Article: Autogenic training

Autogenic training is a term for a relaxation technique developed by the German psychiatrist Johannes Schultz first published in 1932. It usually involves a series of sessions in which the patients learn to relax their limbs, heart, and breathing. The goal is to induce a pleasant, warm feeling throughout most of the body and induce a feeling of coolness in the forehead. The technique is used against stress-induced psychosomatic disorders.

Schultz emphasized parallels to techniques in yoga and meditation. However, unlike some forms of yoga and meditation, autogenic training is devoid of any mysticism. It is a method for influencing one's autonomic nervous system without spirituality. There are many parallels to Progressive relaxation.