Memory fit - How I learnt to exercise my memory | Anastasia Woolmer | TEDxDocklands

Our modern lives hinge on learning from a young age, but wouldn’t it be a lot easier if we first learnt how to learn and remember?
Anastasia Woolmer guides us on her journey from a physical to a mental athlete. After a career as a professional Ballet and Contemporary dancer, she completed a university degree with very little high school behind her. Like many of us, she studied without the benefit of memory techniques, just a lot of over preparation and late nights. Anastasia discusses what a dramatic difference memory training has made on her life since then. We can all benefit immensely from directed memory skills and a little practice pays big dividends. This talk reveals that combining the two types of fitness training - mental and physical - helps us to achieve the most out of life.
Anastasia is a two times Australian Memory Champion, is the first female to hold this title and has set several Australian memory records along the way. Anastasia is a 2 x Australian Memory Champion and holds several Australian memory records. She is both a physical and mental athlete, with an international career as a professional Ballet and Contemporary dancer. Her love of learning attracted her to memory sports as a path to absorb new information quickly and she now helps others to learn memory techniques. Anastasia is also uniquely able to demonstrate the mental imagery she uses during memorisation.
Anastasia believes combining both physical and mental fitness gives us the best chance for a happy and full healthy life. She knows that anyone can train themselves to perform remarkable memory feats and bypass slower conventional learning methods. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@stevenhail2837]

What a terrific talk! She is a great public speaker. I interviewed her for students on a course at the University of Adelaide, and it was a great success.

[@claire9771]

Brilliant speech. I started a course last year and was incapable of learning just the basics. I’ve also got a dance background and managed to get through the first exam by linking the new information to a dance that I did in my head during the test..

[@mrwindsor9082]

This is a wonderfully uplifting and informative video. Thank you for uploading it. Anastasia has a beautifully lucid and engaging Australian accent. I could listen to her all day.

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Thank you!

[@sweetas7067]

Great presentation, what a lovely Subject to talk about. I'm 70 now and at my age memory loss is so common. GPs should at least suggest this to the elderly. Very inspirational. Ohhhh I almost forgot. Thank you so much Anastasia.

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Thank you Philip! I am glad you enjoyed it. I agree, it should be on the list of suggestions from our GP's.

[@stevet6676]

So great. I was a chemistry / physics teacher and wish I could have given my students this tool too be more successful and confident. Thank you!

[@kkajalwadhwa1234]

Thanks for putting light on this topic

[@jorgeromera3861]

Wonderful speech. Absolutely eye opening.

[@stevenferguson3764]

Use it or lose it. It's great to improve your memory, but there's nothing wrong w/ working harder.

[@inextinguishablemoltenblooded]

Being overly dependent on the inorganic beings is a superfluous handy cap , it doesn't have to be that way ,

[@TanselAliMemory]

This is awesome! Congratulations once again on your amazing talk Anastasia. Looking forward to seeing many more.

[@ChrisKunzler]

My favorite part is how she moves. Her dance training is evident.

[@360.Tapestry]

i enjoy her dance moves :)

[@mmymmy315]

That's incredible... What an idol

[@mamunurrashid5652]

Good talk! I didn't realize that dance movement could be used to create memory links...

[@lynnehurstbridge]

Fantastic, Anastasia. More please!

[@junebreeze5620]

Congrats! I am excited about your success!

[@debblackmore7460]

Great speech keep going doing amazing things I have hypoxia brain injury I died 26minutes spent weeks months in coma rehab hospital learning talk walk again been a recovery massive discovery never ever give up on yourself many will never yourselves keep going doing amazing things sending luck hugs prayers most of all love from headway Nottingham UK I tell myself if I don't remember not worth remembering works for me secret is never give up on believing in yourself I have just passed my maths English again drive car doctors were switching machine off I wroke up lol music helps me alot wordserchers reading and staying positive wishing anyone who is going through memories never give up never here I I'm after doctors saying I would never walk talk again yet here I I'm commenting sending luck hugs love from UK xxx

[@debblackmore7460]

Thank you Anastasia well done proud of you x

[@crooniegrumpkin4415]

Thanks for a great presentation.

[@seemapatilJapan]

Your TED TALK was amusing, informative and made me look for you online. Thank you...

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Thank you Seema! I am glad you got value out of it.

