Problem: anxiety; depression; disorders affecting the sleep-waking cycle, the power to control impulses and nutrition; psychosomatic disorders; fibromyalgia, postpartum disorders and stress affect both body and mind.

In general, sickness is like a dialogue that has been interrupted: the mind feels well but the body continues to suffer. Recovering is only possible with the help of someone guiding the patients’ will in the right direction.

Harmony of body and mind can be gradually restored, so that the body, which sends only unpleasant and alarming signals when illness is prevailing, can resume its positive dialogue with the mind.

Brain Gym is not the name of a gymnasium; it is a Body Psychology Program focusing on physical activity as a means to restore the patients’ psycho-physical balance through personalized programs.

WHO NEEDS BRAIN GYM?

All those who feel the need of taking care of their body and are disappointed by gyms..

Those patients who need psychical monitoring or psychological support during physical activity.

Those who suffer from breathing difficulties due to anxiety, from pain and rigidity due to fibromyalgia and from depression and want to recover the harmony of body and mind. Those who want to recover from the loss of past experiences related to their body due to eating disorders (with recovery of tonicity or loss of weight) and to postpartum disorders.

• Those who want to improve their ability in coping with negative emotions and physical stress.
• Those who want to overcome the difficulty of engaging into a physical activity suited for their caloric needs.

The physical activity done during Brain Gym sessions has a positive influence on the brain; this positively affects the body, too, but it is not our goal.

WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP?

The first step consists in a medical and psychological assessment of the patient’s needs; then, a personalized program is drawn up.

At present, the following programs are available:

• Recover Your Breath (against panic and other anxiety disorders)
• Recover Your Healthy Body (against fibromyalgia and depression)
• Recover the Pleasure of Moving (against obesity, emotional eating disorders and neurological disorders)
• Recover Your Body Image (against postpartum disorders, anorexia and bulimia)
• Reduction of Stress and Right Brain Training helping to reduce impulsiveness

OUR PROGRAMS:

Intensive:
2 90-minute sessions per week, for 3 months (24 sessions)
€ 250,00

Seasonal: 2 90-minute sessions per week, for 9 months, from September 10th to June 10th (pause from December 15th to January 10th)
€ 600,00

All activities follow the program arranged with the physician and the psychologist: the leader.

The leader guides the sessions, indicating the movements and marking the rhythm.

GROUP PROGRAMS (6-8 participants)

Recover Your Breath:
1.Training group: personal immersion in the situation
2.Controlled breathing exercises
3.Mild physical activity on the ground and on the bike with music
4.Stretching

Recover Your Healthy Body
1.Training group: consciousness and enhancement of the self
2.Relaxation exercises helping the total physical and psychical distraction
3.Exercises on the ground and on the bike with music
4.Guided exercises helping to give out joy and vital energy and allowing patients to recover energy and expressiveness

Recover the Pleasure of Moving
1.Training group: consciousness of dynamism and of the naturalness of movement
2.Exercises aiming allowing patients to re-discover their psychomotor skills
3.Dynamic ascent/descent exercises on the ground or on the bike following the music rhythm

Recover Your Body Image
1.Training group: body perception and control
2.Exercises improving muscle tone and elasticity
3.Mild physical activity with music
4.Bike activity at a gradual rhythm

Reduction of Stress and Right Brain Training helping to reduce impulsiveness
1.Training group: the source of impulsiveness
2.Breathing exercises activating the right brain hemisphere
3.Exercises for the reduction of muscle tension
4.Aerobic activity
5.Report group and music training

FEEDBACK

AAt the end of every session, a relaxing phase enlivened with background music takes place, during which the participants refresh themselves in group with various infusions.

The next step consists in a discussion on the activities performed during the session involving all the participants.

INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM (for severe disorders)

The program includes psychological sessions and physical activity under the supervision of a psychologist with specific fitness training. Physical activity includes exercises on the ground and on the bike following the music rhythm. The program aims at guiding patients in a virtual trip during which concentration and physical activity lead to overcome mental stress.

WHEN AND WHERE DO THE SESSIONS TAKE PLACE?

The sessions take place from September 10th in the Sala Giardino at the Istituto di Neuroscienze (INS) in Florence. Sessions can be individual or for small groups (6-8 participants), and this is a very important difference.

Registrations at the secretary’s office

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
Brochure Brain Stimulation fitness		296 Kb
Locandina Brain Stimulation fitness		181 Kb