Improve Fibromyalgia with Qigong Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “the mindful, meditative state that you reach through qigong releases neurochemical and immunological messengers that improve healing and reduce pain.” – Mary Lynch Fibromyalgia is a mysterious disorder whose causes are unknown. It is very common affecting over 5 million people […]
Improve Fibromyalgia with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Compared with patients who received wellness education and stretching exercises, those who practiced tai chi saw their fibromyalgia become much less severe. They also slept better, felt better, had less pain, had more energy, and had better physical and mental health.” – Chenchen Wang Fibromyalgia is a […]
Protect the Aging Brain with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “long-term engagement in mindfulness meditation may enhance cognitive performance in older adults, and that with persistent practice, these benefits may be sustained. That’s great news for the millions of aging adults working to combat the negative effects of aging on the […]
Improve Well-Being in the Elderly with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Practising the ancient martial art of Tai Chi is so beneficial to elderly people’s health that it should be “the preferred mode of training”, according to scientists.” – The Telegraph We celebrate the increasing longevity of the population. […]
Improve the Physiology and Quality of Life with Cancer with Qigong By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Regular practice of Qigong exercise therapy has the potential to improve cancer-related QOL and is indirectly linked to cancer prevention and survival.” – Qigong Institute Receiving a diagnosis of cancer has a huge impact on […]
What is Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience. It isn’t more complicated than that. It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is, without either clinging to it or rejecting it.” ~Sylvia Boorstein Mindfulness […]
Mindfulness Training Benefits Neurotic Individuals the Most By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Do you have neurotic tendencies? You might give mindfulness a try. The practice has been shown to help quell the voice of the “obnoxious roommate” in your head. One of the “Big Five” personality traits, neuroticism is characterized by negative […]
Drugs Produce Loss of Self Like Spiritual Awakening By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “People tripping on psilocybin can experience paranoia or a complete loss of subjective self-identity, known as ego dissolution” – Annamarya Scaccia Psychedelic substances have been used almost since the beginning of recorded history to alter consciousness and produce […]
Improve Brain Processing of Cognitive Conflict with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness should no longer be considered a “nice-to-have” for executives. It’s a “must-have”: a way to keep our brains healthy, to support self-regulation and effective decision-making capabilities, and to protect ourselves from toxic stress. When we take a seat, […]
Improve Adolescent Mental Health and School Performance with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “school-based yoga cultivates competencies in mind-body awareness, self-regulation, and physical fitness. And classroom teachers benefit as well. Taken together, these competencies may lead to improvements in students’ behavior, mental state, health, and performance, as well as teacher resilience, […]