Chill Like A CEO

It’s the new meditative practice that #girlbosses around the world are going crazy for. Meet sophrology, the quick, easy technique that helps unlock major zen – in just 10 minutes!

- Emma Ledger

Laura’s day begins at 6am.

An hour after waking, she’ll be found behind her desk in her corner office at one of the big banks, where she’s a member of the senior team. Dressed in her designer suit, Laura spends the first hour trying to make sense of an overflowing inbox and mapping out her schedule for the next 14 hours at work. Then, at 8.25am, she gets a diary alert for a daily appointment that, while not work-related, she regards as non-negotiable. Each morning, Laura practises sophrology, a technique of ‘dynamic relaxation’ that works by combining breathing and meditation with movement.

Yeah, we know – a hack that attempts to dial down stress by working on your mind-body connection is nothing new. But sophrology is a bit different: the emphasis is on using small physical movements as a way of training your brain. We’re talking something tangible, such as the feeling of your finger on your forehead or the chill of air-con against an unshaven leg (no judgement). As with other forms of breath work, it comes down to your parasympathetic nervous system (or your ‘rest and digest’ mode). When you increase the supply of oxygen to your brain by breathing deeply, you slow down your heart rate. The theory goes, the resulting calm allows your mind to zoom out from distressing minutiae and gain perspective that can help you regain control and clarity.

High and mighty