Project
itrazos
“the brain can be trained”
This Program of Stimulation and Practice of the brain hemispheres uses a method of worksheets that suggests the use of one of the ways that art gives us to EXPRESS and CREATE: the stroke line.
It is a program based on concepts of Arts and experience. In this case, we work the RIGHT SIDE of the brain providing new information, given that most people are right-handed. Anyway, we work out both hemispheres.
Benefits that can be obtained:
– It stimulates and develops perception and concentration in adults
– recognizes, activates and develops the hemispheres skills, stimulating the side that is not usually used, it awakes it and moves the other.
– delays the cognitive impairment in old people
– stimulates both hemispheres at the same time
– develops the ability of adaptation.
– works out creativity, intuition, sharpens observation and activates it all the time
– increases the response ability. Response time.
– stimulates emotions, feelings
– develops and increases social skills
– integrates situations and thoughts
– uses the method of synthesis, encompasses data, sums up.
– improves the handwriting and stroke line fluency.
– explores the interior and recognizes the differences in others, etc.
– favors to make changes in the way of seeing or thinking
– means to face the unknown, other perspective, other vision
– favors the search of alternatives, from the side of the “secure imperfection”
– dare to the uncertain result
– is practiced through drawing and writing, prevents Alzheimer’s disease (neuronal deterioration)
– stimulates cognitive, conceptual, emotional skills (anxiety)
– improves the self-esteem
– relaxes
– feels like keep on learning (concentration)
– feeling useful
– thrusts out feelings, allows to express feelings
Other benefits
It is also useful for the daily life and at the workplace.
If a caregiver, a nurse or anyone taking care of a person, gets the proper training, he or she will be able to put him or herself in the cared person’s shoes more easily.
Therapists, doctors, physiotherapists, neurophysiotherapists, neuropsychologists, psychologists, etc.
If an educator works with this method, evidently he or she will be able to know what feels to be a left-handed, blind or deaf, right-brained person and later a left-brained person in case of the right-handed.
Author’s left hand (2019)
One-line drawing without lifting the color pencil off the paper.
Moreover
- Painting relaxes
- Disconnects from reality
- Provides inner peace
- Regulates breathing
- Reduces stress
- Improves attention and memory
- Painting is an external experience that connects directly with the interior, with the emotions.
- Improves professional skills
- Can be used for rehab of affected limbs
- Favors the fluency of known and unknown stroke lines.
- Explores the possibilities of everyone regarding expressivity through the graphic image
- Improves handwriting through the development and practice of “lines drawing words”
- Helps understand the delicate importance of the use of both brain sides
- Compact the habit of using both hands
- Understand that we usually use one single hand but we are capable of awaking the other one through an intrinsic involvement if we force the brain to work on it
- working it out with children is opening windows for them to use both possibilities at once
- working it out with teenagers and young people makes them discover, recognize, differentiate their abilities, skills and limitations, be able to boost what they deem necessary in order to find the most suitable way for their brain configuration and at the same time know that what they don’t have can be awaken or developed.
Methodology and communication
To implement this program correctly, we should follow it every day at least for half an hour, at least 9 months on a continuous basis to achieve a PROCESS with RESULTS. However, it can be adapted to specific circumstances.
In on-site sessions with the coach, there will be moments for preparation, for the practice itself and for reflection. Also, it is recommended to work at home the rest of days. This method cannot be executed as an intensive course. It must be done in an ordered and progressive way.
It gives better results when separating by ages and abilities.
How does it work?
The worksheet exercises are instructed verbally, although sometimes we may show a resolved worksheet to explain better what the assignment is.
The practice is mostly individual but in some cases they will work in groups or pairs, to stimulate the group integration and the active participation. That way, the group gains knowledge about themselves and about the other classmates. Individual but communicative, in certain cases.
Worksheet typology
There is a series of worksheets that have a preset order to go on the suggested path but in certain cases the process is open to ideas that may arise personally or collectively, or from the coach’s initiative.
