Improve Knee Osteoarthritis with Tai Chi

  By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “adults with knee osteoarthritis-—the most common joint disease in midlife—saw up to three times greater improvement in both pain and joint function from biweekly hour-long tai chi sessions, compared with those who attended stretching and wellness classes. The flowing, meditative movements tone the muscles surrounding joints, enhance […]

Get Mindful On-Line and Get Feeling Better

  By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “mindfulness exercises delivered in face-to-face settings or remotely via the Internet seem to yield similar changes in symptoms. The remote delivery does not seem to lessen the efficacy of mindfulness interventions.”– Johanna Boettcher   Mindfulness training has been shown through extensive research to be effective in improving […]

Reduce Back Pain with Mindfulness

  By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “For some people with chronic pain, mindful meditation is an appealing pain management option because it has an unusual benefit; it is something that you personally control. Unlike pain medications or medical procedures, meditation is not done to you, it is something you can do for yourself.” – Stephanie Burke   Low Back […]

Improve Heart Failure Treatment Adherence with Spirituality

  By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “Given the mechanism by which we think religion/spirituality influences physical health, i.e., through psychosocial and behavioral pathways, and the strong influence that psychosocial and behavioral factors have on risk of developing cardiovascular disease, there is no medical condition that R/S is more likely to influence than CVD.” […]

Improve Bladder Problems with Mindfulness

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “Good news: You may be able to ease your bladder discomfort and Overactive Bladder Symptoms by tapping into mind-body techniques such as meditation. Slowing your breathing calms your autonomic nervous system, which slows your heart rate and can decrease spasms of the bladder.” – Karen Sebastian   Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome […]