Meditation Comes in Seven Different Varieties By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Experienced meditators agree: a daily meditation practice can have significant benefits for mental and physical health. But one thing they probably won’t agree on? The most effective types of meditation. That’s simply because it’s different for everyone. After all, there are literally hundreds of […]
Meditation Practice is Growing Rapidly Among Children and Adolescents By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “It’s almost as though meditation was designed for kids. They just ‘get it’ – there is this elasticity and freedom in their minds which allows them to be present in the moment and free from any external thoughts […]
Affect the Brain with Religious Chanting By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “According to a recent medical report, chanting Om has been associated with reducing stress. One of the biggest health benefits of Om chanting is that it brings down stress levels. It provides relief from anxiety and tension. Regular chanting ensures that you feel […]
Decrease Hypertension with Yoga Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga, when performed mindfully, can reduce this type of stress-induced hypertension, while addressing its underlying causes. It pacifies the sympathetic nervous system and slows down the heart, while teaching the muscles and mind to relax deeply.” – Marla Apt High Blood […]
Different Types of Meditation Techniques Affect Neural Activity Differently By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The picture we have is that mindfulness practice increases one’s ability to recruit higher order, pre-frontal cortex regions in order to down-regulate lower-order brain activity.” – Adrienne Taren Meditation training has been shown to improve health and well-being. It has also […]
Improve Psychological Health with Mindfulness Smartphone Aps By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “With apps reaching more people than face-to-face teaching can, he says, “nothing will influence how mindfulness is perceived and practised in our culture more in the next 20 years”. – Amy Fleming Mindfulness training has been shown through extensive […]
The Noble Eightfold Path: Right Concentration By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Concentration relates closely to the final limb, mindfulness. Both are different forms of awareness, but of the two concentration is more deliberate and narrow, mindfulness broader, more spontaneous and more open and receptive.” – Clearvision Mindfulness is an openness to […]
Psilocybin in Combination with Meditation Practice Improves Psychological Functioning By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The ingestion of psilocybin, brought on “mystical” experiences that reduced illness-related anxiety and depression in nearly 80 percent of subjects studied in research trials.” – Andrew McCarron Psychedelic substances have been used almost since the beginning of recorded history to alter consciousness […]
Improve Psychological Well-Being in the Elderly with Mild Memory Loss with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the answers we’re looking for when it comes to ending memory loss could be gained by simply doing KK for 12 minutes each morning? Perhaps that magic bullet is […]
Let the Dharma Do You! By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “To truly be in the moment, to not be defined by expectation, requires mindful clarity; a heart conditioned by love, compassion, and empathetic joy for others; and equanimity that allows you to receive life however it unfolds. This can inspire and orient […]