These worksheets will grow in the extent that the project grows, always open to CREATIVITY. Some of them are planned for everyone equally but the results will be different for each person.
On some occasions, the time to do a worksheet will take as much as the inspiration takes to appear. In case of school centers, the exercises can be adapted to the syllabus.
Reviews on our project
But regardless if we are right-handed or left-handed, there is always intercommunication between each side of our body and one of the two brain hemispheres. Therefore, it is important to develop the sensitivity and motor skills of both hemispheres, and rather at early ages.
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Most of us use the right side of our body more and the right side less, stimulating the left hemisphere. Logically, the opposite would happen in left-handed people but they are a minority population. But regardless if we are right-handed or left-handed, there is always intercommunication between each side of our body and one of the two brain hemispheres. Therefore, it is important to develop the sensitivity and motor skills of both hemispheres, and rather at early ages.
In order to develop our abilities and diminish our “bad habits”, we must use our two hemispheres and take advantage of the benefits of both sides.
There are many neurological pathologies, not only in children but also at other stages of life, that can affect the person and diminish his or her abilities.
Some of them, such as hemiparesis, stroke or Parkinson’s disease, require a therapy conducted by professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, designers or fine arts teachers, that not only stimulates the affected side but also activates both brain hemispheres before the possible impairment happens, so I consider very important to develop training courses that stimulate this.
David de León
Physiotherapists, Reg. No.: 330
In relation to Mrs. Dori Alessio’s itrazos Project, I have been able to take part as a participant and observer in several sessions at the Day-Care Center for the Elderly, in Puerto del Rosario, and my experience is highly satisfactory.
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In relation to Mrs. Dori Alessio’s itrazos Project, I have been able to take part as a participant and observer in several sessions at the Day-Care Center for the Elderly, in Puerto del Rosario, and my experience is highly satisfactory.
During the sessions, a relaxing peaceful environment is created. One also feels excited to work, as you are facing an “unknown” task that must be done with your less dominant arm, so you feel you can outdo yourself, improve and learn new things.
At the same time, as it is a collective work, it promotes a space for personal growth and sense of belonging, which is very important for the general population and especially for senior people.
Andrea Schoffer Szücs
Graduate in Psychology. Reg. No. P-01607
Care Center in Puerto del Rosario and Morro Jable. Fuerteventura
Phone: +34 627383381
e-mail: andreaschoffer@gmail.com
I could say, from the pedagogic perspective, that it matches all the technical and methodological requirements in an excellent way. However, your proposal goes beyond that and that is what makes it wonderful and fascinating.
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Words about your project are not enough!!! I could say, from the pedagogic perspective, that it matches all the technical and methodological requirements in an excellent way. However, your proposal goes beyond that and that is what makes it wonderful and fascinating. Wonderful because I perceive it as a whole, as a tool that awakes all senses, that integrates the hemispheres, that approaches us to be aware that we are one with the universe. Fascinating because it encourages, thrills and enables us for the game, search and exploration, without age limits… engines that awake the pleasure for learning and self-knowledge. Thank you, Doris, for sharing and making this beautiful project roll around the world, a result of your great creativity, confidence and discipline.”
Mónica Zarzuelo
Teacher of Primary School and Therapeutic Companion, Córdoba. Argentina.
It is evident that both are necessary to have a full life and, moreover, the functions are not divided just as we explained above. There are multiple interrelations between both, most of which we probably do not know. But in our culture we potentiate and clearly acclaim the use and wonders of the left hemisphere.
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For the right-handed people – in other words, the immense majority of people – the dominant hemisphere is usually the left one, also called verbal hemisphere, since it controls language, reading, writing and calculus skills. It goes linearly from the detail to the whole and it is the core of the logical, analytical, temporary, rationalist, materialistic thinking. It likes the regulations and the order.
In the left-handed people the right hemisphere usually dominates, but not only in the left- handed. The silent or non-verbal hemisphere goes spatially from the whole to the detail, controls the ability of synthesis, integration, abstraction, it is more intuitive and atemporal. It is the core of creativity, fantasy, imagination, passion, artistic sensitivity, spirituality and mystics. It is also the hemisphere where we perceive the images and sounds (faces, voices, melodies).
It is evident that both are necessary to have a full life and, moreover, the functions are not divided just as we explained above. There are multiple interrelations between both, most of which we probably do not know. But in our culture we potentiate and clearly acclaim the use and wonders of the left hemisphere.
The itrazos system developed by Dori Alessio about non-dominant limbs training or, in other words, non-dominant hemisphere potentiation, is a very useful tool for a huge amount of situations in our daily life, not only for disabled people. Moreover, it is cheap, simple, easy to learn and self-assessable, if the users are involved in a mid or long term.
We always think of paralytics or hemiplegic people or similar awful conditions, but we don’t think of all the times that we suffered an injury in the dominant hand, especially, in the index finger or thumb, and we had to manage with the other one. What happened?
Absolutely nothing. We have managed wonderfully. But there are more butterfingered (or skillful) people than others. Or more trained and thus more prepared people than others.
This occurs regarding the practical or manual skills, as its use has also been proven in relation to the development of intellectual or cognitive abilities that go beyond the conventional learning. Logically we speak about the so-called artistic or creative activities, but not only. We must develop all kinds of sensitiveness, from learning to listen to others, to becoming familiar with death, as another part of our lives, in a healthy natural way.
If we speak about brain plasticity, the most remarkable example I know is that of the children that learn two or more languages since they are born. How easy is for them to learn a third or fourth one. In more poetic words: boosting our “other side” makes us better people.
Rafael Bermejo
Physician, CEM – Medical Center. Jandía.
In the light of the new discoveries of neuroscience, we cannot ignore the great benefits that means for the students to implement teaching strategies that include the neural activation of both brain sides, encouraging the stimulation of the brain globally, contributing to a greater and better assimilation of the contents.
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In the light of the new discoveries of neuroscience, we cannot ignore the great benefits that means for the students to implement teaching strategies that include the neural activation of both brain sides, encouraging the stimulation of the brain globally, contributing to a greater and better assimilation of the contents.
Therefore, I consider useful the “itrazos Program” developed by Dori Alessio.
María Jesús Carnero
Psychopedagogue and pre-school teacher
It is remarkable how one can check the way in which the activities can provide considerable improvements in the quality of life through the goals, and using so close-by elements for everyone!
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At last, I could finish your book today. It really impressed me to see the job you have done! And the aesthetics and scientific strength of your proposal! What a challenging and systematic task to create these activities, register them and conceptualize the results, and not less is the task of wording the instructions in a clear and accurate way. The pedagogic appearance suits and boosts the proposal. The publishing design: impeccable!
It is remarkable how one can check the way in which the activities can provide considerable improvements in the quality of life through the goals, and using so close-by elements for everyone! I hope you’ll continue this way because it is a new chance for those people who experience the sadness and angst of the cognitive and emotional deterioration due to aging or a disability. In this sense, your book means an extremely valuable contribution to everyone’s emotional health because it is well-known that helping others we help ourselves.
A goal that seemed to me a creative, humanitarian and altruistic novelty from the beginning!
A big hug for you and your family
Guillermo Antonio Alessio
Researcher at UNC – Cordoba National University. Argentina
Alternatives that we search so many times, that appear before us with a simple gesture, with the willpower to exercise the non-dominant side, the side of the safe imperfection inherent to life, but with the uncertainty of the possibility that life deserves.
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Opposite side, the other side, all has one.
It means another view, another perspective followed by the initial challenge that means just to think about it, the other possibility uncovered… an alternative.
Alternatives that we search so many times, that appear before us with a simple gesture, with the willpower to exercise the non-dominant side, the side of the safe imperfection inherent to life, but with the uncertainty of the possibility that life deserves.
Living uncertainty! Living experience!
What a beautiful life, hurray!
To my teacher, Dory, for her generosity
itrazos student
Mar Medina
Music and piano teacher at Fuerteventura Music School.
