Hi, I’m Michaela de Gier
I’m a Learning & Development Educator who makes brain science practical, accessible and life-changing. After decades in movement-based neurodevelopment and neuroscience-informed education, I help children and adults understand how the brain and body work together to shape learning, behaviour and confidence.
My approach is simple: when you work with the brain instead of against it, learning becomes calmer, lighter and more effective.
My Journey
I was born in the Czech Republic and raised in South Africa, and I’ve always been fascinated by movement, health and learning. I studied Human Movement Science, followed by a Higher Diploma in Education, and began my career teaching Physical Education and English before moving into health, fitness and medical sales.
My journey into neuroscience became personal when my son started school. I saw more and more children being labelled with learning and behavioural difficulties, and I wanted to understand what was happening beneath the behaviour.
A workshop with Dr Melodie de Jager sparked a lasting interest in neuroscience, neuroplasticity and the connection between movement and learning. In 2012, I completed intensive training as an Advanced Mind Moves Instructor and began working with children and families in KZN. Over the years, my work has grown to include regulation, the nervous system, sensory processing and the brain-body connection.
Understanding the Whole Child
I believe behaviour rarely exists in isolation. Movement, sensory processing, emotions, attention, memory and learning are all connected, and I’ve seen again and again how important movement is in learning.
Through Primitive Reflex Assessments, Brain Profile Assessments and personalised strategies, I help parents, teachers and professionals uncover hidden barriers to learning. The goal isn’t to force a child to learn against the way their brain works, but to understand their individual needs and support them.
Teaching the Teacher
Today, my focus is on sharing this knowledge, and it feels as though I’ve come full circle. I began as a teacher, and now I teach the teacher.
When teachers understand what is happening beneath a child’s behaviour, they can respond differently. When parents understand how the brain and nervous system influence learning, they can support their children differently too.
That’s why I created The Missing Link, a workshop bringing together the brain, body, emotions, nervous system, sensory processing, behaviour and learning. Every group I’ve presented it to has told me they wished they’d been taught this at teacher training college. It is my life’s work, and my vision is to take it into schools and communities across the country.
I also see real opportunities in Corporate Wellness, helping adults better understand their own brains, nervous systems and capacity to learn and adapt.
My Philosophy
Understanding changes everything. Instead of asking “What’s wrong?”, we should be asking:
“What does this brain and body need?”
That shift in perspective is at the heart of Train The Brain.
Outside of work, I enjoy keeping active, walking, practising mindfulness and spending time with my family. I remain fascinated by the brain and the incredible connection between movement, learning, behaviour and wellbeing.
