WHAT THE SENIOR MENTORS ARE SAYING:
"I have greatly benefited personally from this experience. The love and trust the children gave me made me feel very much a part of their lives. The teachers and school staff were also warm and welcoming, which gave me a sense of being a part of the school community. The use of Brain Gym has improved my memory and I've noticed in my yoga class, my balance has improved. I set a goal with Brain Gym during the training to improve my health and physical fitness. I'm now working out 3X a week, doing 2 yoga classes a week, and eating much more wholesome foods. I have a strong sense of well-being. I'm very grateful for this experience."---------Kathryn, senior mentor
Keanu, grade 2, the second to the youngest child of four, was from the beginning high energy and curious to learn everything. He absorbed the Brain Gym like a sponge, and in no time was teaching his brothers and sisters at home. By the end of our sessions he was able to sit still longer and read with more expression. He was thrilled to teach his class and bold about being up in the front leading them. He remembered the Brain Gym and wanted to do more, but needed to share the time with 2 others."---------Joan, senior mentor
"Bryton, grade 5, initially was resistant and did not want to participate. Several sessions he greeted me with, 'I'm fine and there is nothing that I want to do'. He looked down and never gave me eye contact. Once he did try anything, he would give up very quickly saying 'I don't like it'. His teacher's note was very helpful to me. I knew the areas where he needed help, and since he would not choose which Brain Gym he wanted to do, I chose specific Brain Gym based on the areas suggested by the teacher. We had a breakthrough when I discovered how amazing he was with both hands in Double Doodle. I found something to really praise him for, from there, he began to want to try everything with enthusiasm. We would have a good eye contact when we came together. It was really rewarding to see him looking forward to meeting with me and to watch his self-esteem grow. Amazing to observe how focused he became and how he would stay with what he started. He was very happy about teaching his class the Brain Gym. Eagerly went to the blackboard to show the Lazy 8's, X, and Alphabet 8's. Instructed the class to use pencil or pen and they all got into it. I will never forget this experience. The changes I saw in such a short time were remarkable."--------Harriet, senior mentor
"I am so happy I helped in the mentoring program. I learned Brain Gym and shared it with 2 great boys, Ricky and Tyler, and best of all, they liked learning it from me, and now they are sharing it with classmates. I made a difference. My 83 old mother now does these brain exercises and we both find that we have better memory, energy, can control our stress, and it helps with our patience"-------
Carol D., senior mentor
"I look forward to the time we spend together, and I believe she does as well. Most of our time was spent doing fun activities together, and competing with each other doing Double Doodle or the maze activity, etc. She never wants to leave when our time is up.--------------
Pat, senior mentor
"Since the program's inception five years ago, I have been actively involved.
All the children I have worked with have been very enthusiastic
and seemed to thrive on the 
one-on-one attention. For the past two
years I have worked with the same two boys and have noticed improvement
in their concentration, listening, and reading abilities. When asked
what they like best about Brain Gym, they both said it was "lots
of fun." Their teachers have also been very supportive and positive
about the program.
The Brain Gym exercises have improved my balance and concentration, and I feel that getting together with the children and other like-minded seniors has improved my health by giving me a sense of community."----------Pat,senior mentor
"The Brain Gym program gave me a worthwhile and fun activity with youth and peers. It confirmed the importance of having balanced energy of brain and body. I experienced the confirmation that we are a caring people. In a small, yet significant, way we changed the universe."----------Ann, senior mentor
"Thank you for the opportunity to learn Brain Gym. Brain Gym definitely is a WINNER for all involved. One of my students is a challenge. He is hyperactive and not interested in any pen/pencil activity. At one weekly meeting, though, due to the weather, we met inside a classroom, instead of our usual meeting place outdoors. We did Brain Gym activities for handwriting and much to my surprise, he presented me with the enclosed illustration. Check out the details of the picture.
Brain Gym has also helped me personally. I am the care provider for my
89 year old mother who has dementia. I notice by doing Brain Gym
together, her movements and behavior becomes better " -------Carol K., senior mentor
"The bonding that occurs between the senior mentor and the child is amazing. Both "grow" in immeasurable ways-emotionally and physically, too. The Brain Gym exercises begin as their connector. I saw my children decrease their stress levels and increase their confidence."-------
Peggy, senior mentor
"For some children, just being with an older senior person and interacting appears to be
a great and beneficial experience. A lot of them have to go off island to spend time with their grandparents."-------------
Diana, senior mentor
"I love the Brain Gym program. To see what it does for the children after only a few weeks is wonderful."-----------------
Charlie, senior mentor
"I had the privilege of serving as a Senior Mentor in Karen Peterson's Brain Gym Mentoring (IMP) program this year and wanted to share a bit of that wonderful experience with you.
Initially I responded to an advertisement in the paper for two days of Brain Gym training. Having received some while on a cancer retreat several years prior, I was familiar with Brain Gym and felt an update would be great. During the training I became more interested in working with the children, and found, once Elementary, nice relationships growing with my children and the other seniors. I had also recently dislocated my hip and found the cross crawl and other exercises very helpful in regaining my coordination and confidence.
Then I began the journey with my students.hesitant at first (both of us), we came to trust and love each other. My first kindergartener, Kawai, and I were together for many weeks, until the school re-scheduled his 11:45 time with a required art program.and our time together was over. Now I see him each week as we begin BG and he is coming up from the playground. "Auntie Karen!!", he calls to me, excited to see me.then he smiles, lights up and gives me a high five. This makes my day! His growth with hand-eye coordination improved significantly while we worked together, and BG had an excellent effect on his nervousness and lack of attention.
One day I brought my camera and made him the ace reporter for the Brain Gym Times. He was a natural with the camera, resulting in wonderful pictures we shared the following week with the children and seniors. We also made pictures of my BG boys for their families. Kawai is a tough, fun, precious child. We both benefited enormously from our time together.
I was assigned another young boy after Kawai.Zach, also kindergarten. He was very hyperactive, inattentive and couldn't do many of the simple exercises at first. For the first couple sessions we struggled with the brain gym and his constant fidgeting and hyperactivity. In our last session I noticed he could do them all.with ease, including sitting VERY still, and doing the eye trace which he has never been able to do before. Zach has lots of energy and always wanted to run and play physical things, so I began focusing him more on reading, and other BG mind games, with play outdoors as reward for completing some other activities. This has worked well, and he now even has fun doing the BG projects. He listens better and has calmed down considerably. The warmth of our bond and seeing the effectiveness of the program on Zachary has made our time together pure joy!
"He's a handful", I was warned, as I paired up with my fourth grader at the beginning of the year.
Jaymon has gone from reluctant, hyper and late.to showing up early, happy to do. whatever. Sometimes he's more calm, and I think it has to do with his medication, but he has become adept at the BG exercises.and helpful in class, sharing with others.and beating me at scrabble! I remember the day he hugged me when he left, then kept saying 'bye' as he walked further and further away towards his class. He now hugs me at every greeting and parting, and we have become tight friends. His sweetness has emerged over his roughness. He is orderly and calm where he used to be inattentive and scattered. He used to like to do the same things.and always outside. Now he loves to read, exercise his brain with other games.and talk to me. "It takes a great brain to do Brain Gym" he tells me.confidently. I have grown to love this child.
To say this program helps the kids involved would be a severe understatement. But to know on many levels how deeply the seniors are touched and healed is an added bonus. I began thinking I was going to help some children. They have blessed me in ways I had forgotten.even though I have grandchildren their ages. I look forward each week to my time with the seniors and the kids and have included them all in my prayers. The effectiveness of this program has resulted in wonderful changes and relationships in both seniors and children, with clear benefits to our communities...resulting in requests from other schools. "Help OUR children", they say. I definitely hope the continues so this intergenerational program can continue to benefit even more of Maui's citizens, young and old."---------------------------Karen, senior mentor
"Simply put "Brain Gym" is a process of non-invasive easy movements that facilitate the integration of whole brain learning. These exercises help with focus, concentration, communication, flexibility, balance, coordination, energy levels, stress relief, well being and more.
Senior Citizens are trained in Brain Gym by Karen Peterson, Program Director, who has been an educator for 32 years. She is an Educational Kinesiologist, Reading Specialist, and Natural Vision Improvement Instructor. Karen's vision was to use Brain Gym as the corner stone of bonding seniors with elementary students. Since July of 2000, the program has been up and running. Today there are 46 senior mentors working with 139 students spread over 3 schools and a pilot program at the homeless shelter.. Requests are coming in from other schools and organizations of the community as word of the program's success has spread.
The Maui News reported on 03-11-04, the state saw a 5.4 percent increase in the senior population between 2000-2003. With more of us living longer and our numbers on the rise, senior wellness has to be of prime concern. Brain Gym has proven itself in this regard.
Part of wellness is related to how we view ourselves and how we are perceived by others. This is true for old and young alike. Brain Gym is a forerunner here. Seniors, who are receiving such positive feedback from those they are mentoring, feel they are still a vital part of our community. The youngsters are in turn learning that being a senior means you are still alert, active, and having fun. Brain Gym also helps many of our students who are lacking positive male role models, as there are many men working as mentors. Talk about two-way wellness!
I am a senior mentor working at the Kula Elementary School site. As a teacher since 1965, with the HI-DOE since 1969, I can honestly say I wish I had known and used the Brain Gym movements. Ms. Peterson has trained many of our Maui teachers who use it in their classrooms everyday.
Would you like the benefits of stress reduction and increased focusing? I suggest you talk to Karen! I did "Thinking Caps" and "Balance Buttons" before starting this letter.----------------
Margaret (Peggy), senior mentor, retired teacher
The following are quotes from a Volunteer Mentor Recognition & Evaluation Luncheon
What do you like most about the BGM program?
This program is excellent for the physical and emotional states of both seniors and the children. The children responded well and we seniors got to know each other and worked well together. The program seems needed and successful.
It became very obvious that the children enjoy this one on one with an adult who pays attention to him/her. By the second session they were open and talkative and asking questions.
The children love it! I wish we could involve more of them.
Brain Gym is an opportunity for the child to improve his self-esteem and the mentor to find a joyful interaction as well.
So many precious moments with each child! Watching children grow, calm down, learn, open, explore, remember, smile.
Getting to know the other seniors.
I enjoy the moments of making real contact and recognition with each other. The enthusiasm, eagerness of the children to be in the BG and doing the different activities ... That I see my children so glad to see me is very encouraging.
Momentary triumphs when they see they can do something that requires attention.
Great to have a brain work-out! Also great to spend quality time with kids. Brain Gym focuses them so well so we can really have a relationship! Having a supply of tools/games/etc. is really helpful.
The basic cross-generational service between seniors and school kids is legendary.
They [students] are both bright, loving and energetic. I am very impressed with them.
I liked the group circle to start program. Liked handwriting handout.
It is always memorable to put a smile on a child's face - this is the result of letting them know you care about them. It is a win-win situation, you get back even more than you give when mentoring.
Getting to know and help a child. Seeing the growth of the children on many levels. Experience the love of children.
I am enjoying tutoring these children.
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