Sophrology of sport: Development of sensoriality

We know that the image that we have of ourselves, where the idea that we have of it is linked to what is called self-confidence. Sophrology, through the different degrees of dynamic relaxation, sets out to conquer the body and its inner state.

In addition to working on the body image, the discipline allows athletes to experience affects other than with ordinary consciousness, that is to say with a more acute consciousness, and without the constraints of everyday life. or the challenges of competition. This training puts them in a position to perceive with a certain detachment from “raw” sensations in relation to doubt or fear.

The intention is to get athletes to consciously accept what they feel, without a priori or judgment. They can then, on the day of the competition, break the circle of ruminations and adopt a dynamic posture while showing lucidity. There is nothing magical about this training: anxiety or questions are indeed present, but they no longer have the same penalizing force.

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THE BODY

Taking the body into account through dynamic relaxation reinforces the principle of differentiation (1). It is a question for the sophroniser (2) of realizing the impact that an external event or the action of a third party can have on what he feels on the surface and inside his body. It is from the feeling that consciousness will find ideas, develop reasoning or construct representations. In a competitive situation, the accumulation of affects makes it difficult to distinguish the origin of a stimulation, whether it is positive or not. Confusion can arise between what depends on you and what depends on others. Very often, caught in the euphoria of the action, a person sees the audio, visual, tactile signals crossing and accumulating. This process fuels nervousness because after these stimulations, the consciousness interprets all of the feelings. The whole point of the method is that it leads the individual, through the principle of differentiation, to make a fair representation of what he is experiencing, without being permanently invaded by external stimuli.

SENSORIALITY

The body envelope plays a prominent role. It acts as a barrier. Placed on the skin, the sense organs make possible the transition between the outside and the inside. The variation in the stresses during the sessions led by the sophrologist allows the athlete to exploit the whole of his sensoriality and to have adaptation capacities much higher than those which he has naturally acquired.

Sophrology offers the person to direct his attention within himself without isolating him from his immediate external environment. It is this movement that allows him to adapt to new environments or new situations.

When an athlete remains fixed on external reality without taking the time to worry about what he feels, thinks or wants, an accumulation of frustrations occurs. Also, even when fully trained, it is unlikely that the athlete will show consistency in their performance.

Sophrology promotes the conditioning of the athlete within limits where physical, technical, tactical and emotional aspects will coexist. It was in 1968, at the Grenoble Olympics, that Doctor Raymond Abrezol made the discipline known by preparing three skiers who were all medalists thereafter. He created the sophro-pedagogy while working on the development of the method alongside the founder Alfonso Caycédo. He was the first to integrate dynamic relaxation into the warm-up using energetic activations.

Here is what Jean-Daniel Daetwyler (3) said about it, winner of two World Cup descents and medalist at the Grenoble Games: “Sophrology has brought me essential assets for concentration during the races, and good relaxation before departures. Thanks to the techniques learned, I am able to remain calm in all circumstances of life. ”

This type of mental preparation goes beyond the competition. It allows athletes to bring sport back to what it really is: a simple game!

Laurent Favarel

(1) The skin self – Didier Anzieu, Dunod 1995.

(2) Person who practices sophrology.

(3) Sophrology and Sport – Raymond Abrezol, Paperback 1988.

Photo: Caroline Colombo