Dominique Antiglio - The Life-Changing Power of Sophrology: Breathe and Connect with the Calm and Happy You

CONTENTS

Praise for Sophrology

I certainly can vouch for it: after a session I would experience a calmness rare in my life, and over the weeks felt more positive, less stressed and sharper somehow.

Sunday Telegraph

The simplest, most natural way of calming and focusing our lives lies in front of our noses, breathing. This book will transform all our lives if we follow its helpful suggestions.

Sir Anthony Seldon, vice-chancellor at the University of Buckingham and cofounder of Action for Happiness

Sophrology looks set to be theanswer to all our problems.

The Guardian

Sophrology is big news in the wellness world.

ELLE

Sophrology is set to be the next wellness trend. If its used effectively by everyone from women in labor to Olympic athletes, it can only be a matter of time before sophrology enters our wellness lexicon.

Refinery29

While many people try and fail to reap the benefits of meditative practices, taking up Sophrology could be the key to unlocking your minds potential.

The Independent

Sophrology is most definitely something you can practice day to day in your own time, with your own schedule and direction.

Harpers Bazaar

The science is there. Resilience, better sleep and less stress? This is one wellness trend well be watching.

Get The Gloss

Youve heard of mindfulness, now meet its dynamic young cousin sophrology.

The Observer

Copyright 2018 by Dominique Antiglio

Illustrations copyright 2018 by Juliet Percival

First published in Great Britain in 2018 by Yellow Kite, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton, a Hachette UK company

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, or other without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

The material in this book is intended for education. It is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner or therapist. No expressed or implied guarantee of the effects of the use of the recommendations can be given or liability taken.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Antiglio, Dominique, author.

Title: The life-changing power of sophrology : breathe and connect with the calm and happy you / Dominique Antiglio.

Description: Reprint [edition]. | Novato, California : New World Library, [2018] | Originally published: London, United Kingdom. Hodder & Stoughton. 2018.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018050956 | ISBN 9781608686131 (print : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781608686148 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Relaxation--Therapeutic use. | Stress management. | Breathing exercises. | Mind and body therapies.

Classification: LCC RA785 .A58 2018 | DDC 613/.192--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018050956

First New World Library edition, March 2019

ISBN 978-1-60868-613-1

Ebook ISBN 978-1-60868-614-8

Printed in Canada on 100% postconsumer-waste recycled paper

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For my son, Eliott,

and my husband, Frdric,

with joy, gratitude, and infinite love.

My breath feels deep and calm as I tune in to its comforting, rhythmic presence. Sitting in a simple desk chair, I am aware of my entire body relaxed. I am filled with lightness and a sense of a delicate flow of energy through my body. I am alive and present. My body feels warm and slightly heavy. With each breath, I feel a deep sense of confidence that further grounds me as excitement spreads through my body and mind. I intuitively know that all is possible and that no matter what happens, everything will go well

This is how I felt during my Sophrology practice on the day for which I had waited and prepared for so long. I was leaving Switzerland, my home country, for London! I had handed over the keys of my flat and the car was packed. I felt so ready for this new adventure. Yes, there were a lot of unknowns; I had sold my thriving practice as an osteopath and wouldnt be near my native tribe my family and friends anymore. I had decided to embrace the next steps of my life, which I knew would be with Sophrology and living in the city I loved most. I had been given so much over the many years I had studied and practiced Sophrology, a treasure I was now ready to share. I was ready for a new challenge.

Getting to that moment was a long story. Sophrology had taught me how to stay calm and focused even in challenging and uncertain times, and therefore I felt well equipped for what was to come. It felt very freeing to be able to listen to the deep call of my true self and be authentic and positive about my life choices.

If you are reading this book, you are probably looking for or already in your own process of change. It is often hard to know where to start when we are faced with difficulties or when we desperately need to bring more calm and focus into our lives. As a Sophrologist, I am concerned at how our modern society and communities force us toward an overwhelming everyday life. Juggling roles and tasks at home, feeling defined by our financial worth and what we do, and managing the constant bombardment of communication from our 24-hour workplaces and social media is pushing people beyond their physiological limits. And it has become the new norm. Even with the best intentions, this can leave us feeling chronically stressed; suffering from anxiety; lacking confidence or clarity; or struggling with health, work, or relationship issues. Its difficult to find the space to bring balance to our lives and listen to our true self if we are so busy just surviving. But we dont have to endure stress, pain, and tiredness there is a way to gain awareness of and transform the way we feel, and to truly thrive.

Widely followed in Europe, Sophrology was created 60 years ago in Spain by Professor Alfonso Caycedo. He was a psychiatrist and neurologist searching for a gentle practice to ease the physical and mental stresses of daily life for his patients, and develop harmony of body and mind. Decades ahead of the recent popularity of mindfulness, Sophrology or dynamic relaxation has been shown to be an effective tool in dealing with stress and associated issues, allowing us to nurture and develop our inner resilience, confidence, and clarity. It opens our minds to new perspectives and helps us face life challenges in a positive way. Its unique blend of Eastern philosophy and practices with Western science makes it a highly contemporary way to tap into our own inner superpowers using simple tools that draw on relaxation, meditation, breathing, visualization, and body awareness exercises.

Now, with this first comprehensive Sophrology guide in the English language, you can start to change your life today. The joy of Sophrology is that everything you would like to reach is already within you. And the great news is that finding balance and calm doesnt require 20 years of studying ancient manuscripts or living only on avocado juice. Nor do you need to sign over the next three months of your life. In the midst of lifes chaos, what if with just closing your eyes for just a few minutes a day and following some simple guided exercises, you could connect with this sense of balance and open a world of new possibilities in your everyday life?