[@joanwang614]

wow, this is so powerful. thank you so much!

[@williambcollins]

I've read a lot about memory techniques, but this is a very unique method.

[@ajayprem3368]

Wonderful talk. Thank you for this!

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Thank you Ajay!

[@lukaszswistun3197]

thank you very interesting great talk!

[@solom018]

i loved her way of talking

[@AncientWisdom222]

Thanks for fascinating lecture. In Indian Ancient Wisdom too there are a number of memory methods described. The one I use frequently lets me remember 8 to 108 quantities or characteristics of any topic. This I use to create a debrief, rebrief , arrange information , arrange essays in mind or to give explanation on a point.

[@thecuriouslearner8331]

Thanks bro because of you i learn understand that in india also memory techniques

[@rNeyshabur]

Life changing

[@minetime6881]

5:21 “It was almost like I could get a USB with information on it, put it into my head, and there is was…” wow that describes perfectly what it is like to learn a memory strategy. I thought memorizing a deck of cards was basically impossible. Then I did it. Insane

[@cr7don447]

May I ask a question how did you train yourself every day to be like this, because I want to practice but I don’t know how to practice🤷‍♂️

[@debblackmore7460]

Wow absolutely amazing numbers such a inspiration keep hard work up stay strong stay positive takecare x

[@NicksLocker]

I wish this got blown up really big. this could be so useful for others

[@garretttheferretbook]

Wonderful Ted Talk. I am nearing the completion of a children's book designed to trick kids into creating mind palaces. I would love to run it past a true expert in the field. I hope you see this and reach out to me, Anastasia! Nice moves, btw! So glad you shared this with the world. We need more of this in our schools everywhere.

[@maryngshwuling9916]

Thanks for sharing 🌻

[@shreoshimukherjee1657]

Amazing!!

[@tru9requ]

Interviewer: "So, you wrote in your CV you can name 300 digits in PI, could you name 20 now?" Anastasia Woolmer - stands up, stretches arms over head - "Certainly 09:56"

[@flatcirclejerk4607]

Amazing human.

[@liteazwell1913]

I read that book! You are super-lovely, Anastasia!

[@dvfpv]

which book ?

[@kedarpaudel371]

Which book 📖

[@liteazwell1913]

Hello! The book that Anastasia mentioned is Moonwalking With Einstein, by Foer. It's more fun than one might expect

[@Kayleighjulena]

@@liteazwell1913 hi! He has two. Which one should i get?

[@liteazwell1913]

@@Kayleighjulena Hi, Kayleigh! Happy Halloween! The book that I read was Moonwalking with Einstein. I hope that you enjoy!

[@kristinabaker4433]

👏 lovely! And a wonderful speech, my memory is not very good... and I would Love to take dance lessons...

[@yeetymcface4692]

wow thats so dope, congrats

[@sadikachoudhury7210]

Brilliant speaker!!

[@anaf4072]

After watching this and reading everything available on your blog, I can say you became my personal hero. I just can't imagine how you can have 3 children and do all those things. I have one and studying full time and I am exhausted. What's your secret? Special diet, you sleep less than normal people? I would love to learn from you. Can't wait for your book to come out. You are my light.

[@svsendy]

Ana F Same! I fascinated by her story... gives me hope! ☺

[@smiechu47]

Just get off the internet and you'll have all the time in the world

[@rajabagain2179]

@@smiechu47 Lol! Well said

[@tatianahawaii13]

@@smiechu47 agreed that internet is a time sucker

[@mhfdustymornings]

Anastasia, I demand more videos in you KZbin channel!!! 😂

[@Q_QQ_Q]

of**

[@honest_bishop5905]

@@Q_QQ_Q no

[@wilfredv1930]

Yes Damar Vazquez. Better demand those in her own channel, where she could probably listen to you.

[@nicoleniesig1668]

great talk!

[@Inaworldoflove]

I'm interested in this. Thank you! Here's my memory tip for names, I try to think of a celebrity with the same first name and picture them together, maybe as friends, or lovers, or fighting, something memorable.

[@nsfrozen]

the problem in the first place is i cant remember celebrities name xD

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Hi all, a lot of the comments are requesting more resources around memory training. You can head over to my web site and see memory technique guides in the blog pages. If you have any questions you can email me from there.

