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[For Seniors] Liven Things Up With Different Left-Right Movements! Game and Exercise Ideas
It’s said that movements that differ between the left and right sides may help prevent dementia or slow its progression.
Doing asymmetrical movements or performing two tasks at the same time can help activate the brain.
Why not add some fun and try them as games?
In particular, this time we’ve gathered games you can play without any special equipment!
They’re easy to do, don’t take up much space, and anyone—men or women—can join in.
We’re also introducing exercises that incorporate asymmetrical movements.
Why not apply them to your games?
Even if you make mistakes with the movements, these games and exercises get everyone excited, so please give them a try!
[For Seniors] Get the crowd going with different left-right moves! Game and exercise ideas (1–10)
one-person rock-paper-scissors
This is an exercise where you play rock-paper-scissors by yourself using your right and left hands.
Because it’s a hand game that follows specific rules, you can get some brain training while thinking about your next move.
Your right hand repeats the motions of rock, scissors, and paper.
Your left hand keeps showing the move that loses to whatever the right hand shows.
Once you get used to it, you can increase the speed or add more complex rules.
It’s a perfect hand game for both moving your fingers in various ways and training your brain.
Try adding it to your regular exercise routine, such as by keeping track of how many successful rounds you complete.
Alternate different hand shapes on the left and right
A finger-play exercise you can try while seated with no preparation, using just your fingertips.
It’s simple—alternate different hand shapes with your left and right hands—but surprisingly tricky.
Start with easy moves like making a fist with one hand and an open hand with the other.
Once you get used to it, try alternating different numbers of fingers.
It’s also fun to add your own twist, like alternating numbers with an aloha (shaka) pose.
It’s a brain-training finger exercise that lets you enjoy a sense of accomplishment when you do it well.
2-beat 3-beat game
This exercise involves moving your arms in large motions with different rhythms for each hand to thoroughly engage your arm muscles and brain.
Use a 3-beat rhythm for one hand and a 2-beat rhythm for the other, and focus on keeping each movement from slipping out of sync.
Because concentrating on the motions can disrupt your focus on rhythm, it’s also recommended to perform the exercise along with a children’s song or similar music.
Once you get used to it, try switching which arm does which rhythm or adding leg movements—these variations can further stimulate your brain.
Scissors switch exercise
Let’s try stimulating the brain with hand and finger play.
In this exercise, you make different “scissors” shapes with your left and right hands and then switch the finger positions back and forth.
Start slowly with “index and middle fingers” and “thumb and index finger,” but it’s surprisingly tricky.
Your fingers end up in shapes you didn’t intend, and you can’t help but laugh.
Once you get used to it, speeding up the tempo or doing it to music makes it even better.
It’s a fun way for everyone to get lively brain training together.
Left-right alternating number counting exercise
Hand games that involve different movements with the left and right hands are said to be effective for preventing dementia.
So I’d like to introduce the “Alternating Number Counting Exercise.” In this exercise, you raise the fingers on your left and right hands according to the count.
For example, at 1 you raise one finger on your left hand, and at 2 you raise two fingers on your right hand.
Once you get used to it, you can add variations, such as clapping in between counts.
That will make the movements noticeably more complex.
Another option is to alternate crossing your hands as you go.
Lift one leg using numbers and kana!
It’s an exercise where you sit in a chair and make large marching movements, while adding elements like thinking about numbers or speaking.
First, march in place while counting 30 steps, and on multiples of 3, lift your feet and pause.
Once you’ve got that movement down, you can add variations, such as switching from counting numbers to pronouncing the Japanese syllabary.
By combining not only body and mouth movements but also elements like numbers and vocalization, let’s effectively enhance the brain-training benefits.
Ear, Nose Game
Pinch your nose with one hand, and with the other hand crossed over, pinch the ear on the opposite side.
At the cue, switch that configuration, aiming to swap hands smoothly.
The key points are that each hand is pinching a different spot and that one hand is crossed over.
Thinking carefully while moving your hands helps activate the brain.
Even just the hand-switching action is challenging, but adding a clap before switching, for example, makes it even harder and further enhances awareness of movement and concentration.