© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Autogenic Training and Imagery Chapter 10

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter Overview What is autogenic training? What is autogenic training? Understand its physiological and psychological benefits Understand its physiological and psychological benefits Learn how to perform autogenics Learn how to perform autogenics What is imagery and autogenic meditation? What is imagery and autogenic meditation? Learn about the phases of autogenic meditation Learn about the phases of autogenic meditation

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Autogenic Training Developed by Johannes Schultz (1932) Developed by Johannes Schultz (1932) Taught his patients to self-hypnotize Taught his patients to self-hypnotize Patients reported a feeling of general body warmth and heaviness in the arms and legs Patients reported a feeling of general body warmth and heaviness in the arms and legs

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Autogenic Training (cont.) Uses a series of exercises to achieve this response Uses a series of exercises to achieve this response Increased blood flow due to vasodilation of the arteries causes the feeling of warmth Increased blood flow due to vasodilation of the arteries causes the feeling of warmth Sensation of heaviness caused by the muscles relaxing Sensation of heaviness caused by the muscles relaxing

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Benefits of Autogenic Training Has been shown to have physiological and psychological effects Has been shown to have physiological and psychological effects Physiological effects Physiological effects –Reduces heart rate –Reduces respiratory rate –Reduces muscle tension –Reduces serum cholesterol –Increases alpha brain waves –Increases blood flow to arms and legs

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Autogenics and Health Benefits Has a dynamic range of benefits including: Has a dynamic range of benefits including: –Immune function of cancer patients –Quality of life for those with multiple sclerosis –Relief from headaches –Helps those with drug abuse problems –Helps women alleviate menstrual discomfort –Helps those with scoliosis and dyspnea

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Benefits of Autogenic Training (cont.) Psychological effects Psychological effects –Increases ability to tolerate pain –Reduces anxiety –Reduces depression –Increases resistance to stress –Reduces tiredness

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. How to Do Autogenic Training Five prerequisites are essential to success (Schultz & Luthe, 1959) Five prerequisites are essential to success (Schultz & Luthe, 1959) 1.High motivation and cooperation 2.Reasonable degree of self-control and self-direction 3.Ability to maintain a body position 4.Reduction of external environmental stimuli 5.Concentration of attention on bodily sensations Three body positions can be used

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Body Positions

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Six Stages of Autogenic Training 1. Heaviness of the arms and legs 2. Warmth throughout the arms and legs 3. Sensations of warmth and heaviness in the heart 4. Breathing 5. Sensations of warmth in the abdomen 6. Sensations of coolness in the forehead Focus on:

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. What Is Imagery? Employing images of relaxing scenes Employing images of relaxing scenes Translates body relaxation into mind relaxation Translates body relaxation into mind relaxation Use of images with autogenic training is called autogenic meditation Use of images with autogenic training is called autogenic meditation

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Did You Know? Many doctors ask their cancer patients to try to visualize Killer-T cells battling and destroying the cancerous cells -- some doctors and patients find that it works Many doctors ask their cancer patients to try to visualize Killer-T cells battling and destroying the cancerous cells -- some doctors and patients find that it works Some sport psychologists and athletic trainers have their injured athletes visualize “cool” colors to relieve their pain or to visualize an injured muscle repairing itself Some sport psychologists and athletic trainers have their injured athletes visualize “cool” colors to relieve their pain or to visualize an injured muscle repairing itself

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Phases of Autogenic Meditation Turn closed eyes inward and upward toward forehead (increases alpha waves) Turn closed eyes inward and upward toward forehead (increases alpha waves) Visualize a color and turning colors into pictures Visualize a color and turning colors into pictures Visualize abstract ideas Visualize abstract ideas Visualize people Visualize people Visualize various scenes Visualize various scenes

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Autogenic Training and Imagery