Sophrology: new method for stress, anxiety and pain management
What is sophrology? Sophro News answers you! Find out why “sophro” is made for you and why you could become addicted!
The word surprises you when you first hear it: “Sophro what?” In reality it is simple: sophrology is a method that creates harmony between body and mind. Essentially, it is a therapeutic technique which helps you when you want to get better in a specific area of your life (stress at work, at home, chronic pain, insomnia …). Furthermore, it can also be lived quite simply as a philosophy of life.
Sophrology was designed by neuropsychiatrist Alfonso Caycedo who created this term, inspired by ancient Greek where so means harmonious; phren : the mind; logos : science. In other words, the study of the harmonization of consciousness.
The sophrologist guides a session unsing only their voice, without ever having physical contact with their client. They will propose for about an hour a set of techniques that will both act on the body and mind. The exercises work on breathing, muscle relaxation and mental imagery (or visualization). All of these techniques allow you to regain a state of well-being and activate your full potential.
Indeed, practicing sophrology will allow you to have a better self-knowledge and to face the challenges of everyday life with more serenity.
Since when does it exists? Where does it come from ?
The history of sophrology begins in 1960. Its inspirations are multiple and its founder drew on techniques that already existed at that time. As for the western techniques that inspired sophrology, we find hypnosis and relaxation and positive suggestion techniques, such as the Coué method. On the other hand, during his travels in Asia, Alfonso Caycedo was also enriched with methods such as meditation, yoga and Zen. He made sophrology a real crossroads between East and West.
Ultimately, from all these inspirations, Caycedo created an original method with a set of exercises of its own. He defined dynamic relaxation exercises which are gentle movements associated with breathing and sophronizations which are visualizations guided by the voice of the sophrologist. These exercises are very simple to perform and adaptable to all audiences, including pregnant women, people suffering from chronic pain or having mobility difficulties.
Why do we consult a sophrologist?
You can go to a sophrologist for different reasons. Most people have requests that fall into one of these 4 main areas of intervention.
Daily management
Sometimes all you need is help to improve your daily life. Your boss annoys you, your son annoys you, you feel that this nervousness does not come down. The sophrologist will suggest exercises that allow you to better manage your daily stress and anxiety. You will learn to manage your emotions to prevent them from overflowing.
Maybe you need to improve the quality of your sleep instead. The practice of sophrology promotes recovery and increases vitality whatever the disorder (difficulty falling asleep, waking up at night, insomnia).
Preparing for an event
Other times, there is a specific event that worries you. A sports competition, childbirth, doing a speech in front of 20 people. The sophrologist can help you overcome these fears. With sophrology you will learn to manage them serenely.
Support for medical treatment
Sophrology does not heal, but complements medical treatment. In the case of a support for cancer for example, sophrology can help to better live the treatments. In case of fibromyalgia, it will help decrease the intensity of pain and of find a quality of life every day. Finally, sophrology helps patients to mobilize the necessary motivation during the entire care process.
Support for pathological behavior
Sophrology is a precious aid in supporting phobias, like that of the plane, in addition to medical or psychological treatment. Above all, it will allow them to be better managed, as will addictions tobacco or alcohol, for example.
How to practice?
Sophrology is a simple and accessible method that can be practiced at any time and regardless of the place. At the start you will need the support of a sophrologist and after a few sessions you are perfectly independent in your practice.
Want to try an exercise? This way to cultivate your optimism with sophrology!