Jonathan RosenthalNeurologist, NCS · Neurologist at NuVasive Clinical Services

Abha Rajbhandari - Neuroscience and Yoga Conference 2025

28 Feb 2025 · 1 min

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1:03

In this introductory monologue, Abha Karki Raj Pandhari shares her personal journey from Nepal to the United States, her professional identity as a neuroscientist and professor at Mount Sinai Hospital, and the focus of her laboratory on brain‑body interactions mediated by the vagus nerve, particularly in the regulation of stress‑related functions. She also describes her lifelong engagement with yoga, emphasizing bhakti yoga over purely physical asana practice, and expresses a strong interest in exploring and communicating the scientific and spiritual dimensions of yoga together.

Chapters

So my name is Abha Karki Raj Pandhari. I was born in Nepal originally, so until high school I was in Nepal, and I moved to the United States for my higher studies. And so I am a scientist, specifically neuroscientist by profession. So I'm a professor at the Mount Sinai Hospital, and my research in my lab, we focus on understanding how the brain and body interact with each other, specifically via this nerve called the vagus nerve in regulating of stress-related functions. For me, yoga is a very important part of my life. I've been practicing yoga since my childhood in Nepal, but more so the bhakti yoga aspect, not like asana and any of that. And now, yeah, you know, I incorporate all aspects of yoga. Specifically, I'm very fond of researching and talking about the science and spiritual aspects of yoga and bringing them together in one place.