Navigating Graduate School Stress with Neuroscience, Breathwork, and Yoga with Sylvie Lahaie

Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD. In this episode, David Mendes sits down with Sylvie Lahaie, a neuroscientist, yoga and meditation teacher, and expert in stress management and burnout prevention. Sylvie shares her compelling journey through academia, detailing both the pressures and rewards of graduate research, and candidly opens up about her personal struggle with chronic burnout during her master’s program. But Sylvie didn’t just overcome adversity—she transformed it, integrating her scientific background in neuroscience with a passion for yoga, breathwork, and meditation to foster real, sustainable relief from stress.

Tune in as Sylvie unpacks the science behind fight-or-flight responses, the path to deep self-care, and practical breathwork techniques you can use to find calm in the middle of academic storms. Whether you’re a graduate student trying to strike that elusive work-life balance, or simply curious about how neuroscience meets mindfulness, this conversation is packed with honest reflections, actionable advice, and hope for a healthier approach to success. So, get comfortable and prepare to breathe—let’s get Beyond the Thesis!

Sylvie Lahaie is a neuroscientist, yoga and meditation teacher, and expert in stress management, burnout prevention, and brain rewiring for greater productivity and ease. She is a content creator, educator, and workshop facilitator who helps people experience real and lasting relief from stress.

Sylvie leverages her background in neuroscience (MSc), her personal experience with chronic burnout, and over four years of teaching yoga and meditation. She is currently pursuing her PhD in neuroscience and teaches yoga in Montreal.

What we covered in the interview:

• Surviving—and Thriving After—Burnout Sylvie opens up about the long hours, the isolation, the pressure to publish, and the physical and mental toll of academic life. She’s candid about her challenges, including reaching out for professional help and the rocky moments with her supervisor. But she also shares the silver linings: with distance, support, and the right tools, things truly can get better.

• The Brain Science of Stress & Calm Get a crash course on the brain’s stress response: the difference between your “fight-or-flight” sympathetic nervous system and your “rest-and-digest” parasympathetic state. Sylvie breaks down how simple practices—yes, even a YouTube yoga routine!—can help reset your nervous system, relieve anxiety, and bring much-needed perspective when the storm hits.

• From Yoga Skeptic to Yoga Teacher Hear how a few honest minutes on the mat opened Sylvie to a new way of living (and eventually, teaching!)—and why consistent practice, not perfection, is the key to lasting change. Her approach is accessible, science-backed, and totally judgment-free.

• Breathwork You Can Use Today You don’t need a fancy app or special equipment. Sylvie generously shares TWO practical breathwork exercises you can do anytime—during a tough moment at your desk, before a presentation, or just when you need to dial down the stress. Want a guided recording? DM Sylvie on Instagram!

If you’re feeling alone, pressured, or lost—this episode is for you. You’ll hear about the importance of supportive friends (even the ones who invite you out when you always say no), the healing power of community, and the critical reminder: your health matters more than any paper.

See the resources section below for her links!

This episode’s resources:

• Instagram: @synaptic.sylvie
• TikTok: @synaptic.sylvie
• Montrealers: Practice with her in-person at Akasha studio!

Thank you, Sylvie Lahaie!

If you enjoyed this conversation with Sylvie, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:

Send Sylvie Lahaie a thank you message on Linkedin!

Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David!

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