The lazy 8 exercises
Barbara Smith • edited by: Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch • updated: 1/9/2012
Lazy 8′s are used in Brain Gym to help your child:
• think more clearly
• relax and calm
• improve hand-eye co-ordination
• improve visual tracking (moving you eyes and not your head to see something)
• increase attention span
• increase writing flow and speed
• balance emotions
• improves memory
• improve cross laterality (crossing the mid-line of the body, your belly button, connects the right and left hemisphere)
• to develop hand dominance (being right or left handed)
Brain gym activities can help children with or without learning disabilities enhance brain function for learning. The “Lazy Eight” and “Double Doodle”designed to relax the eyes and develop coordination between the left and right sides of the brain and body while preparing students to write.
Promoting Bilateral Integration
Many children with learning disabilities have a neurological impairment called “Dysfunction in Sensory Integration (DSI), also known as "Sensoring Processing Disorder (SPD).
Processing Disorder (SPD). Their brains have difficulties processing what they see in order to read and write. Symptoms include difficulties using both hands together to perform bilateral activities, lack of hand dominance in older children and avoidance of crossing the mid-line of the body.
Mid-line is an imaginary line that runs down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left sides.
Children who have deficits in “bilateral integration”appear to be clumsy and struggle with fine motor skills such as hand writing. Brain gym free exercises such as Lazy Eights and Double Doodle force children to use both hands together and cross mid-line as they make large movements at a blackboard. As these movements develop coordination between the right and left hemisphere children develop bilateral integration. These activities are beneficial to all students, even those with no disability.
Performing Lazy Eights
A very large horizontal eight or infinity sign is drawn. The child traces repeatedly along the curves by either using a finger or drawing with a marker or chalk. The large, exaggerated movements create rhythm and flow that promotes eye-hand coordination. Lazy Eights develop visual tracking skills as the child watches his own hand movements. Students should perform the tracing activity three to five times with each hand and then several more times using both hands together on the marker.
The up and down, left and right curvy movements teach children how to make the same movements needed to form letters. However, tracing the large eight shape involves the whole body including the shoulder muscles — making it a multi-sensory experience. Some children may find using a marker that glides on a white board easier at first and then after practice begin using chalk on a blackboard. The chalk offers more resistance requiring the child to use the small hand muscles in preparation for forming letters and numbers.
Performing Double Doodle
Double Doodle involves coloring or “doodling” with a piece of chalk or marker in each hand at the same time. The teacher or occupational therapist might ask the child to form simple shapes, faces, letters or designs. This forces children to coordinate using both hands together and to pay attention to the direction of their movements. This activity promotes body awareness since if the child looks directly at one of her doodling hands, she will need to move the other hand without looking at it-by using her kinesthetic sense--that tells her how she is moving.
Promoting Visual Skills
In order to write children need to not only coordinate eyes and hands but coordinate using the eyes together as they move across the paper, fitting letters between lines. Tracing and forming shapes in the vertical plane while standing at a board positions the hands right in front of the eyes with the head comfortably straight rather than bent over a piece of paper on a desk. Lazy Eights and Double Doodle teach children how to perform written tasks by training their bodies and eyes using large movements so that they will eventually be able to do the same using smaller movements on paper.
Refining Lazy 8s: Meeting the Learner's Needs
by Kathy Brown, M.Ed. www.centeredge.com/ArticPDF/Lazy8.pdf
In a recent conversation with Dr. Paul Dennison, I learned some very important information about
Lazy 8s, one of our most frequently used Brain Gym© movements.
First, just what is “Lazy 8s”?
The Lazy 8s movement is done by tracing a lateral 8, or “infinity” sign, over and over, sweeping
across the lateral midline of the body again and again, activating both brain hemispheres and
encouraging them to work together. The Lazy 8s movement looks so very simple, yet many people find
over time that reading and writing are easier after doing Lazy 8s for just a few minutes, even
reducing or eliminating letter-writing reversals.
I invite you to experience Lazy 8s for yourself. Draw a large lateral 8 figure on paper, either
flat on a table or vertically on a wall, and place it so that the center of the 8 is directly in
line with your mid-line.
Now, trace the 8 with one hand: Begin at the center of the 8 and follow the line, flowing first up
the middle and to the left, then up the middle and around to the right, again and again. Holding
your head still, allow your eyes to follow your hand. Trace this pattern for a while with one hand,
then the other, then with both hands together. Each time you switch hands or begin anew, start in
the middle and flow up and to the left. Notice your ability to follow the flow of the Lazy 8; more
importantly, notice any areas of resistance, as these will illumine areas where your brain is
experiencing “glitches" in how your two brain hemispheres work together, or how your eyes and hands
work together. As you continue to use Lazy 8s, it will become much easier and you will likely find
certain aspects of reading and writing easier as well.
