Brain Health & Dual-Task Training

How Getting Smart About Fitness Builds Stronger Minds, Bodies, & Spirits

You may have noticed two big installations happening at the Santa Monica Family YMCA over the last few months in the DeWind Room and Patton Tumbling Room. These big installations? Brain Health technology for all ages!

Starting in February 2025, our Y installed wall-sized SMARTfit technology to support cognitive and physical training for our members and program participants. These units, backed by research from the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, use dual-task training to help folks of all ages build strength in Mind, Body, Spirit!

SMARTfit is a dual-task training technology that allows users to pair physical movement with cognitive training, building stronger minds and bodies. This technology, pioneered by our partners at SMARTfit Inc. with the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, is transforming brain health by creating & strengthening neural pathways through dual-task (physical + cognitive) gamification. The cutting-edge technology improves cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, processing speed, and executive function—key abilities required by everybody regardless of age or ability. Backed by science and clinical research, SMARTfit offers a proven, natural way to maintain a healthy brain and body.

While the world is jumping on the bandwagon with solutions ranging from medications to diets and supplements, SMARTfit’s stance is that having a strong mind and strong body working in tandem creates the best quality of life for us all; brain health training must go hand-in-hand with strength training.

As CEO & Founder of SMARTfit, Cathi Lamberti says, “I don’t want exercise to be something I have to do. I want exercise to be something I want to do!”

Why The Y?

The Y is committed to strengthening community, that’s our cause. With chronic diseases and cognitive decline on the rise, we want to stand in the gap, offering creative community-based solutions to prevention. Through our partnership with Pacific Neuroscience Institute, we have installed two walls of SMARTfit technology in our facility – the only YMCA in California or the Western US to have these tools.

Our staff have trained with both SMARTfit and PNI and are ready to serve our community, starting as young as age 3! Through individual, small group, or large group training, individuals play games that challenge you on both cognitive and physical levels based on the developmental level right for you. Our instructors choose challenges that leverage both competition and collaboration to make the experience of training your mind and body simultaneously FUN.

Part of our mission is to provide programs and services that help strengthen the Mind, Body, and Spirit of our community members. While SMARTfit works to strengthen the mind and body through dual-task training, we believe the spirit is strengthened through the social aspect of belonging and training together at The Y.

Evidence-Based, Fun-Centered Approach to Brain Health

Our YMCA has worked closely with the Pacific Neuroscience Institute and SMARTfit to ensure our approach to cognitive resiliency and prevention work meet the community need. Partners like Cathi Lamberti (SMARTfit Founder & CEO) and Ryan Glatt (MS, CPT, MES, NBC-HWC, Senior Brain Health Coach & FitBrain Director, Pacific Neuroscience Institute Foundation) have helped us to launch SMARTfit in our community, the only YMCA in California to offer these services to members and program participants. With this evidence-based and fun-focused approach to brain health, we believe that building cognitive resiliency is more approachable than ever with tools like SMARTfit available through The Y!

No matter your age, we believe everyone can benefit from a stronger mind, body, and spirit. To learn more about SMARTfit or give it a try, check out our Wellness page here!