Your brain would like a break now.

Here’s my weekly offering of an anecdote, an exercise (or two) and an inspiration.

Anecdote: A girl about 6 years old and her dad were behind me in line at the grocery store the other day. I’m not sure what prompted this conversation in July, but she was explaining to him how her class takes “brain breaks” at school. “Your brain is tired from working so much, so you stop working for a minute or two and exercise and dance. Then your brain break is done, and you go back to your work.”

If you’d like to do that…

Exercise: This video is a quick sequence to improve your balance anywhere. You’ll get some stretching and strength activation, too. Try each exercise for 30 seconds per side for a three-minute routine.

Minute 1 is a single-leg standing cat/cow. Breathe into the tight spots, keep your gaze fixed on one still point, and maintain a sense of humor if/when you wobble. (I did not edit out my wobbles in the video!)

Minute 2 is swinging a leg forward and back like a pendulum, along with your arms. This will stretch the hamstring of the swinging leg while strengthening the standing leg and glute.

Minute 3 is swinging a leg side to side, along with your arms. This will work the side glute of the swinging leg while strengthening the standing side.

If one minute is all you’ve got, any of the exercises can be done individually. And if you don’t have a minute (or even if you do), try standing on one leg while you brush your teeth!

Inspiration: Much of my movement inspiration lately comes from Adell Bridges, who brilliantly integrates neurology drills into yoga flows for nervous system training.

Two eye exercises I now do as a tech break thanks to Adell:

1) Cup your hands over your eyes to block out the light, and blink a few times.

2) Close your eyes and gently massage around your eye sockets using your pointer and middle fingers.

If you’ve been at your device at least 20 minutes, pause and try one or both now!

And finally…

What’s inspiring you this summer? Any particular type of sanity break you’d like me to include in upcoming newsletters? I’d love to hear from you.