Memory and Concentration Improved by One Simple Exercise

A quick and easy exercise improves poor memory, lack of concentration, clumsiness and emotional instability

It offers real help to those with learning difficulties, autism and Alzheimers disease.

In fact, anyone whose memory is not as sharp as it should be can benefit from this exercise.

EEG scans show that it synchronises right and left sides of the brain to improve thinking and memory.

Watch this short video to see how it’s done:

Main Points From the Video

In this video, a teacher, doctor, neurobiologist, occupational therapist, and parent discuss how one easy exercise:

Stimulates neural pathways via acupressure points in the earlobes
Synchronises the right and left side of the brain to improve function and promote calmness
Sharpens intelligence in seniors, juniors, mums, dads and kids
Helps those with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, learning difficulties and behavioural problems
Is fast and simple to do – takes just 1 to 3 minutes a day
Benefits anyone of any age

Exercise Instructions

Make sure you are wearing comfortable clothing and have removed any ear jewellery before starting. Avoid doing the exercise immediately after eating.

Step One: Stand with your feet about shoulder distance apart, toes pointing forward.
Step Two: Hold your right ear lobe between your left thumb and finger, with the thumb on the outside of the lobe (we’re not joking).
Step Three: Hold your left ear lobe between your right thumb and finger, again with you thumb on the outside of the lobe. You should now be holding both earlobes with your arms crossed over your chest, right arm on top (and we’re still not joking).
Step Four: Look directly ahead and commence doing a body squat by slowly bending your knees and lowering your body toward the floor. Go as low as you comfortably can and then slowly raise yourself back to a standing position. Exhale as you squat and inhale as you stand.
Step Five: Repeat the squats for 1 to 3 minutes, or 14 – 21 times, while continuing to hold your earlobes.

Results may be immediate or gradual. Concentration should certainly be stronger within 3 weeks. The exercise only needs to be done once a day but if concentration wanes it can be repeated as often as desired.

In or Out?

Some groups swear by the ’squat and exhale’ approach while others insist it has to be, ’squat and inhale’ (as recommended in the video).

As both claim their breathing technique works, either is probably fine.

We have placed the squat and exhale method in our written instructions as an alternative to the video recommendation. It is also consistent with the principles of yoga where the breath is expelled with chest compression and inhaled with chest expansion.

The bottom line is, use the approach that works best for you.

For the Committed

Some say the exercise is more effective if done while facing east (where the sun rises) with the tongue pressed firmly into the roof of the mouth – a tip no stranger than being told to hang on to your earlobes!

Why Wait?

So, with an exercise this easy why not commit to giving your brain a regular workout? Just hold those ears and bend the knees for a few minutes each day to have clearer thinking and a sharper memory.

Comments (31)

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After watching this news story I have decieded to give it ago. I will try it for a week or two and get back to you to let you know if there is any difference.

Comment by Hugh — March 5, 2010 @ 1:38 am

I passed this info to a website which said that some teachers were doing corporal punishment to autistic children.

Maybe if the whole class were to do this exercise at the beginning of the class, it would would not only help the students but also the teachers who might have the beginning of Alzheimer’s.

If done at the beginning of each session, it could also help some of our Congress Persons who seem to be brain dead.

Comment by David of Hawaii — March 7, 2010 @ 1:39 am

Well, I’ve tried it and my results so far are encouraging…let me be very clear though…I’m not at the Einstein level just yet, but my thinking has improved, .. I think.

Comment by Dave — March 7, 2010 @ 6:32 pm

Great to hear that, Dave.

Hope you are well
– Hplus

Comment by admin — March 8, 2010 @ 12:09 am

Unfortunately, I have MS and cannot do knee bends (at least not without falling over!) – but my hands and arms are thank G-d okay. Is there any substitute for the knee bend? Thank you! Chana Idels

Comment by Chana Idels — March 11, 2010 @ 2:18 pm

Hi Fred. The exercise stimulates acupuncture points and energy flow through the body to improve thinking and memory. Try it and see.

Comment by admin — March 17, 2010 @ 12:01 am

This is the common yoga in India. This is also good to reduce ur Super Tummy To Flat one.

