Improve Emotions and Thinking with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Through mindfulness you can learn to turn your negative emotions into your greatest teachers and sources of strength. . . Instead of ‘turning away’ from pain in avoidance we can learn to gently ‘turn towards’ what we’re experiencing. We can bring a caring open […]
Improve Coping with Chronic Pain with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “By first understanding chronic pain as a mind-body experience and then using yoga’s toolbox of healing practices—including breathing exercises and restorative poses—you can find true relief from pain and begin to reclaim your life.” – Kelly McGonigal We all […]
Improve Chronic Low Back Pain with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga is great for working on flexibility and core stability, correcting posture, and breathing—all of which are necessary for a healthy back.” – Sasha Cyrelson Low Back Pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects between 6% to […]
Improve Prisoners’ Self-Directedness with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga has changed my life in a lot of ways. I’m so glad I’m doing this, for the confidence-building and the physical aspects. I have mad anxiety—I’d give my life for a Xanax right now—but I don’t need it as much with […]
Improve Relationships with the Self and Others with Yoga Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Cultivating mindfulness can help you face the inevitable difficulties and disappointments that arise in relationship with equanimity, compassion, and loving-kindness.” – Phillip Moffit Humans are social animals. This is a great asset for the species as […]
Improve Sensory Discrimination with Alternate-Nostril Yoga Breathing By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “alternate nostril breathing, has a long history in Ayurvedic medicine and yoga, where it’s thought to harmonize the two hemispheres of the brain, resulting in a balanced in physical, mental and emotional well-being.” – Paula Watkins Yoga practice is becoming […]
Alter the Brain to Deal with Stress with Meditation and Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Brain researchers have detected improvements in cognition and emotional well-being associated with meditation and yoga, as well as differences in how meditation and prayer affect the brain.” – Michaela Jarvis There has accumulated a large […]
Improve Major Mental Illnesses with Mindfulness and 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. Indeed, the scientific study of yoga demonstrates that mental and physical health are not just closely allied, but are […]
Improve Attention and Hyperactivity in Kindergarten Children with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga is a systematic workout regimen that has rejuvenating and calming effects on our body and mind. Young kids go through conflicting emotions, and yoga helps calm them down. They are also extremely flexible and therefore, a practice […]
Relieve Low Back Pain with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “reductions in disability and pain intensity were found despite the reductions in opioid use and other medical and self-help pain treatments at six months. The trial confirms the findings of two prior randomized controlled trials with non-veterans showing that yoga is […]