SLIMMER AND HEALTHIER CREATING A SLIM, HEALTHY BODY FOR LIFE

Hypnosis is Easy continued … Are you concerned that you can’t be hypnotised? You may think that hypnosis is a state of mind you have never experienced. You may have looked at the internet and seen images of people hypnotising other people and making it look strange or crazy or worrying. I often get clients who have overdosed on YouTube and found weird videos about hypnosis. I even know of un- scrupulous people who think watching such videos can train you to be a clinical hypno- therapist! That’s why it’s so vital to choose a properly qualified hypnotherapist with many years of clinical experience behind them. In the UK, that means a therapist registered with the CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council) which regulates the profession in terms of training standards, occupational standards and fitness to practice.  On to what it means to be hypnotised. I’m going to reframe that to ‘what it means experience hypnosis.’ Experience is the operative word here. It’s not something that one person does to another person. Hypnosis is an experience that the individual has and it’s facilitated by the hypnotherapist. Think of it like this. The hypno- therapist knows the route, the signposts, the destination and the mode of transport. They then help you to take that journey for yourself. It’s a journey that will be familiar because, as mentioned before, you already take that journey at least twice every 24 hours on the way into and out of sleep. And by practising hypnosis regularly, using guided meditations which contain the right signposts, the right transportation, a well-planned route and a clear focus on the destination, you’ll get to that destination and soon be able to do this easily and quickly for yourself. Here are some pointers: • We’ve talked about mind chatter and how it’s sometimes hard to slow your mind down and listen attentively to the instructions. Therefore, do your hypnosis track/s when you have a clear space in your day, not squeezed in between appointments or chores. Take your time and make practising your #1priority. • If my mind is busy with thoughts, I often do the opening section (induction) for about 5 minutes, then go back to the beginning and start again. That 5 minutes will give the mind extra slowing down time so you can then begin afresh and focus on the track. • If you’ve recently drunk a large coffee, you’ll be buzzing. It makes sense to avoid stimulants before practice. The same goes for a large meal. • Distractions come in many forms so leave your phone in another room and on silent, put a ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ notice on the door and exclude extraneous noise. • Comfort is vital, you need to be resting symmetrically, warm, supported and able to forget about your body sensations as you drift deeper into trance. If your pillow is lumpy or you’re cold or you are lying scrunched up in an odd position, your body will soon register discomfort and start to distract you. • Practising at bedtime (as long as you’re not totally exhausted) allows the mind to do what it does naturally. It is already preparing to slow down. You can get into the habit of experiencing hypnosis by using your track/s at bedtime. Then try at different times of the day. Your experience will be more varied. • You can do some deep breathing on your own before you begin the track. Focus on the feeling of breathing happening inside you. Breathe naturally but use your mind to get inside and explore everything about your breathing. When you begin the track, your mind will be slower and more receptive. • Try using the Walking Meditation which you do with your eyes open. The music/tones are designed to maintain you in a specific trance state. You can experience this exhilarating state and compare it to the ‘eyes-closed’ tracks. You’ll notice the subtle feelings of being in trance while awake and aware and walking about. • Remember, the backing music and pink noise will lead you into the right brainwave patterns. Theta brain wave frequencies are associated with trance states and these are used to give your brain the lead and it will willingly follow. Therefore, you can do it. You can’t not do it. Everyone can do it. Relax! Stop trying! Have fun! Your mind knows what to do. Above all, keep practising. Practice will make you perfect, I promise. Back to Blog menu