New information from Dr. Dennison about Lazy 8s:
For a long time, we encouraged learners to trace the Lazy 8 pattern only in the “up the middle”
pattern. Any learner who was inclined to trace “down the middle” was gently guided in the “up the
middle” pattern. For some learners this was quite a challenge, and resulted in more than a bit of
frustration. Dr. Dennison now recommends allowing learners to trace Lazy 8s in whichever direction
they are most inclined, especially at first.
Dr. Dennison said that learners inclined to trace Lazy 8s “down the middle” are helping themselves
to experience their body more fully, to feel more grounded. Once learners are able to more fully
experience their body this way, they will easily make the transition to the “up the middle”
pattern.
So — the new Lazy 8s guideline is this: Allow learners to trace Lazy 8s in whichever direction they
are inclined, at least at first. Regularly model the
“up the middle” pattern; invite learners to notice which direction their body feels like flowing,
while encouraging eventual movement to the “up the middle” pattern.
This guideline can also be used with The Elephant, which is essentially a whole This guideline can
also be used with "the Elephant," which is essential a whole body Lazy 8; however, the original "up
the middle" pattern is always used when doing Alphabet 8s, which rely on that flow for correct
letter formation. In fact, Dr. Dennison states that the Alphabet 8 and letter formation should not
be attempted until the learner has integrated Lazy 8s in both directions - up and down.
No matter which form of 8s the learner is doing, it is still optimal to start at the center and
move first to the left, so he or she is activating the “ease” aspect of the gestalt hemisphere.
I have been playing with this new information, and have had very interesting experiences. When I
trace Lazy 8s “down the middle,” I’m much more aware of my body — my feet even feel more connected
to the floor. Then, when I trace “up the middle,” I’m less aware of my body, and very aware of my
mind — I can almost feel the hemispheres of my brain switching on!
Dr. Dennison explained, “Thirty years ago, I worked with delayed learners who basically had a good
sense of their body, but needed more integrated brain function. Typical Lazy 8s were quite
effective, and we didn’t realize that they might ever need to be done another way. Now, many of us
are working with learners who do not have a good awareness of their body. We need to support these
learners in developing body awareness, so their experience of brain integration will be more
appropriate and complete.”
I love this new information, because it helps me understand why learners might be inclined to trace
Lazy 8s the way they do! Now my job is simply to notice direction of flow the learner is using,
continue modeling the “up the middle” flow, and notice change as it occurs (sharing with the
learner, as appropriate), with appreciation for the process.
• think more clearly
• relax and calm
• improve hand-eye co-ordination
• improve visual tracking (moving you eyes and not your head to see something)
• increase attention span
• increase writing flow and speed
• balance emotions
• improves memory
• improve cross laterality (crossing the mid-line of the body, your belly button, connects the right and left hemisphere)
• to develop hand dominance (being right or left handed)
Brain gym activities can help children with or without learning disabilities enhance brain function for learning. The “Lazy Eight” and “Double Doodle”designed to relax the eyes and develop coordination between the left and right sides of the brain and body while preparing students to write.
Promoting Bilateral Integration
Many children with learning disabilities have a neurological impairment called “Dysfunction in Sensory Integration (DSI), also known as "Sensoring Processing Disorder (SPD).
Processing Disorder (SPD). Their brains have difficulties processing what they see in order to read and write. Symptoms include difficulties using both hands together to perform bilateral activities, lack of hand dominance in older children and avoidance of crossing the mid-line of the body.
Mid-line is an imaginary line that runs down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left sides.
Children who have deficits in “bilateral integration”appear to be clumsy and struggle with fine motor skills such as hand writing. Brain gym free exercises such as Lazy Eights and Double Doodle force children to use both hands together and cross mid-line as they make large movements at a blackboard. As these movements develop coordination between the right and left hemisphere children develop bilateral integration. These activities are beneficial to all students, even those with no disability.
Performing Lazy Eights
A very large horizontal eight or infinity sign is drawn. The child traces repeatedly along the curves by either using a finger or drawing with a marker or chalk. The large, exaggerated movements create rhythm and flow that promotes eye-hand coordination. Lazy Eights develop visual tracking skills as the child watches his own hand movements. Students should perform the tracing activity three to five times with each hand and then several more times using both hands together on the marker.
The up and down, left and right curvy movements teach children how to make the same movements needed to form letters. However, tracing the large eight shape involves the whole body including the shoulder muscles — making it a multi-sensory experience. Some children may find using a marker that glides on a white board easier at first and then after practice begin using chalk on a blackboard. The chalk offers more resistance requiring the child to use the small hand muscles in preparation for forming letters and numbers.
Performing Double Doodle
Double Doodle involves coloring or “doodling” with a piece of chalk or marker in each hand at the same time. The teacher or occupational therapist might ask the child to form simple shapes, faces, letters or designs. This forces children to coordinate using both hands together and to pay attention to the direction of their movements. This activity promotes body awareness since if the child looks directly at one of her doodling hands, she will need to move the other hand without looking at it-by using her kinesthetic sense--that tells her how she is moving.
Promoting Visual Skills
In order to write children need to not only coordinate eyes and hands but coordinate using the eyes together as they move across the paper, fitting letters between lines. Tracing and forming shapes in the vertical plane while standing at a board positions the hands right in front of the eyes with the head comfortably straight rather than bent over a piece of paper on a desk. Lazy Eights and Double Doodle teach children how to perform written tasks by training their bodies and eyes using large movements so that they will eventually be able to do the same using smaller movements on paper.
Refining Lazy 8s: Meeting the Learner's Needs
by Kathy Brown, M.Ed. www.centeredge.com/ArticPDF/Lazy8.pdf
In a recent conversation with Dr. Paul Dennison, I learned some very important information about
Lazy 8s, one of our most frequently used Brain Gym© movements.
First, just what is “Lazy 8s”?
The Lazy 8s movement is done by tracing a lateral 8, or “infinity” sign, over and over, sweeping
across the lateral midline of the body again and again, activating both brain hemispheres and
encouraging them to work together. The Lazy 8s movement looks so very simple, yet many people find
over time that reading and writing are easier after doing Lazy 8s for just a few minutes, even
reducing or eliminating letter-writing reversals.
I invite you to experience Lazy 8s for yourself. Draw a large lateral 8 figure on paper, either
flat on a table or vertically on a wall, and place it so that the center of the 8 is directly in
line with your mid-line.
Now, trace the 8 with one hand: Begin at the center of the 8 and follow the line, flowing first up
the middle and to the left, then up the middle and around to the right, again and again. Holding
your head still, allow your eyes to follow your hand. Trace this pattern for a while with one hand,
then the other, then with both hands together. Each time you switch hands or begin anew, start in
the middle and flow up and to the left. Notice your ability to follow the flow of the Lazy 8; more
importantly, notice any areas of resistance, as these will illumine areas where your brain is
experiencing “glitches" in how your two brain hemispheres work together, or how your eyes and hands
work together. As you continue to use Lazy 8s, it will become much easier and you will likely find
certain aspects of reading and writing easier as well.
New information from Dr. Dennison about Lazy 8s:
For a long time, we encouraged learners to trace the Lazy 8 pattern only in the “up the middle”
pattern. Any learner who was inclined to trace “down the middle” was gently guided in the “up the
middle” pattern. For some learners this was quite a challenge, and resulted in more than a bit of
frustration. Dr. Dennison now recommends allowing learners to trace Lazy 8s in whichever direction
they are most inclined, especially at first.
Dr. Dennison said that learners inclined to trace Lazy 8s “down the middle” are helping themselves
to experience their body more fully, to feel more grounded. Once learners are able to more fully
experience their body this way, they will easily make the transition to the “up the middle”
pattern.
So — the new Lazy 8s guideline is this: Allow learners to trace Lazy 8s in whichever direction they
are inclined, at least at first. Regularly model the
“up the middle” pattern; invite learners to notice which direction their body feels like flowing,
while encouraging eventual movement to the “up the middle” pattern.
This guideline can also be used with The Elephant, which is essentially a whole This guideline can
also be used with "the Elephant," which is essential a whole body Lazy 8; however, the original "up
the middle" pattern is always used when doing Alphabet 8s, which rely on that flow for correct
letter formation. In fact, Dr. Dennison states that the Alphabet 8 and letter formation should not
be attempted until the learner has integrated Lazy 8s in both directions - up and down.
No matter which form of 8s the learner is doing, it is still optimal to start at the center and
move first to the left, so he or she is activating the “ease” aspect of the gestalt hemisphere.
I have been playing with this new information, and have had very interesting experiences. When I
trace Lazy 8s “down the middle,” I’m much more aware of my body — my feet even feel more connected
to the floor. Then, when I trace “up the middle,” I’m less aware of my body, and very aware of my
mind — I can almost feel the hemispheres of my brain switching on!
Dr. Dennison explained, “Thirty years ago, I worked with delayed learners who basically had a good
sense of their body, but needed more integrated brain function. Typical Lazy 8s were quite
effective, and we didn’t realize that they might ever need to be done another way. Now, many of us
are working with learners who do not have a good awareness of their body. We need to support these
learners in developing body awareness, so their experience of brain integration will be more
appropriate and complete.”
I love this new information, because it helps me understand why learners might be inclined to trace
Lazy 8s the way they do! Now my job is simply to notice direction of flow the learner is using,
continue modeling the “up the middle” flow, and notice change as it occurs (sharing with the
learner, as appropriate), with appreciation for the process.