Autogenic Training is a simple self-help Mind/Body relaxation technique that allows you to put yourself into a state of very profound relaxation
Yes it is similar to meditation in many ways. One major difference between Autogenic Training (AT) and meditation is that AT is completely non-religious and is not related to any religion or religious belief
It’s very simple. We know what physical sensations people experience when in a state of deep relaxation. AT allows people to get comfortable and then suggest to their bodies that they are experiencing the same type of sensations felt by people in deep meditative relaxation. You establish mental contact with different parts of your body and achieve a peaceful state of passive awareness and acceptance, which effectively turns off your body’s “fight or flight” response and switches on its “relaxation response” and puts you into a very profound relaxed state
Well it is simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn and that you won’t have a lot of questions to ask while you are learning. The British Autogenic Society (BAS) firmly encourages you to learn from a qualified teacher but after completing the course you will have a toolkit that you can use for the rest of your life that will help you to help yourself, maintain a healthy balance and deal with stress
An AT Course comprises 9 lessons plus a Pre-Course Assessment and a Post-Course Review session. Each lesson lasts between 45 – 60 minutes
You will be taught a series of brief, simple mental exercises which you will ideally practice for no more than 10-15 minutes every day and you will be able to do your AT exercises almost anywhere – at home, in bed, on the train or at the office
Yes, groups are a good and economical way to learn AT and you can benefit from the shared experience of your fellow group members. The length of each group session tends to be around 2 hours and the ideal size of a group is 8 or less
AT was developed in Germany during the 1920’s by a neurologist and psychiatrist Dr Johannes Schultz. But of course the physical, mental and even spiritual benefits of meditation have been known for thousands of years
Unlike most forms of complementary medicine, many leading doctors have recommended Autogenic Training
Yes you can, but unfortunately the provision of Autogenic Training on the NHS is not widespread. It’s available at the Royal London Hospital For Integrated Medicine. All you need is a referral letter from your GP
That’s hard to answer given how effective AT has proved in terms of alleviating stress and its associated symptoms. There are now around 80 BAS trained and qualified teachers of AT practicing throughout the UK
You are welcome to phone me on my mobile (07812 057753) and I will be more than happy to answer all your questions. Please email me at grevillewaterman@gmail.com or consult my website at www.howtobeatstress.co.uk