Comment by Dos — March 16, 2010 @ 10:18 pm

If it works it may well be due largely to the suggestion, which is known to be powerful medicine.

Comment by Fred I. White — March 16, 2010 @ 11:11 pm

Hopefully I
sent it to a friend whose husband has been having problems with memory…Wecan all benefit from this exercise….

Comment by Betsy — March 18, 2010 @ 3:56 pm

Simple excersise to boot memory power.

I am really happy to see this article.

Hindu people(those who follow hinduism) do this in front of Lord Ganesh and also among the Tamil comunity this is used to be a punishment for primary school children when they don’t perform well in studies or when they do naught works at school.

Comment by Vasuki Nimalan — April 23, 2010 @ 9:37 am

Hey Fred,
If the suggestion alone works, then why wouldn’t the exercise alone work?

Comment by jd — April 24, 2010 @ 11:54 pm

Chana,
Try visualizing a squat as you hold your ear lobes, either seated or standing. If there is someone else in your household who can do the exercise as recommended, watch them as you hold your own earlobes.

Comment by Ellyn — April 29, 2010 @ 2:26 am

This is great! I just signed up for your info, and am starting this exercise today! I would like to suggest one thing, if I may…..

………tighening your core abdominal muscles on the upswing could also be incorporated easily, once the initial form is understood, and would definitely help with balance as well as working the tummy! I’m going to look for this book tomorrow!!!

Namaste!

Comment by Michelle Reid — May 29, 2010 @ 2:33 am

I have a spinal injury and am unable to do squats without support. Could the squats in this exercise be done using a swiss/stability ball?

Comment by Vicki — June 3, 2010 @ 12:01 pm

This sounds as though it may be helpful but we can’t tell you for sure, Michelle. Why not give it a try and let us know how you get on? Your answer would be helpful for others in the same situation.

Comment by admin — June 4, 2010 @ 5:54 pm

I am very pleased to know that in today’s world people are still making an effort to understand the old rituals of Hinduism. I am from Mumbai and we were asked by the school to perform this exercise and repetitions from 10 – 50 squats in every session of physical training at least 3 Days in a week.It also helps with the strained muscles in the body.Thanks for bringing such brilliant information to all readers.
Warm regards,
mangal shah

Comment by Mangal shah — June 24, 2010 @ 4:26 pm

A relative sent me this message. I’m an EFT practitioner, so I’m familiar with acupuncture points and their ability to heal, but this pressure point and exercise at the same time is a new concept to me.
I immediately sent it on to a friend whose nephew is autistic. I’ll have to try to remember to get back to this page for a follow-up in a couple of weeks.
Thanks so much,
John

Comment by John Jones — July 11, 2010 @ 10:45 pm

I need this for remembering statistics this semester. I will see how I go?

Comment by Dawn Collier — July 12, 2010 @ 2:05 pm

My daughter was in a car accident 5 years ago and received a brain injury. She cannot stand, therefore, cannot do knee bends. As the woman who has said that she has MS and cannot do knee bends, I would like to know if there is an alternative. Oh, and I thank GOD that my daughter can use her hands as well.

Comment by Debbie — August 18, 2010 @ 12:53 am

Hi Debbie – perhaps your daughter can try Ellyn’s earlier suggestion which was:

Try visualizing a squat as you hold your ear lobes, either seated or standing. If there is someone else in your household who can do the exercise as recommended, watch them as you hold your own earlobes.

Visualisation can be a powerful thing. Best wishes for your daughter.

Comment by admin — August 19, 2010 @ 11:26 am

My sister in law in Switzerland was having eye problem. when she went to her family doctor. He told her to wear pierced earrings. she said ,”Why, I am over 60, I do not need to try to look nice.” Doctor asked her just do it. she did feel better with her eyesight. then when I was taking Chinese Tui-na massage class, Ifound out that the earlobes are the acupuncture points for the eyes.

Comment by Aichu Yeh — August 21, 2010 @ 3:02 pm

When i was in primary school 50 years ago, my teachers use this Yoga excercise to punish us if we are naughty or didnt do our homework.I believe this make me a better person,I will definately introduce this to my grandchildren or even to my friends, it sound a bit redicelous, but seen it work why not it give try. No harm

Comment by badri khalid — August 23, 2010 @ 5:50 pm

As I read this website (Facebook page) from a former HS student that I knew almost 30 years, I felt that she placed it there for me… though she has no idea about my effort to contact her through that channel… Engra is from Taiwan, and does practice nontraditional healing methods as far as I remember. My family is a strong long time patients of homepathy for curing health problems… and I will try to do this so very simple excercise if ones body in able to do it… Creative visualization is real as it connects the body, the brain and the mind.

Comment by Martita Rivera — August 24, 2010 @ 11:30 pm

I am an American living in China.

Since the Acupuncture points are mentioned for those that don’t we can all thank China and their non traditional ,medicine for the above exercise.

I have use Chinese non traditional medicine and Acupuncture since 1995 and have to say it certainly can do a lot of good without all of the bad chemicals induce to the the body by the use of Western Medicine . There is a time and place for using both Eastern and Western Medicine. Western for surgery and Eastern for making one more healthy. Acupuncture can do some amazing things if you are having either back or muscle problems. These are my main problems,but Chinese Medicine treats the whole body and can make better many problems that Western Medicine seems at a loss.

Please remember both Eastern and Western Medicine will work, but the information given for improving the memory is more than likely from China, since China invented Acupuncture thousands of years ago.

Thank you China.

Comment by Ray Brown — August 30, 2010 @ 1:00 pm

I am an American living in China.

Since the Acupuncture points are mentioned for those of you that don’t we can all thank China and their non traditional ,medicine for the above exercise.

I have used Chinese non traditional medicine and Acupuncture since 1995 and have to say it certainly can do a lot of good without all of the bad chemicals induce to the the body by the use of Western Medicine . There is a time and place for using both Eastern and Western Medicine. Western for surgery and Eastern for making one more healthy. Acupuncture can do some amazing things if you are having either back or muscle problems. These are my main problems,but Chinese Medicine treats the whole body and can make better many problems that Western Medicine seems at a loss to help.

Thank you China.

Comment by Ray Brown — August 30, 2010 @ 1:04 pm

there is a descrepency; the video Dr. and Teacher say “Inhale going down exhale coming up.” Your written directions say the opposite. Which is the CORRECT way?

Comment by Cindy Lenzi — September 2, 2010 @ 4:10 am

Is this an April Fool joke?
But it’s not April…

As someone else had mentioned, this was punishment when I was a kid.

Is there some proven medical or scientific explanation/proof of the benefits of this exercise?

Les

Comment by LesPTSim — September 2, 2010 @ 4:23 am

Great exercise. Is there anything similar in applied kinesiology therapy, for those who know more about it than I? also, linked to kinesthetic learning…
However, with all due respect for the progress made in China with acupuncture, as far as the literature with which I am familiar, the first reported use of acupuncture was in Sri Lanka on an elephant… correct me if I’m wrong.
thanks,
liz
veterinarian and veterinary acupuncturist, New Zealand

Comment by Liz Thompson — September 2, 2010 @ 11:27 am

Hi Cindy,

You are right. There is a discrepancy as some groups swear by the ‘squat and exhale’ approach while others insist it has to be, ‘squat and inhale’ (as in the video).

Both groups claim their approach works so maybe there’s not that much in it.

We opted for the squat and exhale method in our instructions as it was more consistent with the principles of yoga where the breath is expelled with chest compression and inhaled with chest expansion.

Why don’t you try both ways and report back? We would love to know the results.

Comment by admin — September 2, 2010 @ 10:20 pm

There are many many acupuncture points in the ears. You can find the chart from google.com. When pulling the earlobs, the pulling will also stimulate these points. You can look up a chart of the acupuncture points in the ear connected to internal organs. There is also popular exercise to rub and press the ears. You can do any time. (I watched the pulling earlobs on the Chinese program on YouTube.) The acupuncturist can use tiny needles on these points and the patient can wear them for many days. The patient can self stimulate the needles daily. Sometimes the ear needles give more effective result in curing some ailments. The shape of the needle is the needle has a circle at the end to hold the needle. Usually, after put in the needle, tape over it. You just press it to stimulate. So you get the idea!

Comment by Olivia — September 2, 2010 @ 11:17 pm