Movement and embodiment for a better brain
Background
People tend to have a rather stereotypical idea of what movement and exercise means. Sometimes exercising is recommended as treatment in a way that might even increase anxiety instead of encouraging one to start moving. Exercising is undeniably healthy and it's for sure only positive if a new pair of sneakers or working out in a group encourages you to get on your feet. However, it is also good to be aware that even a small amount of movement can stimulate the brain and enrich thinking.
Movement and exercise can be much more than just doing sports. Perhaps a long list of goals, challenges and demands for yourself is actually not the best way to increase wellbeing. Instead, physical activity could be part of our daily lives and various activities in many ways. How could movement become a part of normal everyday life? Could physicality be included in meetings and be a regular part of lectures and learning?
In recent years, we have begun to better understand the connections between body and mind. Increased expert knowledge has strengthened our understanding of the vital link between physical activity and embodiment to our mental wellbeing. At the same time, the fragmentation of everyday life, information overload, hurry, and stress have increased concerns about the functioning and wellbeing of our brains.
Aalto University has joined the national Mobile Learning programme and the Mobile University Student project, which aim to increase resilience and improve study skills, create greater inclusion, a stronger sense of community and thus achieve better learning outcomes. New services have been developed, such as local exercise classes, the Break Pro exercise app, livestreamed classes and ready-made break exercise videos.
The Aalto community offers a wide array of services on campus that encourage physical activity. The newest of these is the Wellbeing Route. This path invites people to let go for a moment and focus on the walk and the themes that emerge on it: observing emotions, fostering the relationship with nature, physicality, calmness, and moderation.
Instruction
- Read the background article Move Your Brain! – How does movement increase wellbeing?
- Check out UniSport's Reducing sitting and being sedentary - easy material
- Take advantage of the How to add more movement to teaching, see 6 tips!
- Check out Tips for creating good habits
- Do a mindfulness exercise
Move Your Brain! – How does movement increase wellbeing?
Movement is much more than exercise. Physical activity and embodiment should be seen more versatilely as a part of our everyday life.
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We know that physical activity is good for both mind and body, and that we sit for too long when we study and work. However, adding such activity to workdays may seem challenging. How can we easily be more physically active, reducing the time spent sitting and immobile? Universities pursue an increasingly mobile everyday life for everyone.
According to the 2022 Student Barometer, students want teaching practices that increase physical activity and discourage sedentary behaviour. In spring 2023, the current state of the university's physical activity promotion was assessed through a survey offered by the Mobile Learning Programme. The results showed that the use of teaching methods that activate students remains low. Breaking up long periods of immobility has positive effects on health and learning, so integrating movement into teaching is beneficial.
Watch three short videos for tips on how you can easily integrate and incorporate movement into your teaching.
- Encourage standing during the lecture
- Take breaks during the lecture
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Inform about mobility in the teaching materials
The tips will support teaching staff to create more active learning environments and support student health and learning in the university community. Also download the break stickers below to include in your teaching materials.
To deepen your knowledge, you can also participate in the free 'Mobile learning - pedagogies for break' webinars and/or workshops offered nationwide by Active and Wellbeing in Higher Education in early November. The training will provide information on the benefits of taking a break and being mobile, as well as easy-to-implement practical tips. One of the webinars will be held in English. Register for the webinar and workshops on 'Learning to move - pedagogy of taking a break' below.
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If merely knowing about good lifestyle habits was enough, most of us would exercise more, eat healthier, and get enough sleep. However, adopting desired habits can be challenging, even when the desire is there. Here are some research based tips for creating new habits.
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Mindfulness, breathing techniques and other practices help us calm our minds. Everything begins when we stop. The aim is to get in touch with the present moment, with our thoughts and our body, but also with what is around us. It is very complex and, on the other hand, very easy. This page offers you information and mindfulness and other practices to use whenever you need.
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