Society

Are stress and pressure interfering with your work life? Do you suffer from concentration problems?Sophrology could be just the remedy you're looking for! Its benefits in the workplace are astonishing.

In theory

Sophrology was first developed in 1960 by Colombian neuropsychiatrist, Alfonso Caycedo. Today, the practice is widely represented and is making its way into all areas of daily life, particularly in the workplace. It acts as a management and prevention tool. It can be used to manage schedules, stress and change, and to prevent depression, anxiety and burnout. In the workplace, more and more workshops are given by practitioners to improve cohesion between employees. Everyone's skills are developed. The aim is to help groups evolve by verbalizing the positive.

What sophrology offers each employee :

• Letting go
• Self-affirmation
• Surpassing oneself
• Boldness, public speaking
• Stress reduction

A genuine tool for harmonizing and enhancing relationships, sophrology facilitates professional relations.

More concretely, sophrology is a brief therapy rooted in the principle of personal development. Its inspirations are diverse, and include meditation, hypnosis and yoga. It is a pedagogical tool that everyone can make their own. It encourages positive action to achieve a state of well-being and relaxation. Sophrology can be practised by anyone, anywhere. That's what makes this therapy so special. Every technique used is transposable. At work, it's easy to achieve the serenity you're looking for.

In practice

• Body relaxation through breathing

This exercise takes very little time and can, for example, be performed seated in your office chair. Body relaxation involves relaxing every muscle in your body, starting with your head and ending with your feet. Breathe deeply and consciously, observing the movement of your ribcage, stretching your back and legs. What do you feel? Memorize your state, the pleasant sensations that flow through you. To finish, perform the exercise in reverse, from bottom to top, reactivating your body to face the rest of the day with strength.

• The buoy image

The aim of this technique is to evacuate all the negative emotions and obsessive thoughts that invade you. What we call the “buoy image” gives everyone the means to regain calm by holding on to a mental image, a pleasant memory. Take a few minutes from your work and breathe deeply. Think of a landscape or a scene you've already experienced that makes you feel happy, and feel the pleasure spreading. This exercise generates positive emotions and calls on your sensory memory to relive, when necessary, a previously experienced sense of fulfillment.

• Visualizing the future

Futurization or positive anticipation enables you to visualize a future situation. Thinking about a scene that could potentially take place already allows you to influence it. Thoughts have an immense influence on the way you interact with the world and act, and condition your emotions. Sophrology accompanies you in your search for a different, more positive perception of what you are, what you do and what surrounds you.

And finally...

Sophrology helps you to reclaim your body and mind with serenity. It provides solutions that can be applied on a daily basis to reduce, manage and control the stress generated by factors specific to your professional environment. Take a break and let off steam. You'll be able to face the anxious moments of your day with greater strength and positivity. Zen is the watchword. The sophrologists will act as guides, offering you the tools you need to regain your balance.

(MH with AsD - Source: La libre/PasseportSante - Illustration: Unsplash)