Sophrology would increase sports performance by 50%

The breathing and mental visualization techniques used in sophrology significantly improve the performance of athletes. This is the conclusion of a study by Ford on the effectiveness of mental preparation techniques offered to athletes.

The car manufacturer Ford is interested in athletic performance of athletes and particularly the benefits brought by the mental preparation. He therefore conducted a study aimed at measuring the contribution of the various techniques used such as breathing or mental visualization techniques.

To achieve this, scientists have set up two distinct groups:

• the first group made up of Ford racing drivers, including Andy Priaulx, world champion in passenger car drivers, and Sébastien Ogier, world rally champion.
• the second group made up of ordinary people.

Then, they subjected these two groups to two classic mental training exercises:

• the first exercise was to get the participants to relax, then do a series of controlled breathing exercises identical to sophrology exercises. Finally, participants were asked to hold their breath for as long as possible. The process was repeated several times and then followed by a long recovery period.
• the second was to make a visualization exercise, again identical to those practiced in sophrology, the objective being to bring the athletes to mentally project their victory in order to prepare and maintain confidence in their performance. This voice-guided visualization exercise led participants to create mental images by describing the turns, curves and key visual signals of the circuit.

Proven results

The study first reveals that racing drivers with specially trained brains have a 40% better level of attention and concentration compared to other participants. Their minds have in fact been regularly “muscled” which allows them to react to subtle sensory signals, without always being aware of them.

But the study turns out to be very interesting, when we look at the performance differences between ordinary people mentally prepared and a group of ordinary people who did not benefit from any preparation technique:

“The interesting point we discovered is that when normal people perform simple mental exercises, they are also able to reach a better level of performance Said Dr. Elias Mouchlianitis of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London.

According to the results of this study, a simple 10 minute mental preparation could significantly improve attention and, with it, performance.

“Simple breathing and meditation exercises, plus a visualization technique that uses keywords to describe the task ahead, have seen normal drivers increased their concentration and performance up to 50% ” emphasizes the scientist.

The researchers wish, through this study, to understand and measure the impact of these simple exercises on sports performance, in order to transfer this knowledge of concentration on high performance in everyday life. They believe, in fact, that these techniques can be used outside of the sports field because it makes it possible to mentally prepare for the task ahead, to improve its performance and to reduce its level of stress.

In sophrology, mental preparation techniques have always been used in very different fields such as professional performance, the exam preparation or again delivery. And the results are there: increased level of attention, improved self-confidence and better management of stress (and emotions). The essential to live the event in the best conditions and to use its full potential.

Find below the explanatory video of this study carried out by Ford: