| Hours and hours on a treadmill, miles and miles | | | | Many people get locked into the idea of a |
| pedaled out on a stationary bicycle, and countless | | | | particular number of words per minute as the |
| crunches, sit-ups, and stair-step exercises are not | | | | benchmark for the success of a speed reading |
| about becoming the best treadmill or cycle expert | | | | program. I suggest that instead of that, speed |
| at the local gym. These exercises serve a greater | | | | reading should be judged by comprehension and |
| purpose of fitness, increased health and | | | | "normalcy" of reading. To illustrate what I mean, |
| cardiovascular strength, and toned muscles that | | | | let me share a personal experience of how speed |
| can be "counted on" to move us from place to | | | | reading has affected me. About a year after I |
| place. The exercises are only the means to the | | | | began regularly practicing the exercises of speed |
| end. Therein is the secret of Speed Reading. | | | | reading, I found myself at a computer with a |
| Speed reading is not about the rate in which you | | | | friend as we opened and read an email together |
| read, but rather about the efficiency with which | | | | in the same sitting. He was sitting over my |
| you read and understand, and while there is some | | | | shoulder and as I scrolled down the page to read |
| misconception about it, I believe all readers should | | | | the rest of the message, he interrupted what I |
| take advantage of speed reading exercises. | | | | thought was a normal flow of reading. "Slow |
| An effective speed reading program will add | | | | down," he said. "I'm not to that part yet." I was |
| exercises for both speed and comprehension. | | | | not "speed reading" the material. I was just |
| These exercises may seem to stress one aspect | | | | reading it. Normally. However, my "normal" rate of |
| or another, but when taken in combination and | | | | reading and comprehension of what I was reading |
| regularly practiced, the exercises will lead to | | | | was significantly faster than his. My "normal" was |
| efficient and highly effective readers who don't | | | | much more efficient now. |
| sacrifice comprehension, but rather increase their | | | | That, I believe, is the best judge of a speed |
| skill in that area as well. The same principle that | | | | reading program. The ability of the users to |
| we use in the gym applies to becoming better | | | | incorporate the exercises into their routine, not |
| readers. We have to practice our reading in order | | | | for the sake of the exercises themselves, but for |
| to become better at it. We have to "stress" our | | | | the sake of the increased "tone" of the reading |
| skills in order to enhance them, and we have to | | | | skills. If you can read and understand any material |
| focus on the muscles and techniques involved in | | | | in front of you, and you just happen to be able to |
| order to make the process more effortless in the | | | | do it with less time, then imagine what you can |
| end. | | | | do with the extra time in your day! |