Did you know..that cross-crawl technique is one of the easiest ways to activate your brain development and nervous system to give it the proper motor and sensory stimuli it needs to take control of your bodily functions—thereby preventing or rehabilitating health problems?
Until a baby learns to crawl she moves in a homolateral pattern. This means that the right hemisphere of the brain controls the right side of the body and the left hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body.
If we failed to mature past this pattern of movement, our gait would be awkward and uncoordinated, with the right hand and right leg jutting forward at the same time. 
However, as soon as a baby begins to crawl, she activates the contra-lateral pattern of movement that is essential to her brain development and nervous system. She learns to reach out with her right arm as her left knee juts forward, and move her left arm forward as she picks up her right knee. We continue to learn this cross-crawl movement as we advance to walking, running and swimming.
The cross-pattern movement builds the bridge between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, allowing for electrical impulses and information to pass freely between the two.
These patterns are stored in the brain and are responsible for governing our nervous system, spinal muscles and coordination, and programming our bodily systems to work together as a team.
Unfortunately, we carry the experiences we have as an infant into adulthood. Your motor function or brain development might have been impaired due to improper conditioning, inadequate development or trauma experienced as a child or an adult.
When your body suffers a shock, your nerve impulses become jumbled. When your nerve impulses are disorganized, so are your motor impulses and sensory impulses, endangering your overall health.
All of your bodily systems depend on cross-crawl integration, even cerebral activities, such as learning language, reading, hand-to-eye coordination and communication.
Signs that your cross-pattern movements could use some sharpening include:
- Lack of coordination and balance
- Difficulty reading
- Exhibiting learning disabilities, such as dyslexia
- Clumsiness
- Stuttering
- Saying things backwards
Fortunately, you can reprogram your nervous system and strengthen the connection between the right and left sides of your brain using cross-crawl exercises. Remember, nerves are very much alive and willing to learn new things; they die if not stimulated!
Engaging in a cross-crawl exercise regimen will…
- Promote all-over healing
- Reduce stress
- Improve focus
- Increase energy
- Develop whole-brain functioning
How to Cross-Crawl
- Stand with your spine erect and arms at your sides.
- On an inhale, raise your right arm up. At the same time you raise your right arm, lift your left leg, bending at the knee.
- On an exhale, lower both the right arm and left leg.
- On an inhale, raise your left arm up. At the same time, lift your right leg, bending at the knee.
- On an exhale, lower both the left arm and right leg.
Full range of motion, not speed, is the most important component of this exercise. The higher you lift your arms and legs, the more you are energizing the brain development becomes, encouraging it to store new, more effective patterns of movement.
Use the breath to help you slow down the movements. Slower movements require more precise control, which delivers greater benefits, faster. Experts recommend 200 to 500 repetitions a day, but it is important to stop at the first sign of fatigue.
