: Coordinating the top (thinking) and bottom (feeling) parts of the brain to regulate emotions and organization.

: The ability to coordinate the left and right brain hemispheres, primarily through crossing the body's midline.

The program was established with the belief that movement is essential for optimal brain function. Paul Dennison, a reading specialist, hypothesized that learning challenges often stem from a lack of "brain-body integration" or "mixed cerebral dominance". Key conceptual pillars of Brain Gym include:

: An introductory sequence representing P ositive, A ctive, C lear, and E nergetic, which involves drinking water and performing specific movements to "prep" the brain for learning. Primary Brain Gym Activities

: Integrating the front (expressive) and back (receptive) parts of the brain to manage task-oriented attention.

Practitioners select from a series of 26 movements depending on the cognitive goal. Some of the most common exercises include:

Brain Gym: A Comprehensive Overview of Educational Kinesiology