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, […]
Brain Structures Involved in Memory are Different in Yoga Practitioners By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “You may know that yoga is a good form of exercise that gets your blood circulation going, improves oxygen flow, and helps with overall health. But did you know that yoga also helps boost brain function? Research has found […]
Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Coronary Disease Rehabilitation with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “practicing tai chi may help to modestly lower blood pressure. It’s also proved helpful for people with heart failure, who tend to be tired and weak as a result of the heart’s diminished pumping ability. The slow […]
Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness with Tai Chi By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “practicing Tai Chi Chuan regularly may delay the decline of cardiorespiratory function in older individuals. In addition, TCC may be prescribed as a suitable aerobic exercise for older adults.” – J.S. Lai Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer, claiming more […]
Reduce Obesity with Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “You get to thinking that yoga and its health benefits, such as stress reduction and improved fitness, are best for thin people, and not so much for the 36 percent of U.S. adults who are obese. Not true. Yoga is for all types of shapes […]
Improve Psychology and Physiology with a Meditation and Yoga Retreat By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga is fantastic for decreasing stress levels, and research has also shown that those who practice yoga regularly have higher levels of leptin and adiponectin in their bodies. Both of these natural chemicals work to alleviate inflammation […]
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, […]
Yoga’s Lost Spirituality By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. Yoga developed in India millennia ago as a deep spiritual practice. It developed as a contemplative practice that unified body and mind. Yoga was known to have physical benefits, but the most important benefit was seen to be spiritual development. Indian Prime Minister Narendra […]