Tag Archives: anxiety

Ep. 339: The Transformative Power of Mindfulness: An interview with Cory Muscara

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Train Your Brain Podcast welcomes special guest Cory Muscara onto the show today to discuss mindfulness and mediation. Cory spent 6 months practicing meditation 14 hours a day as a Buddhist monk in South East Asia. Cory is the founder of The Long Island Center for Mindfulness. He is a teacher, speaker and coach, and he’s here with us today to spread the word about the power of mindfulness

Dr. Trayford and Cory Muscara begin discussing why we find it so difficult to sit quietly. For some of us, busy individuals and multi-taskers, it may be quite a shock to the system to sit still and do nothing, attempt to think nothing. As we do engage in mediation we will essentially experience the startling stillness of stepping off of an airport walking conveyor belt. The nervous system is not used to stopping.

Mediation practice should be accompanied by therapy in many cases, as tapping into mindfulness may revisit any form of trauma that may have been stored at the cellular level in the body. Continue reading →

Ep. 338: Childhood Developmental Disorders and Their Influence on Learning and Behavior in Adulthood: An Interview with Dr. Robert Melillo

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Train Your Brain Podcast is proud to bring you a fascinating interview today with Dr. Robert Melillo: clinician, educator, researcher, author and trail-blazer. He is the hardest working man in childhood neuro-developmental disorders and a friend and mentor to Dr. Trayford for better part of 20 years.

Dr. Trayford and Dr. Melillo begin their discussion on neuro-
developmental disorders by addressing the largest influencers. These can be pre-natal, genetic, nutritional, environmental, etc. At birth the brain is still not yet fully developed and so these factors, we’re learning, play a major role in disorders than may present much later in life.

For example, certain regions of the brain involved addictive tendencies correspond to some of these factors like sugar, technology and lack of impulse control. As we compare these effects in children and adults we are able to learn more and more about causes. Perhaps most relevenatly, Neuro-scientists are studying links in childhood medications and later adulthood additions. Continue reading →

Ep. 129 – Sleep Is Way More Important Than Cramming Before a Test

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Welcome to Episode 129 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Through the end of February we are having a special contest for Train Your Brain Podcast Listeners to send in their best brain training tip for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 129. This tip is all about strategy. Let’s say you have to take a big test or prepare for an important presentation. What would be your strategy to get ready? Would you study a little each day or would you spend the whole night before preparing all at once? Dr. Trayford strongly advises against cramming the night before at the expense of good sleep. You simply won’t be able to retain or efficiently use what you’ve crammed if you didn’t get a good night’s sleep. As he has explained before, sleep is the time when your brain assimilates what you’ve learned. We hope this helps! Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading →

Ep. 128 – Get Out of Bed if You Can’t Sleep

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Good morning and welcome to Episode 128 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Through the end of February we are having a special contest for Train Your Brain Podcast Listeners to send in their best brain training tip for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 128. He advises to get out of bed if you have insomnia. Tossing and turning in bed will not help you fall asleep. Actually continuing to lie in bed when you can’t fall asleep will send mixed messages to your brain about your bed and your ability to realize restorative sleep. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading →

Ep. 127 – Brain Games: Do They Exploit the Fear of Memory Loss for Profit?

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Good morning and welcome to Episode 127 of the Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. It’s Monday again, so this is our weekly, 30-minute episode. (Tuesday through Sunday we produce five-minute episodes with daily tips.) Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast provides advice for helping you to improve the function of your brain.

Through the end of February we are having a special contest for Train Your Brain Podcast Listeners to send in their best brain training tip for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

In Episode 127, Dr. Trayford discusses brain training games and the research behind them. There is a debate going on right now as to the ethics behind marketing brain games. Are these companies exploiting those who fear memory loss? Dr. Trayford shares his take on the matter. He also presents brain training tip number 127: Gesturing. Using hand gestures while you’re talking allows you integrate all hemispheres of the brain which means you can be both emotional and analytical at the same time. Statistically, these individuals tested as more intelligent as well. Thanks for listening. Continue reading →

Ep. 126 – Know Your Numbers: MTHFR

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Good morning and welcome to Episode 126 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Through the end of February we are having a special contest for Train Your Brain Podcast Listeners to send in their best brain training tip for a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 126: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. What a mouth-full! The MTHFR gene provides instructions for making an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. This enzyme plays a role in processing amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is important for a chemical reaction involving forms of the vitamin folate (also called vitamin B9). Specifically, this enzyme converts a molecule called 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to a molecule called 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. This reaction is required for the multistep process that converts the amino acid homocysteine to another amino acid, methionine. The body uses methionine to make proteins and other important compounds. Mutations in this gene are linked to numerous cardiovascular and neurological conditions and can be easily treated with appropriate nutritional intervention. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading →

Ep. 125 – Hand-Eye Coordination Exercises for Improved Thinking and Social Interaction

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Good morning and welcome to Episode 125 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 125. The brain is fascinating! Today’s tip proves just how amazing the human brain is. Practicing hand-eye coordination exercises will actually improve your thinking and your social interaction! Combining physical activity and motor skills keeps your brain strong and sharp. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading →

Ep. 123 – Listen to Your Heart: Heart Rate Biofeedback

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Happy New Year’s Eve and welcome to Episode 123 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 123. In this episode you’ll hear about a tip that will help you learn about the concept of heart rate variability. This is a very simple way to learn how to track and manage your heart rate. There are monitors available in so many different forms these days. There are apps and pulse oximeters, etc. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading →

Ep. 122 – You Snooze, You Lose

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Good morning and welcome to Episode 122 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 122. The alarm clock wakes you up in the morning and what is the first thing that you do? If your answer is that you push the snooze button, then you might want to rethink that move. Dr. Trayford recommends placing your alarm clock across the room so that you have to get out of bed to turn it off. Actually as you set a consistent sleep cycle, then you eventually may not need an alarm clock, but if you still do use an alarm clock then getting up when it goes off will ensure that your last few minutes of sleep in the morning aren’t interrupted. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading →

Ep. 121 – Take Food Breaks: Intermittent Fasting

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Good morning and welcome to Episode 121 of The Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!

Today Dr. Trayford shares brain training tip 121. This might require a lifestyle change, but it is critical for your health. We should eat regular, frequent meals, but we should know snack constantly between meals. Fasting in between meals gives your digestive system a break from the highly tiring work of constantly processing food. Thanks for listening!

If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading →