The Autogenic Training – What it is and what it really can do…
Experiences from the natural healing practice of René Gräber
Before I turn to Autogenic Training, I'd like to share a few basic thoughts about what we "actually" do during Autogenic Training.
It seems that autogenic training, meditation, qigong, tai chi, self-hypnosis, yoga, prayer, breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and so on have a lot in common. Basically, all forms and exercises try to influence the psyche and the psychological well-being via mental-emotional "tracks" – and thus not least on health.
This is the claim. But claim and reality are not always compatible with each other. And although everyone, including almost every orthodox physician, agrees with the idea that a healthy mind resides in a healthy body, the converse, that a healthy mind can also have its influence on the health of the body, does not seem to be universally accepted.
In the world of "evidence-based medicine", which cures diseases by surgery and pills (OP), the idea that the above mentioned "alternative" disciplines could have healing or even mitigating effects has no real justification. Because the "evidence-based" proof for the effectiveness of the same is lacking here – or so it is believed.
And since the medical belief is equated with "knowledge", this topic is also quickly off the table for these people. In addition, all mentioned disciplines have a huge shortcoming: Should they really have an effect – then it is not prescribable.
And on top of that, the necessary exercises can be done by the patients alone at home, little by little. The exercises of these disciplines would be a help for self-help or a guidance for self-healing or for health prophylaxis.
Then nobody earns anything from it. Only those affected have the advantage of having to go to the doctor less often (if at all) because they get well more quickly or do not get sick in the first place.
According to Albert Einstein matter is another form of energy. If this is so, then our psyche is in some way connected with our physique and therefore there are also interactions.
But these interactions are not a "one-way street", where the traffic goes only from the physical to the psychological, as for example in the case of an illness, which has a negative influence on the well-being.
Such an influence is hardly denied even by a "hardcore" supporter of orthodox medicine. But some people seem to have a hard time with the reverse path. Can the psyche the physical conditions. Influence conditions positively/negatively? – And if so, how and to what extent? – Are autogenic training, meditation etc. Suitable for this at all? – Or do we need brain surgeries and psycho pills from the pharmaceutical industry to condition our psyche in such a way that the body also benefits from it??
I try to answer these questions in the article "Influence of relaxation methods on genes" to answer.
Which relaxation method is the best?
I don't think I'm making a big mistake in assuming that all forms that lead to a relaxation response produce roughly comparable or even identical results for the organism. Therefore, it seems "relatively" indifferent whether I practice autogenic training, qi-gong, meditation, yoga or the like.
What is important when deciding what I want to do is that I enjoy it, that I can identify with it and that it does me good. Tai-chi and qi-gong, for example, are relaxation exercises that are done while moving (slowly). Autogenic Training. Meditation are exercises in silence. I leave the yoga out of it. First, there are now so many variants, some forms of which really don't seem to have anything to do with relaxation. Secondly I know very little about yoga.
So, in the choice, the physical condition could be one of the deciding factors whether the practitioner is able to practice Tai-Chi or Qi-gong, for example, although the physical load is physiologically hardly relevant.
But an important prerequisite here is, for example, that the legs "work". For people with problems in this area (dizziness, gait problems, etc.), it's a good idea.) exercises at rest would be the better alternative.
Personally, however, I clearly favor autogenic training as a relaxation method.
Science
The scientific papers on autogenic training documented in PubMed date back to 1950. In total, there are over 1100 papers dealing with this topic. I have looked at some of these highly interesting works for you.
Autogenic training and other relaxation exercises have recently been confirmed on a scientific level that no one would have thought of 20 years ago.
With this, the insinuation that it is a matter of imagination or abnormal psychological phenomena (faith moves mountains) should slowly and surely disappear in the waste garbage can. The latest researches show through the bank how effectively the mental and psychological attitude influences the organism. The changes are even affecting areas that we had long thought were beyond our control, such as genes.
Relaxation exercises with high prophylactic and therapeutic value require only the will of the practitioner to perform the required exercises conscientiously and regularly.
There are no costs involved, except for the costs of a seminar. After completion, however, the participant is able (or at least should be) to do his exercises independently at home and thus carry out his prophylaxis (or therapy). This concept is fundamentally different from that of conventional medicine, which focuses on drug treatment.
For the patient the tablets three times a day are more comfortable than doing exercises. The only question is, what is more effective – three times one or one practice?.