The LSX is the world’s longest spinning top. It is not a simple piece of wood. It performs in a way that goes beyond the scope of other tops. Its unique characteristics allow it to process energy into its own rotation when you play TOP-NO-SIS. If you keep playing appropriately, the LSX will keep spinning. Other tops do not do this! With the LSX, top spinning becomes a hands on skill activity. You actively participate moment by moment to keep the LSX spinning. There are endless individual or interactive possibilities previously unthinkable with other spinning tops. TOP-NO-SIS with the LSX has been used twice to set new Guinness world records for duration of top spinning. First, in 1996, by a ten year old boy from New York (2 hours, 0 mins, 54 secs), and then again, in 1998, by a fifteen year old boy from Georgia (2 hours, 52 mins, 11 secs).
Like yo-yo and hula-hoop TOP-NO-SIS is a hands on skill toy, but it is much more versatile and can be played quietly, with a seatbelt on, in any vehicle (or in a wheel chair). Like video games, TOP-NO-SIS is challenging and powerfully engaging. Unlike video games, which rip you into their often inappropriate world, TOP-NO-SIS whisks you off on a healthy inward journey. User and parent friendly, TOP-NO-SIS with the LSX is a fascinating, unique, stress-reducing skill toy. It is an excellent choice for ADD-ADHD kids, post cardiac and stroke patients, type “A” executives, insomniacs and any person over seven years old who enjoys sophisticated, precise motor-skill toys. TOPNOSIS has been offered for sale at the FAO 5th Ave. store, where it remained one of the best selling toys from 1994-2007. It is now only available online.
Like yo-yo and hula-hoop TOP-NO-SIS is a hands on skill toy, but it is much more versatile and can be played quietly, with a seatbelt on, in any vehicle (or in a wheel chair). Like video games, TOP-NO-SIS is challenging and powerfully engaging. Unlike video games, which rip you into their often inappropriate world, TOP-NO-SIS whisks you off on a healthy inward journey. User and parent friendly, TOP-NO-SIS with the LSX is a fascinating, unique, stress-reducing skill toy. It is an excellent choice for ADD-ADHD kids, post cardiac and stroke patients, type “A” executives, insomniacs and any person over seven years old who enjoys sophisticated, precise motor-skill toys. TOPNOSIS has been offered for sale at the FAO 5th Ave. store, where it remained one of the best selling toys from 1994-2007. It is now only available online.
Instructions.
Grab the LSX by the upper flat part with your fingertips. Spin it firmly with its long cylindrical point touching your board. Tilt your board causing your LSX to move in the direction you have tilted. Keep it moving. Develop your steering skills, your timing and rhythm by practicing. The response of the LSX to skilled steering technique is immediate and precise. Relax your muscles. Do normal regular breathing. The LSX rewards you by continuing to spin for as long as you keep playing appropriately. If the LSX slows and begins to wobble, you need to improve your technique.
There is a distinct difference in technique between steering forward and steering backward. Whenever you steer in the same direction as the spin(forward) the LSX is cooperative. It likes to move in a forward direction so it complies even with gentle prodding. Whenever you want to steer opposite the direction the LSX is spinning (backward) you must be more forceful as the LSX doesn’t appreciate backward as much, and is resistant. The resistance is easy to overcome. Be more aggressive. Develop more of a rhythm. Be careful when you switch back to forward. You must immediately play more gently. If you pay careful attention to the LSX as it is spinning you can easily tell if you are playing appropriately . If the LSX begins to wobble you have lost some momentum and had better begin to feed it by playing appropriately.
Playing TOP-NO-SIS is challenging and fascinating. It doesn’t take long to improve your skills. Persevere and practice. Pay attention and focus and learn. The rewards are great. After a while you gain such a complete degree of control that it is rather empowering.
I recommend learning forward motion first. It is easier. Once you have mastered forward motion progress to backward. Recognize the need for greater output of energy in the backward technique. The typical error in traveling backward is too little energy. Keep the LSX moving by tilting more dramatically for backward than forward.
There are no limitations in terms of steering the LSX on the board. You are free to be completely creative. Steer in figure eights, circles, squares, triangles, impulsively free form etc. Use the lines on the board or totally ignore them. The LSX will keep spinning vibrantly if you keep playing appropriately.
The LSX can be energized on most smooth surfaces. Some surfaces are more advantageous than others. Experiment with different ones. Most menus work fairly well. Play quietly until the food is served. A book at school will do( play with permission of course). An old record album is quite adequate. The official TOP-NO-SIS board is the best.
The LSX can be tossed, while spinning, to another player’s board. Have a catch!
