Health and Wellness Coaching

Brain Fitness is now offering a coaching program designed to help you improve daily functioning by addressing key areas necessary for optimal brain functioning. If you are looking to increase performance, recover from injury, improve cognitive functioning related to memory, attention, reduce stress, and improve sleep then you should jump on board. This program is only offered once per year and we anticipate it to fill quickly. Reserve your spot today.

Brain Fitness provides a safe, relaxing, non-judgmental environment where you can explore which areas of brain fitness are most important to you. We have a 6 month program, loaded with valuable exercises, recipes, education and support that is designed to focus on 6 important areas of brain fitness which include:

Calm the brain-Self-regulation occurs through a variety of techniques. Learn how essential oils, mindfulness and training your brain may promote the brain’s ability to calm and self-regulate.

Brain performance-learn about your brain and what optimal performance can mean for you in regards to attention, memory, and learning. Optimize your brain.

Rest your brain-Refresh your brain by getting quality sleep each night. Sleep environment and sleep hygiene are covered for all ages.

Feed your brain-focuses on nutrition, supplements and hydration, which are important for healthy brain function. Children, teens and adults all have different nutritional needs for a healthy brain.

Socialize your brain-Relate to others and enhance the ability to engage and socialize. We are social creatures and relationships are key to a healthy brain at all stages of life.

Grow your brain- learn more about neurogenesis and neuroplasticity and how these are important in all stages of life. Our brains are dynamic and are always changing and responding to our environment. Preventive care for the aging brain, grow your brain for your future self.

If you are looking to make changes to your brain health and have questions regarding our program, please contact Kristi@beyourbestbrain.com for more information.

Disclaimer: Health and Wellness Coaching is not a substitute for mental health care. We encourage you to continue care with your current health care provider(s) and should you need assistance in finding a mental healthcare provider, we can direct you to resources for mental health care in our community.

5 Reasons to try Neurofeedback Training

The word is out and awareness is spreading about the fascinating field of Neurofeedback training. If you are looking to enhance your brain's performance, flexibility and resilience, then you might consider finding a provider in your area. Here are the top reasons you might consider training your brain. 

Relaxation

Many people struggle with being able to let go and focus on relaxing. This would be considered an internal battle between the sympathetic nervous system, known as body’s stress response system, which prepares us for fight/flight/freeze moments, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which is involved in relaxing the body and returning to homeostasis. NeurOptimal(R) Neurofeedback training provides moment to moment feedback to the brain about how it is functioning which allows the brain to self-regulate.

Mental Fitness

               The benefits of essential oils, massage, mindfulness, yoga, meditation, and Neurofeedback training are practices that show strong support for mental fitness and personal transformation. NeurOptimal(R) Neurofeedback supports the brain in its ability to find calm and comfort. When the brain is able to recover from stressful situations, or improve its flexibility and resilience, clients report they have more good days than bad and they are able to manage stress more effectively using coping strategies they have learned for general improved health and wellness.

Sleep

               When the brain isn’t able to reach the deep restorative stages of sleep, impairments for many aspects of daily functioning will occur.  A brain that can fall asleep, stay asleep and wake refreshed will show improvements in multiple areas of functioning including attention, memory, alertness, reaction time, behavior, mental health concerns, immune system function, and help the body respond to stress more effectively.  Sleep management, including healthy sleep habits are improved as a result of training with NeurOptimal(R) Neurofeedback.

Enhance learning capacity

               We all forget things at times, but when our forgetting, or memory impedes learning, we have a bigger problem. Memory is a very complicated process that we depend on daily to function and is imperative as we age. In order for learning to occur, the bottom and top parts of our brain must work together. If we are emotionally aroused, the bottom parts of our brain take over and do not allow the top part of our brain to process or have access to incoming information. The process of encoding memory thus requires a brain to be functioning in a state of calm, otherwise, the brain is functioning in a state of alarm, panic, and emotional reactivity and therefore memory is impaired. NeurOptimal(R) Neurofeedback improves instruction following concentration, problem-solving, multitasking, resource management, logic, pattern-recognition and hand-eye coordination.

Exercise your brain

               The benefits of physical exercise is powerful for both our brain and body. Research suggests that exercising the body and brain can improve energy, mood, focus, outlook, metabolism, and reduce stress.  During the training session, your brain is learning and responding. Exercising the brain has numerous cognitive benefits relating to performance, but also has important anti-aging benefits. We offer a brain training program that requires no sweat, no effort and is pleasantly relaxing, so what are you waiting for? Come and exercise your brain.

Brain ready or not, Back to School is here!

You have just finished a great summer break and now it is time to hit the books again for another school year.  Back to school is filled with mixed emotions for many children, teens and parents. Getting school supplies, adjusting to new schedules and teachers, changes in bus schedules and seat assignments, and social adaptations with new friends and classes can be overwhelming.  Some brains handle this stress better than others. Here are a few tips to help your brain get back to school ready.

Before school –Start your day with a healthy breakfast. Protein is an important part of breakfast that if often overlooked. Our brains need nutrients that protein provides to help maintain a stable blood sugar and help keep us focused and alert for memory and learning to occur.  A hungry brain will not function well in a classroom or to do homework after school.

After school -Homework and extra-curricular activities often dominate after school hours. Healthy snacks, hydration and a brain break is in order. Your brain uses 20% of your body’s total energy and it has worked hard all day. Use this time for a short rest and light refuel heading into dinner time. I recommend setting a designated start and end time for homework.

Sleep -A consistent routine at bedtime is the best way to settle excited, tired and anxious brains. Think sensory wind down when it comes to bed time, you might try dim lighting, essential oils such as lavender to soothe anxiety symptoms, light protein snack and even a warm bath can help relax the body for bed. Exercise, technology and homework will work against settling the brain for sleep, as these activate and stimulate the brain.

Organization -Our brains like organization and although some of us struggle in this area, a well-organized work space for homework can make a huge difference. Think about purchasing a few extra supplies for use at home and having them in an area accessible for your child. Late night trips to CVS for colored pencils are stressful and no fun for anyone.

Social -Making friends is not as easy for some children as it is for others. Changing schools, teachers and classes can bring on overwhelming stress to children who are just looking to fit in and not sit alone at lunch. Often parents worry about these social issues and create unintended stress by asking them questions regarding friends and about social interactions at school. Listening and being empathetic to their situation can be as beneficial and prove more effective, as trying to suggest new ways for them to engage, make friends and handle difficult situations. Taking on the role of a coach and empowering them to think of solutions to these concerns will help develop relational and problem solving skills, encourage autonomy and improve your relationship with them. A great way to get them talking is to first listen.

Remember...

Every brain is different and how it responds to its environment is also different. What seems stressful for a child, may not seem stressful for a parent. Consistent scheduling, adding in flexibility and planning ahead can take the transition back to school less stressful for everyone. If you are fighting daily battles, contact us for more information to see if we might be the right fit to help your child’s brain perform stress free every day.