Improve Health, Well-Being, and Quality of Life with Breast Cancer with an Integrative Program Including Diet, Exercise, and Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Our cancer experiences take up a lot of energies, mental focus and can drain us emotionally. It is important to have a few tools to help us create […]
Improve Type 2 Diabetes with Mindful Movement By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Living with diabetes is a major life stressor, from the physical and psychological aspects of managing blood sugar and medications to the eating challenges. A great deal of what we go through in life is beyond our control. The diabetes […]
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “For patients at risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, the Chinese exercises Tai Chi and Qigong may improve clinical parameters associated with the conditions.” – Charles Bankhead Metabolic Syndrome is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It generally results from overweight […]
Improve Emotion Regulation with Emotional-Based Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness enables you to become a more cognizant observer of your experience, allowing you to become more “tuned in” to what you are feeling inside. When emotions feel confusing, overwhelming, or paralyzing, they are not serving the healthy and productive function that […]
Reduce Spinal Degeneration in the Elderly with Tai Chi Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Tai Chi has been studied as a form of therapeutic exercise and has been shown to improve balance and prevent falls in the elderly. It can also be a safe and effective way to improve leg strength, […]
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, […]
Reduce Stress and Improve Cardiovascular Function with Slow Yogic Breathing By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Shallow breathing over time can contribute to feelings of depression, stress, and anxiety. Becoming aware of your breath through targeted yoga breathing exercises can prevent many of these issues from developing within the body.” – Yoga U Stress […]
Improve Cardiovascular State and Stress with Yogic Breathing By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga breathing can help you achieve balance in both your body and mind. In fact, researchers have found that regularly practicing yoga breathing can have the following benefits: reduce anxiety and depression, lower and/or stabilize blood pressure, increase energy levels, […]
Improve Inflammatory Biomarkers in Healthy and Cancer Patients with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “stressed-out adults who practised mindfulness meditation not only had their brain connectivity altered, they also had reduced levels of a key inflammation biomarker, known as Interleukin-6, four months later. That’s important because, in high doses, Interleukin-6 has […]
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “While meditating as we walk, we can experience how our bodies feel much more intensely than we can either while doing a sitting meditation or simply walking with our normally scattered mental energy. Instead of thinking of the past or of the future — which our minds […]