No, we're not talking crossword puzzles. One of the newest exercise trends involves fitness challenges combined with brain challenges.
An instructor guides you through a workout while also leading you through verbal brain games. A few examples from Harvard Medical School: Count backwards by twos, call out the name of the president in a certain year, or remember three numbers that you'll have to recite later.
The brain must meet the extra challenge as it works to engage in physical and cognitive activities at the same time. In turn, that engages the frontal lobes, which are key to decision making, controlling impulses, planning and other executive functions.
Though they sound intriguing, these classes can also be difficult to find. Some health clubs are just beginning to incorporate brain games into fitness classes.
In true 2020 style, you can also try it out at home. One company touting the benefits of cognitive workouts is SMARTfit Active, which advertises sports performance and brain health fitness for home. You can convert an area of your home into your workout space using their equipment and "gamified programming."
Keep an eye out for smartphone apps, currently in beta testing, that pledge to help you with your fitness and your neuroplasticity.
