Improve Autonomic Nervous System Function with Yogic Breathing By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The Bhramari pranayama breathing practice . . . .. is beneficial and instantly calming down the mind. It is one of the best breathing exercises to free the mind of distress, anxiety, or frustration and get rid of anger […]
Improve Depression by Modulating the Autonomic Nervous System in the Elderly with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The ancient Chinese practice of tai chi appears to relieve symptoms of depression in older people.” – Tara Parker-Pope Human life is one of constant change. We revel in our increases in […]
Reduce Stress and Improve Autonomic Nervous System Function with Tai Chi or Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The rate of individuals suffering from autonomic nervous system dysfunctions is fast on the rise, due to our high stress and stimulative 21st-century lifestyles. However unknown to many practitioners, there are several natural therapies […]
Reduce Stress and Improve Autonomic Nervous System Function with Tai Chi or Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The rate of individuals suffering from autonomic nervous system dysfunctions is fast on the rise, due to our high stress and stimulative 21st-century lifestyles. However unknown to many practitioners, there are several natural therapies […]
Improve Autonomic Function, Metabolism, and Physical Fitness with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Qigong and Tai Chi initiate the “relaxation response,” which is fostered when the mind is freed from its many distractions. This decreases the sympathetic function of the autonomic nervous system, which in turn reduces heart rate and blood pressure, […]
Reduce Physiological Indicators of Stress with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Learning how to accept your present-moment experience is really important for reducing stress,” – Emily Lindsay Mindfulness training has been shown to be effective in improving physical and psychological health. One reason for these benefits is that mindfulness training improves the […]
Lower Heart Rate and Increase its Variability with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “If a person’s system is in more of a fight-or-flight mode, the variation between subsequent heartbeats is low. If one is in a more relaxed state, the variation between beats is high. In other words, the healthier the […]
Reduce Hypertension with a Mindfulness Smartphone App By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Investigators found mindfulness was associated with a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure at 1 year and had other gains including better adherence to a recommended diet, lower salt intake, reduced alcohol consumption, and increased physical activity.” – Damian McNamara […]
Improve Self-Compassion with Psychophysiological Flexibility and Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, coping with life challenges, lower levels of anxiety and depression, healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and more satisfying personal relationships. It is an inner strength that enables us to be more fully […]
Improve Mental Health with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “for many patients dealing with depression, anxiety, or stress, yoga may be a very appealing way to better manage symptoms. . . The evidence is growing that yoga practice is a relatively low-risk, high-yield approach to improving overall health.” – Harvard Health Mindfulness […]