Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jun 23: In a fast-paced world filled with mental noise and distractions, the ability to remember clearly often feels like a rare gift. But memory, say experts, isn’t just about the brain — it’s also deeply rooted in the body.

Somatic exercises, a body-based approach to movement, are now gaining attention for their potential to improve memory and mental clarity. These mindful movements work by calming the nervous system and enhancing body-brain communication — something puzzles and books alone can’t always achieve.

Here are five somatic exercises believed to support memory by rebalancing the nervous system and sharpening internal focus:

1. Pandiculation: The stretch that talks to your brain
Unlike a regular stretch, pandiculation involves a gentle contraction followed by a slow, mindful release. It helps ‘retrain’ the brain-muscle connection and awakens dormant neural pathways. Neuroscientists believe this process can clear brain fog and improve memory by enhancing the brain’s response to stress. Simply clench your shoulders, hold, then release slowly while focusing on the sensation — and feel the reset.

2. Cross-crawl movements: Connecting left and right brain
This simple motion — like touching your left elbow to your right knee — activates both hemispheres of the brain, strengthening the corpus callosum that links them. These rhythmic, cross-body movements have been shown to improve focus, recall, and even reaction time when done mindfully.

3. Pelvic clock exercise: Memory from the core
Often overlooked, the pelvis plays a key role in nervous system balance. In this exercise, lying on your back and gently rotating the pelvis like tracing the face of a clock activates sacral nerves and calms the vagus nerve — essential for memory under stress.

4. Spinal wave movements: Flow that frees the mind
Gentle, wave-like motions from the tailbone to the neck help improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which nourishes and protects the brain. Regular practice may boost brain clarity and stimulate the brainstem, supporting memory encoding and emotional balance.

5. Eyes-closed balance: Awakening inner awareness
Closing the eyes during balance work forces the brain to rely on its internal sense of space — known as proprioception. This strengthens the cerebellum, a brain region linked to movement and memory. Practising safe, eyes-closed balance or mindful walking can enhance spatial memory and reduce mental fatigue.

As modern research continues to link physical awareness with cognitive wellness, somatic exercises are emerging as more than just a form of movement — they may be powerful tools for brain health. So the next time you forget where you kept your keys, maybe it’s time to move… mindfully.