Launch the LSX by steering diagonally from near corner to opposite far corner. When the LSX approaches the far corner give the board a little flick with your fingers and the top will go flying in the direction you aim. Practice the rhythm for launching by steering back and forth, corner to diagonally opposite corner, over and over.
There is a distinct difference in technique between steering forward and steering backward. Whenever you steer in the same direction as the spin(forward) the LSX is cooperative. It likes to move in a forward direction so it complies even with gentle prodding. Whenever you want to steer opposite the direction the LSX is spinning (backward) you must be more forceful as the LSX doesn’t appreciate backward as much, and is resistant. The resistance is easy to overcome. Be more aggressive. Develop more of a rhythm. Be careful when you switch back to forward. You must immediately play more gently. If you pay careful attention to the LSX as it is spinning you can easily tell if you are playing appropriately . If the LSX begins to wobble you have lost some momentum and had better begin to feed it by playing appropriately.
Playing TOP-NO-SIS is challenging and fascinating. It doesn’t take long to improve your skills. Persevere and practice. Pay attention and focus and learn. The rewards are great. After a while you gain such a complete degree of control that it is rather empowering.
I recommend learning forward motion first. It is easier. Once you have mastered forward motion progress to backward. Recognize the need for greater output of energy in the backward technique. The typical error in traveling backward is too little energy. Keep the LSX moving by tilting more dramatically for backward than forward.
There are no limitations in terms of steering the LSX on the board. You are free to be completely creative. Steer in figure eights, circles, squares, triangles, impulsively free form etc. Use the lines on the board or totally ignore them. The LSX will keep spinning vibrantly if you keep playing appropriately.
The LSX can be energized on most smooth surfaces. Some surfaces are more advantageous than others. Experiment with different ones. Most menus work fairly well. Play quietly until the food is served. A book at school will do( play with permission of course). An old record album is quite adequate. The official TOP-NO-SIS board is the best.
The LSX can be tossed, while spinning, to another player’s board. Have a catch!
Launch the LSX by steering diagonally from near corner to opposite far corner. When the LSX approaches the far corner give the board a little flick with your fingers and the top will go flying in the direction you aim. Practice the rhythm for launching by steering back and forth, corner to diagonally opposite corner, over and over.
Occupational Therapy
This is a letter we received from an occupational therapist in 1996.
Further to our conversation in July regarding your toy, TOP-NO-SIS, I have found the following uses of the toy to be valuable for therapeutic intervention in occupational therapy with a pediatric population:
* Develops laterality (awareness of both sides of the body).
* Improves bilateral integration (ability to use the arms and hands interdependently on either side of the body to accomplish an action).
* Improves motor planning including timing, rhythm and sequencing of movement patterns.
* Promotes bilateral arm and hand use.
* Improves shoulder stabilization (bio-mechanical upper extremity co- contraction) by providing practice in holding the arms steady while
unsupported in space.
* Improves visual tracking skills.
* Promotes downward gaze.
* Improves fine motor skill of lateral pinch and ability to release an object.
* Improves sitting balance if used while sitting on a medicine ball.
I have utilized this toy in therapy sessions with children with a variety of diagnoses ranging from attention deficit disorder to autism. This toy has proved to be beneficial in my therapy sessions in part because it engages children so successfully. This activity can be graded. Some children simply work on spinning the top with the board placed on a flat surface; other children work the board while I set the top spinning; some children manipulate both board and top. Thanks for a fabulous product!
Maria
Further to our conversation in July regarding your toy, TOP-NO-SIS, I have found the following uses of the toy to be valuable for therapeutic intervention in occupational therapy with a pediatric population:
* Develops laterality (awareness of both sides of the body).
* Improves bilateral integration (ability to use the arms and hands interdependently on either side of the body to accomplish an action).
* Improves motor planning including timing, rhythm and sequencing of movement patterns.
* Promotes bilateral arm and hand use.
* Improves shoulder stabilization (bio-mechanical upper extremity co- contraction) by providing practice in holding the arms steady while
unsupported in space.
* Improves visual tracking skills.
* Promotes downward gaze.
* Improves fine motor skill of lateral pinch and ability to release an object.
* Improves sitting balance if used while sitting on a medicine ball.
I have utilized this toy in therapy sessions with children with a variety of diagnoses ranging from attention deficit disorder to autism. This toy has proved to be beneficial in my therapy sessions in part because it engages children so successfully. This activity can be graded. Some children simply work on spinning the top with the board placed on a flat surface; other children work the board while I set the top spinning; some children manipulate both board and top. Thanks for a fabulous product!
Maria
Therapeutic Applications
TOP-NO-SIS is a fascinating hand-eye skill toy. It is engaging, challenging, interactive and wonderfully rewarding and empowering. Once the skill is learned TOP-NO-SIS becomes a powerful device for eliciting the “Relaxation Response,” a physiological response measurable in lower and slower metabolic rates including blood pressure. TOP-NO-SIS immerses the user in the intriguing web of his own consciousness. It offers the user stimuli in all of her representational systems simultaneously, whisking her off on an introspective, inner journey often for lengthy periods of time. All of our results have been experiential and anecdotal. We had no control groups etc. Over the years we have seen TOP-NO-SIS do its magic and we are justly proud.
We have found TOP-NO-SIS to be effective in treating:
INSOMNIA... While playing, focus on diaphragmatic breathing(in through your nose while relaxing and letting your belly expand and completely expel all the air slowly out of your mouth.) If a pleasant thought runs through your mind and you lose track of your breathing that’s O.K. Should an unpleasant thought rear its ugly head, bring your consciousness back to the board and count revolutions of the LSX or focus on your breathing again, or listen to the neat, warm, relaxing buzz the LSX makes as you play or feel the massage on your fingers from the subtle vibrations of the board or all or none of those in any combination. Play for 10 minutes. Get back into bed and for a while “feel” yourself playing TOP-NO-SIS. “See” the LSX revolving in your mind’s eye. “Hear” it buzzing as it revolves. “Feel” the tingle on your fingers as if you were still playing and continue to drift and “sense” TOP-NO-SIS as you relax into a deep comfortable sleep.
HYPERACTIVITY... TOP-NO-SIS is intensely engaging in many dimensions simultaneously. As the user becomes more proficient an empowering degree of control emerges which can be metaphorically or overtly connected to any issue requiring control. Be non-directive. Let muscle memory do its thing. Encourage relaxation by redirecting consciousness. For example: “Look how we can choose where to steer the LSX,” or “ feel the vibrations on your fingers. It is so relaxing,” or “Isn’t that a warm relaxing buzz the LSX makes?” TOP-NO-SIS requires focusing and concentrating and rewards those attributes immediately. It is a powerful mesmerizing device that can alter a persons sense of time. Lengthening periods of calm carry-over value occur with consistency of use and level of skill attained.
SMOKING AND OVEREATING... Smoking and overeating are most often issues of control. One smokes to suck in real feelings or to set up a smoke-screen if you will. One overeats to insulate oneself from the outside world. Both these maladaptive, habitual responses to stress can be replaced with TOP-NO-SIS. As you gain control of TOP-NO-SIS, it feeds you in such a delightful and similar way, that it allows you to easily and comfortably transcend your primary addiction, feeling in control with TOP-NO-SIS in your hands. You will experience lengthening periods of carry-over value as you become more proficient at the skill. Use TOP-NO-SIS whenever you feel a strong urge to break your resolve.
COUPLES PSYCHOTHERAPY... TOP-NO-SIS is a valuable tool for couples psychotherapy. Each must face the other on opposite ends of the board. They must communicate, cooperate, and determine the issue of control in order to operate efficiently. Interesting stuff.
ABUSED CHILDREN... One of the components of treating abused children is to help them to regain a sense of control in their lives. As they gain control of the LSX they are empowered. Their self-esteem is raised and their confidence boosted by their accomplishment. Most children over 7 improve at TOP-NO-SIS with practice.
Play together initially. Be supportive. Enhances positive transference.
REPARENTING... Psychologically there is often a wide gap between what young people need and what they receive from their parents. TOP-NO-SIS offers a safe, hands on opportunity to reparent your client, allowing independence when asked for, encouraging little solo attempts for the hesitant person, reminding them that you are there to help them, for as long as they need, to learn to function adequately for the task at hand. Praise them often. Most people make progress. Some remain dependent. Interesting stuff.
STRESS REDUCTION... I recommend a couple of sessions with TOP-NO-SIS a day, morning and evening, with brief, crisis-intervention sessions whenever it is needed throughout the day. The stress reducing qualities of TOP-NO-SIS are measurable. It is valuable for recovering cardiac and stroke patients, type A’s, people suffering from anxiety disorders, pain management and anger management.
STRENGTHENING EYE MUSCLES... Track the movement of the LSX. It is a fun way to accomplish a normally dull task. Check with your optometrist for frequency and duration of exercise.
HYPNOSIS... TOP-NO-SIS is a powerful induction device, totally fixating the user by feeding an engaging combination of external sensory stimuli in four dimensions.
Visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile. I send most of my hypnosis clients home with TOP-NO-SIS for self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is a valuable tool used to reinforce post-hypnotic suggestions until reconditioned behavior locks in.
Ed Rubin
Inventor and Certified Hypno-therapist
We have found TOP-NO-SIS to be effective in treating:
INSOMNIA... While playing, focus on diaphragmatic breathing(in through your nose while relaxing and letting your belly expand and completely expel all the air slowly out of your mouth.) If a pleasant thought runs through your mind and you lose track of your breathing that’s O.K. Should an unpleasant thought rear its ugly head, bring your consciousness back to the board and count revolutions of the LSX or focus on your breathing again, or listen to the neat, warm, relaxing buzz the LSX makes as you play or feel the massage on your fingers from the subtle vibrations of the board or all or none of those in any combination. Play for 10 minutes. Get back into bed and for a while “feel” yourself playing TOP-NO-SIS. “See” the LSX revolving in your mind’s eye. “Hear” it buzzing as it revolves. “Feel” the tingle on your fingers as if you were still playing and continue to drift and “sense” TOP-NO-SIS as you relax into a deep comfortable sleep.
HYPERACTIVITY... TOP-NO-SIS is intensely engaging in many dimensions simultaneously. As the user becomes more proficient an empowering degree of control emerges which can be metaphorically or overtly connected to any issue requiring control. Be non-directive. Let muscle memory do its thing. Encourage relaxation by redirecting consciousness. For example: “Look how we can choose where to steer the LSX,” or “ feel the vibrations on your fingers. It is so relaxing,” or “Isn’t that a warm relaxing buzz the LSX makes?” TOP-NO-SIS requires focusing and concentrating and rewards those attributes immediately. It is a powerful mesmerizing device that can alter a persons sense of time. Lengthening periods of calm carry-over value occur with consistency of use and level of skill attained.
SMOKING AND OVEREATING... Smoking and overeating are most often issues of control. One smokes to suck in real feelings or to set up a smoke-screen if you will. One overeats to insulate oneself from the outside world. Both these maladaptive, habitual responses to stress can be replaced with TOP-NO-SIS. As you gain control of TOP-NO-SIS, it feeds you in such a delightful and similar way, that it allows you to easily and comfortably transcend your primary addiction, feeling in control with TOP-NO-SIS in your hands. You will experience lengthening periods of carry-over value as you become more proficient at the skill. Use TOP-NO-SIS whenever you feel a strong urge to break your resolve.
COUPLES PSYCHOTHERAPY... TOP-NO-SIS is a valuable tool for couples psychotherapy. Each must face the other on opposite ends of the board. They must communicate, cooperate, and determine the issue of control in order to operate efficiently. Interesting stuff.
ABUSED CHILDREN... One of the components of treating abused children is to help them to regain a sense of control in their lives. As they gain control of the LSX they are empowered. Their self-esteem is raised and their confidence boosted by their accomplishment. Most children over 7 improve at TOP-NO-SIS with practice.
Play together initially. Be supportive. Enhances positive transference.
REPARENTING... Psychologically there is often a wide gap between what young people need and what they receive from their parents. TOP-NO-SIS offers a safe, hands on opportunity to reparent your client, allowing independence when asked for, encouraging little solo attempts for the hesitant person, reminding them that you are there to help them, for as long as they need, to learn to function adequately for the task at hand. Praise them often. Most people make progress. Some remain dependent. Interesting stuff.
STRESS REDUCTION... I recommend a couple of sessions with TOP-NO-SIS a day, morning and evening, with brief, crisis-intervention sessions whenever it is needed throughout the day. The stress reducing qualities of TOP-NO-SIS are measurable. It is valuable for recovering cardiac and stroke patients, type A’s, people suffering from anxiety disorders, pain management and anger management.
STRENGTHENING EYE MUSCLES... Track the movement of the LSX. It is a fun way to accomplish a normally dull task. Check with your optometrist for frequency and duration of exercise.
HYPNOSIS... TOP-NO-SIS is a powerful induction device, totally fixating the user by feeding an engaging combination of external sensory stimuli in four dimensions.
Visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile. I send most of my hypnosis clients home with TOP-NO-SIS for self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is a valuable tool used to reinforce post-hypnotic suggestions until reconditioned behavior locks in.
Ed Rubin
Inventor and Certified Hypno-therapist
Interesting Tidbits
All TOP-NO-SIS toys purchased at this site can be personalized to your gift recipient and will be signed by Ed, the inventor, and dated. It is a unique, esoteric toy that you can give with pride.
