35 - The Science of Yoga: Why Yoga Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Compassionate with Dr. Jonathan Rosenthal, MD

As a yoga teacher and practitioner, I know how good yoga can make us feel, but my guest today understands precisely why the practice has such a positive impact on our brains. Dr.Jonathan Rosenthal is a clinical fellow in neurophysiology and one of my fellow yoga teachers at the Dharma Yoga Center in New York. Jonathan is particularly interested in the intersection of yoga and neuroscience, and in this episode, he explains how yoga changes our brains and improves our mood, memory, and sleep.

 

Topics discussed in this episode include:

[00:05:45 ] - Jonathan’s yoga journey

[00:17:35 ]  - Defining Neuroscience and Neuroplasticity

[00:25:05 ] - How yoga affects the brain

[00:37:47 ] - How yoga affects the stress response

[00:42:15 ] - How yoga affects depression and anxiety

[00:46:05 ] - Developing compassion and empathy through yoga

[00:52:07 ] - Embracing both yoga and modern medicine

[00:55:41] - Final Questions

Quotes from Episode: 

“Most people who practice yoga come back to it because it changes so many aspects of their lives. For me, I feel like I'm a much nicer person—I don't get angry. I'm just so much calmer about everything. I sleep better and am able to focus immediately when I need to.”

 

“People say that exercise is good for depression and anxiety, and that's true. However, when they compare yoga to aerobic exercise, yoga appears to be more effective for depression and anxiety. This is likely due to the self-regulation pathways and the ability to regulate stress.”

Get in touch with Jonathan:

Instagram: @neuroyoganyc

Neuroscience and Yoga Online Conference: Registration 2023 

 

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Credits:

Music co-written by Steven Murillo (@someoneinatreeband) & Jessica Hwang (@jessicahwangcoaching)

Production and audio engineering by Ease of Mind Productions