Exergaming for Lifelong Neurocognitive Benefits

Over the years, I started noticing something in my classes that didn’t quite fit the usual fitness story. Yes, people were getting stronger. Yes, their balance improved. But there was something else happening that felt just as important. I can usually see a noticeable shift after about 2 months of training.

People react faster. They start thinking on their feet. And maybe most telling, they laugh when things get a little chaotic. That’s what sent me down the path of looking more closely at how the brain and body work together during movement.

I mentioned to some of my classes that I recently had a conversation with Ryan Glatt, who is doing leading work in this area through the Pacific Neuroscience Institute. Since then, we’ve started an exchange of ideas around how some of the principles used in exergaming can be applied in a real, live class setting. Glatt’s work on exergaming happens on a screen. People are reacting to visual cues, making decisions, and getting feedback through a device. But he says there’s no reason you can’t design a more social version of his model in person.

In my classes, we already do ladder drills for memory and agility. We’ll toss balls, build a pattern, and then change one piece and watch everyone try to catch it. You’ve probably noticed that moment when your body knows what to do, but your brain needs a second to catch up.

That’s the space I’m building into more intentionally now with the Brain Agility Lab classes.

With Ryan’s input and the research he’s shared, I’m designing classes that layer cognitive challenge right into the movement. Not as a separate piece, but as part of the work. Reaction, memory, attention, and decision-making are all in play while you’re stepping, lifting, reaching, or turning.

And we keep it social, which adds huge benefits to the exercises. We start in a circle. We talk. There’s a question of the day. You know who you’re next to. That matters more than people think. When you feel comfortable, you’re more willing to try, to miss, to try again. No one is getting called out for doing something wrong. You just missed that round. We move on.

This is still evolving, and I’m hoping for lots of feedback from those participating. It’s cutting-edge stuff! According to Glatt, we are the only gym in Oregon using his work to build an exergaming program for real brain health benefits!