Sophrology: the discipline that teaches you how to be happier

Sophrology is a method that was conceived in 1960 by Alfonso Caycedo, a neuropsychiatrist. After using the conventional therapies of the time, he focused on the need to change the state of consciousness of his patients to help in the cure of their pathologies. Inspired by different methods, Caycedian sophrology synthesizes Western techniques (hypnosis and phenomenology) and Oriental ones. (yoga and zazen).

Relaxation of body and mind is based essentially on physical relaxation, achieved through dynamic relaxation exercises such as breathing and the visualization of positive images. It is currently used as a therapeutic technique and a philosophy of life.

Improving daily life and reinforcing the balance between our emotions, our thoughts and our behaviors, is this the meaning of sophrology. In other words, sophrology allows everyone to find new resources in themselves and improve their quality of life, aiming to turn our anguish or phobias into positive thoughts.

The regular practice of sophrology allows concentration, the proper management of emotions, stress and fear. It also helps to get rid of sleep problems and to develop self-confidence. It can also be helpful in cases of smoking cessation or any other addiction. Each session is a great way to find a moment of calm and tranquility.

Sophrology: for whom?

• All can resort to sophrology at all ages. This gentle therapy helps to find inner peace;
• Children and teenagers learning to control their emotions, deal with anxieties, manage conflicts in the classroom or at home. And later, to prepare for the exams and interviews;
• Adults and older learning to manage stress, reduce sleep problems, improve concentration and memory;
• Sportsmen to mentally prepare for their goals and improve their performance;
• People with disabilities can follow sessions of sophrology, since all exercises are adaptable;
• Pregnant women to prepare for motherhood.

Sophrology Sessions

A session of sophrology is divided into five phases:

1. The pre-sophronic dialogue or pre-relaxation dialogue. The meeting begins with an exchange. It starts by remembering what concerns you, what you are experiencing or feeling. The therapist is listening to you, asking questions to know you better. Then they propose a session tailored to your needs, giving you all the necessary explanations.

2. Dynamic relaxation or sophistication: through breathing exercises based on movements of contraction and relaxation of the body, you are transported to a deep body relaxation or state referred to as “suffering.”

In general, this is performed from top to bottom (from head to toe) and in the sitting position to maintain a certain vigilance. When the individual is “relaxed” or “sophronized”, it is said to be at a “threshold” level (associated with the “Alpha” state in relaxation).

3. Intra-sophronic activation or static relaxation: the individual settles into a comfortable position and then, with closed eyes, gets carried away by the therapist’s voice, which leads to global relaxation (the subject is now about to fall asleep).

When this state of deep relaxation is reached, the individual is invited to visualize a positive and enjoyable image to encourage the benefits of relaxation. This state promotes the work on the words and images that arise.

4. The desophronization is an exit from the state of relaxation through a gradual recovery of the muscle tone associated with the return of the alert waking state. In general, desophronization is done from feet to the head.

5. The post-sophronic dialogue and the phenodecription. The session ends with an exchange on your experience and on the sensations you have encountered. This is also the time to define with the sophrologist an exercise program to be performed on a daily basis, in order to obtain results more quickly.

If stress erodes you and you want to find tranquility without resorting to medication, this gentle treatment is perfect for you! When the head no longer responds and the body expresses nothing, trust sophrology to rebalance everything.

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