Meet Jonathan Rosenthal

We recently connected with Jonathan Rosenthal and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I first read about yoga as a teenager but held back from trying it because I didn’t want to be the only teenage boy in a class full of middle-aged women. However, when an ankle injury took me out of running and finally led me to a yoga center, I discovered an amazing practice and community that transformed my physical and mental health. There are over 8,000 published scientific studies on yoga, and the consensus is that yoga can significantly improve stress resilience at many levels. This was the key for me during my neurology residency with 24+ hour shifts and an overwhelming workload—yoga became my anchor. Those challenging times not only proved the practice’s power but also sparked my passion to share it more broadly. Today, I run a global Neuroscience and Yoga Conference, empowering people from all walks of life to benefit from yoga’s effects on the brain and body.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a neurologist and yoga teacher passionate about bridging ancient yoga wisdom with modern neuroscience. What excites me most is watching how evidence-based yoga techniques can transform stress, mental health, and resilience in practical, life-changing ways. My biggest project is the annual Neuroscience and Yoga Conference, where I bring MDs, PhDs, and yoga experts together to share real science and real practice. In 2025, from April 23–27, we’ll focus on yoga for brain injury, endocrine health (including stress and resilience!), and reproductive health, while also offering daily yoga classes, Q&A sessions, and discussion groups. We have flexible passes—including a free option—so anyone can join and reap these benefits. I believe that with clear, accessible science, yoga can empower everyone to live healthier, more balanced lives.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

First, I really try to establish myself in intellectual rigor and curiosity, focusing always on high quality work and seeking evidence, questioning assumptions, and being open to being wrong and refining my approach. A phrase I find really helpful: “If you feel stupid, it means you’re learning.”

Second, I also try to establish myself in compassion instead of judgment. Everyone is doing their best and suffering. Kindness creates resilience and a supportive environment for everyone involved.

Third, I remind myself to cultivating motivation by reflecting and journaling about what I find meaningful and focusing on that. By setting meaningful goals and staying connected to deeper purpose, you build the momentum that turns passion into lasting progress.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I often turn to three simple yet powerful tools: savasana, pranayama, and journaling. Savasana (corpse pose) helps induce a state of deep relaxation, while pranayama (controlled breathing) steadies the mind by modulating the body’s stress response. Journaling, meanwhile, allows me to process my thoughts on paper, clarifying what truly matters and helping me realign with my core values. I don’t force this or have a set time for it, but do it rather when I need to.

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Image Credits

Photo credits: Ryan Scharfenberg and Pedro Arnon

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