Guided Relaxation & Sophrology
for the release of unconscious muscular, emotional, mental and psycho-somatic tensions.
When we suffer from chronic stress or trauma, we may be holding tension in the body without even realizing it.
Sophrology and guided relaxations help to free the patient from these.
Guided Relaxation & Sophrology as therapeutic tools, are applied in conjunction with Integrative Yogatherapy.
'Fight' or 'Flight' Response and the Importance of Relaxation
When we are faced with what our mind perceives to be imminent danger, whether it was a traumatic experience we had many years ago, or whether it is a case of chronic stress, our body will react by releasing hormones that will trigger a 'fight', 'flight' or 'freeze' response. During this response all our bodily systems are working to keep us alive in what we have perceived as a dangerous situation. The sympathetic nervous system is in charge of these responses.
The effects are:
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart-rate
- Memories lost or heightened
- Hyper-vigilance due to being on edge / heightened senses
- Being tense or trembling due to stress hormones pumping through the body
- Loss of bladder &/or bowel function
- over the long-term: anxiety & PTSD
Importance of Balancing the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems
The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is in
charge of keeping homeostasis, helping you relax and keep involuntary
functioning such as breathing, body temperature, heart rate and water
absorption at optimum levels. What we need is for the body to be trained
back into balancing out the reactions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous systems. This is what sophrology and guided relaxations can help us do.
What does a Sophrology Session Look Like?
During a sophrology session you are guided to pay attention to parts of your body whilst you either lie in relaxation or whilst you carry out conscious movements of these body parts, inducing either dynamic or static relaxation. With time and practice, you become fully present, fully alive and fully participating in other areas of your life.
What does a Guided Relaxation Session Look Like?
Your therapist designs your relaxation according to your needs. You will either lie down or be comfortably seated. Your therapist then guides you, with your eyes closed, into a state of relaxation in which you will be in an Theta brainwave frequency of mind. This state heightens imagination, visualization, memory, learning and concentration. This state is optimal for programming your subconscious mind in the direction you choose. The designed relaxation will be there to help you connect with the qualities within you, that you need in order to move forward. This is not the same as hypnosis, as it is YOU who chooses, during the guided relaxation, what to integrate and take back into your normal waking state.
Possible Benefits of Guided Relaxation & Sophrology
- Better sleep
- Improved concentration
- Increased self-confidence
- Transforms subconscious habits
- Induces calm
- Lowers stress
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass by -
It's about learning to dance in the rain!
Anonymous