[@groundncloud]

Love it 👍👍 applauseee

[@autodidatasacademy]

Fantástico, vou criar muito conteúdo sobre isso pra espalhar essas idéias no Brasil.

[@danieldamazio636]

espetacular! Precisamos muito disso

[@markosholiveira8663]

E para quem não é bailarino? 😁

[@dicedrice7216]

I'm going to make this my superpower.

[@notamiscreantfish8742]

Go for it, heaps of detailed resources on her website

[@noeldeocampo7521]

This is a big challenge for me at my age. I'll do this.

[@88happiness]

The BEFORE version of this woman is soooooo me!!!

[@Petra44YT]

Amazing! I've never seen anyone dance Pi. 😄

[@dg6370]

Brilliant!

[@55nampellyprashanth51]

This vedio changes me

[@poolman20001]

This is really cool. I am a 43 year old business man in China, recently studying Chinese. Chinese Characters are difficult, speaking is difficult. I am usually smarter then most, but now not so much anymore, its my memory, Its scary bad. I have managed to memorize how to write about 150 characters in two months time, so this is why I am here... I believe that you are very modest, not everyone can get a 4.0. You must be naturally gifted. Your prob went to school for business, and just selling... Anyways, any tips for me?

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Thanks Danny :) I am confident you can still improve your memory, I am 42 and find it far quicker to learn now then when I was 25. Chinese Characters lend themselves well to memory techniques, with a simple two step process: 1. Try to see images in the characters that represent the meanings (like one of the food characters looks like a canteen house 食 with trays of food under, and one for meat 肉 I can see looks a bit like layered pieces of meat in a tub)... 2. The next part is to attach an image (to this picture you have imagined) in a story that sounds like the word...(in google translate the food character sounded like she, so maybe make an image with a story that shows 'she' likes to eat in the canteen...the meat character was Ròu...which I thought sounded a bit like row but with the Chinese sound for r...so maybe the layered meat in the tub is trying row a boat to escape from your fridge?...) When you revise your characters try to see the image and story until you no longer need to think about it (once this happens you no longer need this original association anymore to remember it) Abstract, but with practice makes life really easy, as when you want the character or sound for 'meat' you just look at your meat image. I have learned 600 Japanese Kanji this way and it is much quicker than rote learning. Anyway, I hope this helps some, there are some blogs on my website that explain some further techniques if you are interested :)

[@dzikrinasaira3475]

Anybody knows, what is the title of the book she was referring at 3:00 ? I'd like to read that too hehe

[@olapejuotsemobor3926]

Wow, wish I'd been doing this all the while!

[@hasmikmelikyan7004]

Hello, dear Anastasia. I am 47 years old three-lingual (Armenian, Russian, and English) Armenian lady who has always had memory problems. I have tried several times to train my memory by using different techniques. But even trying to memorize the techniques using pictures or an imagined room full of items to remember is a nightmare for me. Now, when I am trying to learn French this nightmare is even worse: I am spending a huge amount of time to learn simple things. I guess, one of the obstacles for me to have a good memory and concentration is anesthesia and dozens of x-rays that I have had because of a head of hip fraction that I have got 6 years ago. Which techniques would you recommend me for the beginning?

[@GirishBapatpune]

I dont know you however did you find a way to improve your memory. For me its really difficult for me to even remember day to day tasks like which shirt did i wear in morning or what veggies did i eat last supper. Also the technique of keeping some random things on top of each other make sequence of same didn't help me. Let me know if you found anything Thanks.

[@user-mq3vy6ov8e]

Same

[@purity4all]

Dyscalculics have a lot of trouble with remembering sequences, do you have anything for that?

[@taniaschnuppe-registerednu5706]

Sometimes life delivers to you what you want at just the right time. Anastasia, sensational Ted Talk, please can you launch an online course so we can learn from you.

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Thank you, I appreciate your comment and know just how you feel. In fact I have recently done just that! My new online course teaches how to build a better memory, with no prior knowledge needed - and no dancing I promise :)

[@chrisanderson6330]

Anastasia, I recently finished university. I wish I knew this beforehand. I struggled trying to remember the information.

[@beastygaming1752]

do the work to get the results incredible yes!!!!!

[@solom018]

my memory hero is dominic obrien , he was the memory the champion 8 times

[@anshulvats7314]

Any book or other techniques to improve our memory and learning more quickly. Can someone give me a suggestion? It would be helpful.

