaying Parkinson’s is our number one goal, so get to class and continue to improve!

💜 Coach Kimberly

Sources

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/want_to_learn_a_new_skill_faster_change_up_your_practice_sessions

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