This is a personal review of ‘The Sophrology Method’ by Florence Parot
“Generally speaking, you could say Sophrology is a balancing method, meant to help people feel better in their lives, giving them tools to enable them to grow and flourish, to at their best when they most need to be” — page 10
Lately, this world seems too fast to the point I started confusing myself—what I’m running towards? I made a mess and fuss in the workplace. Not feeling enough. Overthink and anxious around people. Digestive problem and weak body.
So when one of my favorite book reviewers gave a snippet of this book, I knew this book was what I needed. Tempted by the book cover, which promised ‘simple mind-body techniques for a calmer, happier, healthier you,‘ I bought this book without any doubt.
Florence Parot’s way of writing is easy to understand and amusing enough to make us willing to practice the exercises. This book is colorful (and the color palette is pretty too), making it outstanding as its color brightens your mood. And here’s what I discovered through this creation: the power of breathing.
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The Secret Behind Breathing
Judging from the snippet, I thought Sophrology would contain the mainstream health recommendation, but in more detail. Working out, walking, eating real food, etc. But I’m wrong because turns out, the Sophrology method is the simplest way to meditate and tune in to your inner self. How it can be?
With breathing. Yup, just breath. Consciously breathing. So we can practice it naturally anytime, any occasion, anywhere. No matter what conditions you are in, whether you’re sick or in the middle of important meetings.
“Sophrology is a very practical methodology, meant for everyday life. Although we start with focusing on ourselves and what is happening inside, it is not about shutting our eyes to what is going on in life. It’s about becoming stronger and more aware so that we can be more alive and active in the world.” — page 11
Like a boiling kettle that needs to release steam to avoid exploding, humans also need to manage their emotions well. But how do we process it if we aren’t even aware of it? In many cases, we fail to process our emotions because we simply ignore them or even don’t notice them in the first place.
From this book, I’ve learned that Sophrology mostly focuses on self-awareness, by focusing on the body, being present, and being more aware of our feelings. In conclusion, the secret power of conscious breathing is: to be aware of our body, mind, and feelings.
Inside the Book
In Sophrology, the most important part is you aware of your breathing. Three key points —dynamic relaxation, breath awareness, and visualization—will guide us to strengthen and reinforce ourselves and enable us to reach our full potential.
This book will guide us to do some exercise for many occasions. Divide with three main colors, green for practical steps, red for quick everyday tools, and yellow for practice at-home techniques.
For each part, Florence not only guides us to several breathing practices but also explains the chemical process in our body when certain conditions happen. As I’m battling with stress and anxiety, I’ve always thought that stress itself is the root cause.
Important notes: these methods must be practiced daily. Nothing comes instant. Having practiced for one week, I think it’s still early to determine if this method works. Often, it simply provided me with a moment of pause, allowing me to think more clearly.
Should you read it or not?
I would say this book is not to ‘read’ but more to ‘act’. The book is priced at around 200k rupiah; I’m not sure if it’s available on Kindle. However, consider buying it if you’re disciplined enough and reading is one of your favorite activities, or if you’re simply drawn to new knowledge in self-development.
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