[@AB-kz7nr]

Out of curiosity, what are other ways people remembered things? I was fascinated how she used dance and wondered if anyone else used other activities to remember facts. Thanks!

[@davebrast626]

A friend of mine creates stories in order to memorize. In the TED talk she mentioned this as one technique but didn't give an example.

[@madammarmalade6760]

Google memory sports and memory athletes. A lot of them use 'memory palaces' (places) that they walk through and position images along the way. The images have previously been associated with numbers, or cards, or words - that's the hard part : )

[@noorvermani140]

I love her❤

[@RasheedKhan-nr9fu]

can u also tell me about your diet and exercise to help my memory

[@notamiscreantfish8742]

I see there's a post on her blog about exercise and memory

[@breyhimself7834]

Great

[@sosha4050]

Wow!!! I’ve gotta figure out how to use this for law school! 😭

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Hi Sosha,..super useful for law school, lots of info on the web you can start with my blogs and go from there :)

[@sosha4050]

Anastasia Woolmer Okay, Thank you SO much!! 💜

[@peterjones6733]

Interesting! And er... very fit!!

[@CoClock]

I appreciate this talk. Memory techniques make remembering anything much easier. There is still preparatory work involved such as making figurative codes for numbers 00 to 99 and eventually 000 to 999, or creating enough "hooks" in your memory palace to store long term information in. Which is fine. Put in the initial training and you get the results. My main concern which has stopped me from really getting into memory 'full on' is that I don't really know many *useful* applications that it can be applied to. So far, the most valuable application I can see is in social situations such as dinner parties, or when presenting yourself as 'knowledgeable' in a field. For example, most of the useful times to have an excellent memory in the film 'Limitless', were at parties with high rollers. Commanding their attention and backing it up with perfectly memorised facts did get the main character a high paying job. (Which answers my main concern I guess). But what uses does an excellent memory have for an introverted person??

[@solangeelkallassi9514]

CoClock Med school haha but yes I don’t know much else

[@notamiscreantfish8742]

@@solangeelkallassi9514 Once you start training, your memory gets a little better for everything (and a lot better if you keep training). That itself is worth it, let alone having the technique to quickly learn any long list...

[@divyasasidharan2960]

I think social skills r the most powerful of all.. of u can tame that u can easily have enough peace of mind n space to focus on anything which again has the added benefit of memory technique. I think it is limitless but I don’t understand why these people go too too far with this power to sort of change the world.. u really need a prodigy for that? I wonder what r they doing with this superpower !!! Does it take time away from intelligence n innovation? Do they get bored n hop quickly to satisfy themselves in keep trying new things? What’s holding them back?

[@premorob2]

I'm part of the human experience known as Aphantasia. We can not access voluntary mental imaging. So how do I improve memory with no facility to do as advocated?

[@obiageliokolie6075]

She's a genius.

[@GoudaGirl]

I know that this is kind of a weird question, but where can I get here jump suit????

[@shubhampawar9]

😂😂😂

[@user-uk1fk5wl1j]

what's the title of the book she read?? I would love to know.

[@MsLira-sw6es]

As a kinder teacher, I attach a dance move and picture of an object to letters and numbers when teaching them. *Scaffold.

[@EEEMUS]

This was great thank you~~\!!

[@axeff88]

Nice she used coreography to remember the speech

[@charimuvilla8693]

I've heard many times "you can be a quick learner too" so I'm a bit disappointed she didn't mention more technics

[@notamiscreantfish8742]

I think the Tedx aim is to show it can work. You can go to online resources for the detailed how-to guides. Anastasia's website has a lot of good resources.

[@arthurmiller1624]

I had a look, goto the masterrecall website for the courses and her personal website to see heaps of blogs with details.

[@bubsta1330]

where on earth is docklands??! is this in melbourne australia?

[@maryamsl5571]

Yes

[@kinglordehud]

Simple Smooootttthhhhhh!!!

[@beeonebautista9035]

Wow

[@matthewtorrence5931]

Anastasia is a lovely lass.

[@evolving_humanity]

The secret behind memory is defining a structure to everything. People who remember pretty much everything are those that should they see a shoe lying about they will see the shoe as a 3D image creating more neural pathways (seeing length, depth, curves, color etc). An event they do the same in a way. It's not been studied but its the core of memory.

