Meditation Can Reduce the Age-Associated Degeneration of the Brain By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The brain begins to decline in the 20s, and continues to decrease in volume and weight through old age. Meditation, in addition to boosting emotional and physical well-being at any time in life, may be an effective way to […]
Protect the Aging Brain with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “long-term engagement in mindfulness meditation may enhance cognitive performance in older adults, and that with persistent practice, these benefits may be sustained. That’s great news for the millions of aging adults working to combat the negative effects of aging on the […]
Reduce Pain in Children with Mind-Body Practices By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Guided imagery is a meditative process that uses visualization and imagination to bring awareness to the mind-body connection. Children can easily access this healing process because they’re naturally imaginative. By relaxing into a vivid story they gain tools to deal […]
8-Week Mindfulness Training Produces Greater Benefits than a 4-Week Training By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “adaptations of MBSR that include less class time than the traditional format may be worthwhile for populations for whom reduction of psychological distress is an important goal and for whom a lesser time commitment may be an […]
Improve Psychological Health in Pregnancy with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Not only does cultivating moment-to-moment awareness of thoughts and surroundings seem to help pregnant women keep their stress down and their spirits up—benefits that are well-documented among other groups of people—it may also lead to healthier newborns with fewer developmental problems […]
Reduce Pain with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness is an effective practice for approaching chronic pain. It teaches individuals to observe their pain, and be curious about it. And, while counterintuitive, it’s this very act of paying attention that can help your pain.” – Margarita Tartakovsky We all have […]
Reduce Mild Aging Cognitive Decline with Yogic Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The healthier and more active one’s lifestyle, the more likely he or she will maintain cognitive performance over time. And meditation may be a key ingredient for ensuring brain health and maintaining good mental performance.” – Grace Bullock […]
Add Home Practice to Mindfulness Training for Maximum Benefit By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “This is the clearest evidence we have that mindfulness-home practice can make a difference. This is a big source of debate because there are many components at play in a MBSR or MBCT course.“ – Christine Parsons […]
Reduce Depression and Anxiety Around Pregnancy with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “By learning mindfulness skills as part of their childbirth education, expectant mothers can reappraise the impending birth as something they can handle instead of viewing it as something to fear.” – Larissa Duncan The perinatal period, from the […]
Mindfulness Training Benefits Neurotic Individuals the Most By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Do you have neurotic tendencies? You might give mindfulness a try. The practice has been shown to help quell the voice of the “obnoxious roommate” in your head. One of the “Big Five” personality traits, neuroticism is characterized by negative […]