WHERE IT CAME FROM
The word ‘Sophrology’ means “the study of consciousness in harmony”. The system was developed in the 1960’s by a neuro-psychiatrist, Professor Alfonso Caycedo, while practicing medicine at the University of Madrid.
Caycedo combined Western relaxation techniques with Eastern practices of yoga, meditation and Japanese Zen after extensive travel and study of the impact of these practices on physical and mental health. Sophrology works with the mind-body connection and is particualrly effective for reprogramming our nervous system
HOW IT WORKS
Principles and Practice of Sophrology
Sophrology is typically practised sitting in a chair or standing. A Sophrologist may guide you through a set of exercises in a one-to-one session or as part of a group. These exercises can be practised on your own and incorporated into the rhythm of your daily life.
There are three key principles in the practice of Sophrology:
1. Body Awareness
The best way to quieten the mind is to bring our attention into our body. Sophrology exercises invite us to a calm and peaceful visit of our own body. The aim is to know ourselves better from the inside, to tune into our body's experience of living. We often discover hidden tensions that can be released, unblocking energy and releasing tensions in the mind.
2. Objective reality - non-judgement
This principle encourages us to look at things with a beginner's mind, putting aside preconceived ideas, past experience and be open to a fresh experience of things as if for the first time, simply accepting what is.
3. Positive action
Sophrology does not focus on a problem or delve into what is wrong or why. Without ignoring that, we focus instead on what is positive and strengthen this in a way that enables us to move forward. Neuroscience has proven that what we pay attention to grows, and therefore we focus our attention on what is positive so that this may be reinforced.
Both a profound personal development programme and a set of tools for specific situations, Sophrology is effective in the treatment of insomnia, phobias, improving sports performance and performing arts, preparation for childbirth amongst others.