Wellness with Age: Preparing the brain for exercise

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, August 20, 2025

We all understand the importance of good warm-ups before engaging in any serious physical workout. The same is true for brain exercising. A good mental warm-up allows the brain to receive maximum benefits from any and all brain exercises.

Just as warm-up exercises increase blood flow to the muscles before a good workout so mental warm-ups increase blood flow to the brain before any good mental workout.

In addition, like the body, the brain responds best to a consistent routine of proactive workouts.

While the brain size is only 2% of the body’s total weight, it consumes 20% of the body’s blood and oxygen flow.

Quality sleep, ample hydration, a nutrient-rich diet, and physical movement all help to increase blood flow to the brain. As a brief reminder, blood carries oxygen and crucial nutrients to the brain and removes harmful toxins.

Any physical activity is helpful for increasing blood flow to the brain. It does not need to be intense. It can be as simple as a brief walk or a few minute of stretching.

Along with physical movement, other good warm-ups before brain exercises are prayer and meditation, deep breathing exercises and journaling. A person does not need to do all but can pick and choose which warm-ups to engage in.

Experts continue to learn how critical brain exercises are for increasing brain functionality and reducing the risks of dementia.

The benefits of brain exercises on the brain and the mind are countless. Examples are an increase in mental sharpness, improved problem-solving skills and a faster reaction time. Two key benefits are memory improvement and mood elevation.

The list of quality brain exercises is unlimited and includes board games, word puzzles and Sudoku, along with learning a new skill, playing a musical instrument and reading on different subjects.

Two very valuable brain exercises, which are rarely talked about, are socializing and Tai Chi.

The brain craves new information and experiences. When we engage in conversation with others there is always an exchange of ideas which gives the brain new information, and can improve one’s mood.

In addition to craving anything new the brain thrives on calmness, and can function more efficiently in a calm environment. Tai Chi is perfect for this.

Several professional organizations have written reports documenting clinical trials on Tai Chi and it’s positive effects on brain function and stress release. One of these is the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Tai Chi increases blood flow and is calming. Because a person must focus on the various moves in Tai Chi, that person must engage in more active thinking than with other exercises such as jogging. This causes the body and the brain to exercise simultaneously. Tai Chi can be practiced on a chair by those with limited mobility.

Consider making brain exercising a regular part of your lifestyle to help keep your mind agile for years.

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