In 1994, TOP-NO-SIS was chosen to be the “official toy” of the 25th reunion of the 1969 Woodstock music and arts festival held at Yasgur’s Farm in Bethel.
Prior to the invention of TOP-NO-SIS with the LSX, the Guinness World Record for duration of top spinning was 1 hour 21 minutes and 35 seconds. The LSX will spin for years, untouched, as long as someone with TOP-NO-SIS skills keeps playing.
It took two years of research and development, mostly trial and error, to create the LSX.
TOP-NO-SIS can be played with two or three LSXs at a time. It is challenging.
In 1994, TOP-NO-SIS was chosen to be the “official toy” of the 25th reunion of the 1969 Woodstock music and arts festival held at Yasgur’s Farm in Bethel.
Prior to the invention of TOP-NO-SIS with the LSX, the Guinness World Record for duration of top spinning was 1 hour 21 minutes and 35 seconds. The LSX will spin for years, untouched, as long as someone with TOP-NO-SIS skills keeps playing.
It took two years of research and development, mostly trial and error, to create the LSX.
TOP-NO-SIS can be played with two or three LSXs at a time. It is challenging.
FAQ's
Q... I STRUGGLE GETTING A GOOD SPIN TO START.
A... Use the two fingers that you “snap” with to grip the LSX. Touch the elongated tip down on the surface that you are using. Give it a firm “twist” with about the same pressure you would use to “snap” your fingers. Sometimes, really dry skin makes it more challenging to snap with good torque. Wash your hands, dry them, and then try again.
Q... MY TOP SLIPS WHILE I'M PLAYING. WHAT'S UP?
A... Very likely it happens when you are traveling in a forward direction too quickly. Tilt less aggressively when traveling in a forward direction (same direction as the LSX is rotating).
You have opportunity to play aggressively when you go backwards!
Q... MY LSX SLOWS DOWN. WHY?
A... It most likely happens when you are traveling backward too slowly. Tilt more aggressively and dramatically when traveling backward. (Opposite the direction of rotation).
Q... HOW DO YOU LAUNCH THE LSX?
A... Starting from the near left hand corner steer the LSX dramatically and diagonally down toward the far right corner. When you are almost at the end give an upward flick with the board to send the LSX flying. You can practice the rhythm for launching by steering the LSX back and forth diagonally corner to corner over and over in as straight a line as possible.
Q... I’M HAVING TROUBLE THROWING THE LSX STRAIGHT UP FOR TRICKS.
A... You are probably trying to do the trick while you are throwing. Instead, throw the LSX straight up, recoil from it then, in a second and separate motion, do the trick. Relax and it will come to you.
Q... SOMETIMES THE LSX SLIPS FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
A... Each surface has unique characteristics. Some surfaces are more advantageous than others.
Experiment with various surfaces. The official TOP-NO-SIS board is excellent. Nonetheless, as the LSX cools to a room temperature at or below about 72 degrees during use, the transfer of energy from player to the LSX becomes less efficient and the slip factor increases. Air-conditioning increases the slip factor. As you become more and more proficient at TOP-NO-SIS you will be able to feel the parameters change and make the necessary adjustments.
Q... CAN I CHOOSE TO SPIN THE LSX IN EITHER DIRECTION?
A... Yes!
Q... WILL THE LSX SPIN FOR A MONTH IF A SKILLED TEAM KEPT PLAYING ?
A... Yes!
Q... WHY IS THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ONLY 2 HRS 52 MINS 11 SECS?
A... I believe the boy stopped on purpose, because he had already broken the old
world record by a lot. Also, there are only 125,000 TOP-NO-SIS toys in the world so far. Perhaps once it becomes more well-known, the record will be broken.
- TOP-NO-SIS is a crafted toy. All sales are final.
- TOP-NO-SIS can be signed by the inventor and personalized to your gift recipient.
- For volume discounts please contact topnosis.orders@gmail.com
- This is a skill toy, age appropriate for 7 to adult.
- All prices include all taxes, shipping and handling in the 48 contiguous states.
- NEW YORK STATE residents please add appropriate sales tax.
DESCRIPTION: RED TOP-NO-SIS board and one LSX.TOP-NO-SIS is a unique, two-part toy consisting of a colorful, 14"x14" acrylic board and the amazing LSX, the World's longest spinning top.
DESCRIPTION: LSX is crafted of rock maple and/or birch interchangeably. It is stained or painted, then varnished. LSXes come in dark walnut, gold, silver, and copper.
Its dimensions are 1 5/16" x 1 13/16". When you manipulate the LSX on the TOP-NO-SIS board appropriately, it will keep spinning!