[@orlandohernandez8463]

Comienza en el minuto 7:30.

[@takiemono]

so what can we do? can yu me more specific.

[@rosarebada4777]

Others have already asked ... it would benefit the extension of your message if you would credit the author who contributed to your success. Even if out of print, authors deserve recognition, and there are reference libraries. There are a lot of books on the subject, but I would like to know which one you studied. Thank you for your inspiring talk. Congratulations on your achievement.

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Hi Rosa, it was - Moonwalking with Einstein - a good read and inspirational. However this didn’t teach me much about actual techniques. I am currently writing a book with detailed how-tos in the different areas of memory, I hope to have it published by the end of the year. In the meantime there are books on the subject, and the web has a lot to offer. Web research taught me the most, so I suggest researching the techniques that memory athletes use - eg search 'memory sports'. I'm also currently working to add more to my own instructional blogs on my web page. My book will be a one stop resource for this, so hang out for that one :)

[@prssupe]

@@Anastasia_Woolmer Is the book out yet??

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

@@prssupe Still getting there, but soon I hope :)

[@lancetschirhart7676]

Anyone else suddenly want pie?

[@notagain3732]

Now ima Google time record for becoming a memory athlete as how many days it took

[@Kayleighjulena]

Does anyone know the book she’s talking about?

[@notamiscreantfish8742]

Moonwalking with Einstein

[@notagain3732]

Become a memory athlete as soon as possible then teach 10 others to do the same and they teach 10 each in a pay it forward way (watch the movie)

[@Think_pls]

Can anyone suggest, where to get this technique she is talking about

[@miscreantfish]

Blog on her website has some useful guides.

[@carollucialopez9952]

What if you can't remember sequences of movements? I have never been able to remember dance routines in sequence. Thanks.

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Hi Carol, you don't need to be able to remember sequences of movements to use memory techniques. There are all different ways to apply them and you can choose the way that is best for you. As movement is easy for me it is the way that I apply it :)

[@seemaneeraj2986]

Which book she read Please reply

[@stevenhail2837]

I imagine she will be writing one. I'll be reading that.

[@dheerajbharti1180]

One of the basic books is "Moonwalking with Einstein" by Joshua Foer. I recently read "You can have an amazing memory" by Dominic O' Brien. Both are good.

[@Anastasia_Woolmer]

Hi Seema, to answer your question about the book I read first. It was a good read and inspirational - Moonwalking with Einstein. However this didn’t teach me much about actual techniques. I am currently writing a book with detailed how-tos in the different areas of memory, I hope to have it published by the end of the year. In the meantime there are books on the subject, and the web has a lot to offer. Web research taught me the most, so I suggest researching the techniques that memory athletes use - eg search 'memory sports'. I'm also currently working to add more to my own instructional blogs on my web page. My book will be a one stop resource for this, so hang out for that one :)

[@seemaneeraj2986]

Anastasia Woolmer thanks a lot Eagerly waiting for your book👍

[@funsky77]

Problem is, not everybody is a dancer or visual story teller. What about just boring folks who are more into strategy games. Do you have techniques for non-dancers?

[@miscreantfish]

Wow, amazing speech and dance. And all with bare feet. I wonder how many Tedx talks are presented with no shoes?

[@gschneyer]

That's the catch though, you need to remember the stories behind what that particular fact is representing. This specific example is dancing, which was learned a long time ago. For me, I have to create a story that say represents the 3.14, etc. OK, darn, it was um....... a happy..no, that was for something else..... arrgghh..

[@brudo5056]

I wonder how one could apply these techniques to learning something like Thai language... I doubt it could work...

[@notamiscreantfish8742]

It sure does. Words and text work well for memory. Just a slightly differnet take on the same idea - still uses visulisation, association, stories.

[@starlingwatch3921]

An excellent talk! Thanks! And does she remind me of Joy from the Disney movie Inside Out?! -Frank

[@tatianahawaii13]

What’s the point of memorizing Pi? I’d rather be interested how to learn another language

[@chriseganiii]

How’d she remember all that?

[@jankratka9746]

I would like to see an exam where he must use many digits of the pi number :-)

[@rudraom9]

Welcome dear

[@antg7968]

9:43