How and Why Movement Contributes to Learning, Integration, and Stress Release

Does the body know something the brain has forgotten?

What if learning were not simply a function of the brain, but an experience lived through the entire body?

Created by Dr. Carla Hannaford, internationally recognized biologist, educator, and author, this fascinating experiential course explores the profound connections between movement, the nervous system, stress management, and learning.

Long before embodied learning, nervous system regulation, and educational neuroscience became widely discussed, Dr. Hannaford was demonstrating the essential role movement plays in brain development, attention, organization, creativity, and well-being.

Through engaging demonstrations, hands-on experiences, and simple movement activities, participants will discover why some conditions naturally support learning while others activate the body's survival responses. When the nervous system perceives threat—even subtle threat—our energy shifts toward protection rather than exploration, curiosity, and creativity.

This understanding offers a fresh perspective on learning challenges, behavior, attention, organization, and our ability to adapt to life's demands.

During this course, you will:

• Discover the essential role of movement in neurological development and learning
• Understand how stress influences our readiness and ability to learn
• Explore the physiological foundations of Brain Gym® and related movement approaches
• Experience practical activities that bring these concepts to life
• Develop a more integrated understanding of learning in children and adults alike

Whether you are a parent, educator, therapist, health professional, or simply curious about human potential, this course will provide valuable insights into how we learn, grow, and thrive throughout life.

Expect to move, experiment, reflect, and discover learning from a perspective that is at once scientific, practical, and deeply human.

Presented by: Lisa Marcovici, Brain Gym International Faculty Member