Improve Cardiovascular Health in Postmenopausal Women with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga is designed to bring about increased physical, mental and emotional well-being. Hand in hand with leading a heart-healthy lifestyle, it really is possible for a yoga-based model to help prevent or reverse heart disease. It may not completely reverse […]
Bikram Yoga Does Not Affect Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Healthy Participants By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “those with a regular yoga practice are likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and to experience lower levels of perceived stress and depression than runners or inactive adults.” – B. Grace Bullock Cardiovascular disease is […]
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “yoga is anti-aging, lowers blood pressure, and is beneficial for treating metabolic syndrome x. Waist circumference, blood sugar, and triglycerides. Yoga has been known to balance the endocrine system and hormones for centuries. Now it is also being recognized as a way to balance blood sugar levels and […]
Improve Physiological Relaxation in Breast Cancer Patients with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “mindfulness-based meditation can help ease the stress, anxiety, fear, and depression that often come along with a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.” – Breastcancer.org Mindfulness training has been shown to help with general cancer recovery. Mindfulness practices have been […]
Increase Physiological and Psychological Activation and Calmness with Qigong By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “regular [qigong] practice may help improve your balance, ease stress and anxiety, sharpen focus, and reduce your risk of chronic disease.” – Saundra Montijo Qigong has been practiced for thousands of years with benefits for health and longevity. Qigong training […]
Improve Autonomic Nervous System Function and Well-Being in Cancer Survivors with Mind-Body Practices. By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Tai Chi and Qigong are ancient forms of exercise that fit the bill for helping patients with cancer get moving and improve their overall sense of well-being. Tai Chi practice can help with pain […]
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 […]
Meditation Alter Short-Term and Long-Term Breathing By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “By activating the parasympathetic nervous system, meditation healthfully slows down heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, sweating, and soothing all other sympathetic nervous system fight or flight functions.” – EOC Institute In our lives we are confronted with a variety […]
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, […]