About Sophrology
Sophrology means « the study of the consciousness harmony ». It comes from the Greek SOS : harmony, PHREN : consciousness, LOGOS : the study. Sophrology was invented by a neuro-psychiatrist, Professor Alfonso Caycedo, in the 60’s. It consists of physical and mental exercises which bring deep relaxation and well-being. These exercises are a combination of yoga, Zen, Buddhism, neurology, psychiatry, hypnosis and phenomenology.
Those physical and mental exercises when practiced regularly, lead to a healthy, relaxed body and a calm, alert mind. Sophrology aims to help people live more consciously with their body and mind in harmony. They learn how to relax, to respond more selectively to stressful events, to be more aware of their inner resources, strengths and personal values.
Many conditions can be relieved by Sophrology such as : Anxiety, Stress related symptoms, Insomnia, Mild depression, Phobia, addictions.
It is also helpful to : Improve concentration, Reinforce self-confidence and motivation, Prepare for future events like exams, interviews, childbirth, surgery, Recover after surgery, reinforce immune system, Make life easier and more enjoyable, Discover inner calm, Build self-confidence, Improve concentration, Enhance natural strengths, Improve work/life balance, Facilitate decision making, Improve relationships.
Sophrology can be done in One to One sessions (45 to 60 minutes) or group classes (1 hour). 3 to 6 sessions/classes are needed to master the basic techniques. Clients are asked to practice with the techniques every day for 10 to 20 minutes. The more practice, the more efficient the techniques become. The ultimate aim is to develop the skills so that people can use the techniques on their own whenever needled in their daily life. IMPORTANT !! 20 minutes of Sophrology are equivalent to 2 hours of deep quality sleep.
What happens during a session ?
Guided by the voice of the sophrologist, people will start to relax all their body from head to toes. When they reach a state of deep relaxation where they are between being asleep and being awake, the sophrologist will make them work on specific needs by different techniques.