The Triple Disconnect and the practice of Sophrology

Because life is a cosmos of connection,

because to be alive is to be in relationship with the world.

- Maria Popova 

Photo credit: Unsplash

“I feel like I’m doing life all wrong.”

These were the words of a remarkable woman I once met - successful, intelligent, and kind. Her honesty struck me. And as unsettling as it was to hear, it wasn’t unfamiliar. I’ve met many people who feel this way, even if they say it differently. On the outside, their lives look accomplished. On the inside, there’s a quiet sense of misalignment.

At the heart of this feeling is what I call the triple disconnect:
A disconnect from ourselves, from others, and from the natural world around us.

Reconnecting Starts Within

Many of us no longer hear ourselves clearly. We move through our days on autopilot, unsure what we truly want or need. We worry about the future. We feel stuck, exhausted, or anxious. We long for something more - but we don’t know where to begin.

To reconnect, we need to stop and listen.
Not just with our ears, but with our full awareness - body, mind, and soul.

Meditation can be a powerful way to do this. But if, like me, you struggle to sit still and quiet your thoughts, there is another way: Sophrology.

What Is Sophrology?

Sophrology is a gentle, structured method that combines breathwork, movement, visualisation, and awareness. Sophrology draws both from ancient Eastern wisdom traditions like Yoga and Zen Buddhism, as well as modern science-based approaches such as hypnotherapy, neurolinguistic programming, and phenomenology. In doing so it becomes we suited to modern Western lifestyles and minds.

Rather than asking you to empty your mind, Sophrology gives you something to do - making it more accessible if you find stillness challenging. it is easy and simple. You don’t need any special clothes or equipment. Just a chair, a quiet space, and 10–15 minutes of your time.

That’s why it’s called a dynamic relaxation technique.

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Reconnecting With Yourself

In the first two levels of Sophrology, the focus is on reconnecting with your body and mind.
You learn to sense what’s happening inside you. You build presence, awareness, and clarity.

You begin to notice the difference between your inner knowing and the voice of fear or doubt.
This alone can change everything - it did for me.

Reconnecting With Others

Meaningful connection with others becomes much easier once you’re grounded in yourself. When you understand your emotions as “energy in motion” and a source of information of what is really going on, you can welcome them without being swept away.

In the third level of Sophrology, you therefore explore your emotional patterns and how to respond more calmly and consciously to life’s challenges. You learn to work with - not suppress - your emotions.

Reconnecting With the World Around You

We are not separate from nature. We are part of it. Yet many of us have lost that connection.

Time in nature, singing, dancing, or simply noticing the beauty of a tree - these practices help us reconnect to the energy of life itself.

Sophrology’s fourth level guides you in experiencing the deeper wholeness of your being - how your mind, body, and soul are woven into the wider fabric of life. You explore your deepest values. This depth of awareness strengthens your sense of purpose and belonging.

Photo credit: Anna C. Myrup

A Path Back to Wholeness

The word “healing” comes from the root “to make whole.”
And this - wholeness, connection, aliveness - is what so many of us are seeking.

We want to feel at home in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the world.
We want to live with more clarity, more joy, more energy.

Sophrology offers a simple, practical path toward this - one that fits into real life, even with all its demands. You don’t need to believe in anything specific to benefit from it. Just curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to explore.

A Method With Deep Roots

Although Sophrology was developed in the 1960s, it’s only recently gaining attention in English-speaking countries. In France and Switzerland, it’s long been used to support people in many areas of life - from school stress and pregnancy to sports performance and chronic pain.

Today, it’s also being introduced to support of healthcare workers facing burn-out.

Photo credit: Anna C. Myrup

My Hope

My hope is that more people will discover this practice -
that they’ll find their way back to themselves,
their energy, their clarity, their joy.

With love and light,
AnnA