HA-THA YOGA
07.06.2025 - 09.00-14.00

Introduction to 'HaTha Yoga: The Magic of Sympathetic and Parasympathetic System'

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Welcome to this transformative workshop! Together, we’ll explore the profound balance between the body and mind through the interplay of backbends, forward bends, and the breath, guided by the principles of Hatha Yoga.

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What Are the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems?
Our autonomic nervous system, which regulates many unconscious processes in the body, is divided into two main branches:

1. The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
   Known as the “fight-or-flight” system, the SNS activates during moments of stress or high energy demand. It increases heart rate, directs blood flow to the muscles, and heightens alertness. This is essential for responding to challenges or exerting effort. Backbends stimulate this system, boosting energy, confidence, and vitality.

2. The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
   Known as the “rest-and-digest” system, the PNS promotes relaxation and recovery. It slows the heart rate, enhances digestion, and encourages a sense of calm and well-being. Forward bends activate this system, helping to release stress and promote inner stillness.

The balance between these systems is crucial for overall health. While the SNS energizes us to meet life's demands, the PNS ensures we can rest, recover, and rejuvenate. Too much activity in one without the other can lead to imbalances, such as chronic stress or fatigue.

Why Backbends and Forward Bends?

These poses work directly with opposing muscle groups and the nervous system, creating harmony:

• Backbends: Activate the sympathetic nervous system by opening the chest, strengthening the back muscles, and energizing the body. Key muscles include the erector spinae, latissimus dorsi, trapezius, and hip flexors (like the iliopsoas).

• Forward Bends: Engage the parasympathetic nervous system by lengthening the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back, while calming the chest and shoulders. These poses relax the nervous system and quiet the mind.

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The Hatha Yoga Connection
In Hatha Yoga, “Ha” represents the Sun—active, energizing, and connected to the sympathetic nervous system. “Tha” symbolizes the Moon—calming, restorative, and linked to the parasympathetic nervous system. This workshop embodies Hatha Yoga by harmonizing the Sun and Moon energies within us.

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What to Expect

• Backbends to invigorate and energize the body and mind.

• Forward bends to relax and restore your system.

• Pranayama to bridge activation and relaxation, fostering a deep sense of balance.

By integrating these practices, you'll gain a deeper understanding of your body and nervous system, leaving the workshop feeling centered, revitalized, and serene. Let’s embrace the magic of Hatha Yoga!