SG: “Have you heard much about the Minds in Motion program?  Would you consider it New Age?  It is based upon the research from Brain Gym (which has many meditations along with WONDERFUL exercises).  Through researching the Minds in Motion program, I have not noticed any meditations – just LOTS of activities that focus on crossing the midline and increasing body awareness (moving slowly and watching your hand as you move).”

The only thing that concerns me about Minds in Motion is the fact that it is based upon research from the Brain Gym. This could be a problem because Brain Gym does appear to incorporate some New Age beliefs and its research is not very well accepted in the scientific community –  and I can readily see why.

In a statement defending their research, founders Paul and Gail Dennison are not very convincing. By their own admission, support for their theories is mostly anecdotal. Due to their limited funds, “facilitating research at this time is not an option for us.” As a result, their conclusions about the efficacy of their ideas are based upon their own studies and “clinical research” rather than from independent scientific scrutiny.

In addition, the Dennison’s also refer to  “electromagnetic energy” which they explain as a “subtle form of energy attested to by thousands of years of acupuncture and traditional healing as well as a growing body of biomedical research.”

Aside from the fact that this is patently false (there is absolutely no scientific support for any kind of subtle energy), belief in this kind of energy is very much a part of the New Age philosophy.

Unlike yoga, which is a religious practice, there is no spiritual danger in doing these exercises so long as they are not based on a belief in “life force energies” or involve meditation practices designed to bring one into an altered state of consciousness (such as yoga, Transcendental meditation, tai chi, some martial arts, etc.).