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A holistic, complementary well-being technique that has been gaining popularity recently, sophrology is seen as a modern evolution of mindfulness and meditation. Blending together Eastern philosophies with Western science to create balance, tap into your own resilience, give you the strength to deal with life’s challenges and open you up to happiness, sophrology was first developed in the 1960s by neurologist and Professor of Psychiatry, Professor Caycedo.

Offering a structured method to optimise health and well-being, sophrology consists of a series of easy to do mental and physical exercises. When practised regularly, it can encourage you to have a healthier, more relaxed body and a calm, more alert mind...

Creating time to connect together as a family can be tricky amidst busy schedules and responsibilities. Finding something you can do together that is not only enjoyable but can be mentally and physically beneficial for you and your family can seem even harder. Yoga can be a great solution.

Yoga has shown to lower stress, improve feelings of calmness, and naturally uplift our mood – all while introducing a healthy, relaxing element to our routines. Beneficial for all ages, finding just an hour once a week to take a class together, or a couple of 20-30 minute time...

Yoga has shown to lower stress, improve feelings of calmness, and naturally uplift our mood – all while introducing a healthy, relaxing element to our routines. No matter what age, everyone can try yoga; all it takes is a little time and commitment.

Yoga can be a great way to not only help kids learn to manage their emotions, but help them to calm down and destress while building their confidence and self-esteem. Attracting all body types, ages and personalities, from all different backgrounds, kids can not only enjoy the playfulness and creativity of the different poses, but also see the benefits of a...

1. You can’t do it wrong

There are plenty of meditation myths around, but the truth is – you can’t really ‘do it wrong’. You don’t have to clear your mind or think of nothing. Instead, it’s about letting go of focus and letting thoughts come and go. This gets easier with practice so if you struggle at first, don’t give up!

2. It helps to reduce stress

The part of our brain that releases stress hormones can actually be overridden when you meditate. Mindfulness meditation, in particular, has been proven helpful for reducing both stress and anxiety.

3. You don’t have to ‘believe’ in anything

Some people...

Here at Therapy Directory we’re big believers in the power of self-awareness. Being in touch with your physical and mental needs is so important for maintaining well-being, allowing you to truly take care of yourself.

Saying this, it’s not always so easy. Our ‘culture of busy’ allows little time to slow down and listen to ourselves. And when we do get a spare hour or two, we tend to pick up our phones to scroll through social media or see what Netflix has to offer.

Of course sometimes, this is exactly what we need. But prioritising self-awareness activities will put us all in a better position to judge what we need, and what will best serve our well-being. Here are 10 self-awareness activities to get you started.  

1. Journaling

A simple notebook and pen can hold...

Getting enough sleep is essential in keeping us happy, healthy and energised. Most of us are recommended an average of six to nine hours each night if we are to function fully and feel good the next day. Some people may need more, others less – but we all need it.

So when for whatever reason, we can’t fall asleep or wake up through the night, we get very frustrated. Even moreso if your partner is snoring away happily!

You may not be able to control a bump in the night waking you up, but there are some ways you can promote sleep – from making sure the room temperature is just right to taking time to destress and unwind early in the evening.

Here are our five tips for a better sleep.

Set the right temperature

You may think you need a cosy, warm bedroom to get a good night’s sleep but actually, a cooler room temperature is best. Too hot or too cold and you can disturb your body clock, so try switching off the heating an...

Originating from Buddhist meditation, mindfulness is a practice the West are embracing with open arms.

Numerous studies speak on the benefits to our mental and emotional health, helping us to slow down, ease anxiety and lower stress.

According to Therapy Directory member and holistic healer Hilda Kalap, mindfulness can help children calm down when upset, improve their ability to pay attention, help them regulate emotions and helps with better decision making.

Here are Hilda’s pointers for introducing mindfulness to your children:

1) Keep it simple – A good way to describe mindfulness, particularly for...

For those who don’t know, mindfulness originates from a Buddhist meditation technique. The idea behind it is to focus on the present moment, becoming aware of your physical senses while letting thoughts drift past like leaves on a river.

Many studies have found it to be incredibly beneficial in reducing anxiety, stress and even supporting those with depression.

While to start with, it may be an idea to dedicate specific times and places to your mindfulness practice, once you have gotten used to the practice, you may want to try it in other situations.

Calling on this technique at any time is what makes it so powerful. Take a look below for some ideas of where to practise being mindful.

On your commute

If you get a bus or train to work, you may try desperately to fill your time with reading, music or podcasts. We are all for utilising this time, but why not mix things up a bit with some mindfulness practice every now and...

Self-care is having a bit of a moment right now, and for good reason. In today’s busy society it can be easy to put ourselves last as we focus on work, providing for our family and looking out for others. While all of these things are important, they should not come ahead of looking after yourself.

Self-care means looking after your health and your needs. Below are a few self-care habits you should look to integrate into your routine.

Move

We all know by now how important exercise is, but how many of us are getting the recommended amount? If your job involves sitting for long periods, try setting an alarm once an hour to encourage you to get up and move for a few minutes. You could take a walk to get a coffee, do some yoga stretches at your desk, or even walk outside.

Eat well