What is Hypnosis?

People have been studying and debating over exactly what hypnosis is for more than 200 years, but science has yet to fully explain how it actually happens. However, the basic definition of hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation combined with focused attention directed toward a specific goal.

When a person enters hypnosis, there is a change in their brain wave activity, similar to that time just before sleep when the alpha state is entered. When you are wide-awake, the beta brain wave state is predominate, but as you become relaxed, it changes to alpha. For sleep, you also go further into the theta and delta states. During the alpha state, the mind is very open to visualizations and creating a rich sensory experience. Since you are up to 200 times more suggestible even while in the light state of alpha, it is not necessary to go deep into hypnosis for change to be possible.

Some characteristics of hypnosis include:

• Muscle Relaxation Deep, Easy Breathing
• Feelings of Well-Being
• Heightened Sense of Imagination
• Increased Ability to Accept New Ideas
• Brain Waves slow to the Alpha State (waking state is characterized by “Beta” brain waves)

Everybody has the ability to enter a hypnotic state, and in fact, you already do this naturally several times a day without even realizing it. Have you ever had the experience of hitting the snooze alarm and then continuing to lie in bed with your eyes closed, aware of yourself and the room, but not quite able to wake up fully? You’ve been in a hypnotic state! Another example of hypnosis is any time when you’ve been so deeply engrossed in an activity, such as daydreaming or watching TV, that your awareness of your surroundings has faded away.

Some Myths About Hypnosis

• Hypnosis is not sleep.
  It may look like sleep to the observer, but in fact a hypnotized person is simply completely relaxed. Although some individuals do become so deeply relaxed when in hypnosis that they think they fell sleep, many in fact experience a heightened state of alertness. But for the most part, people do tend to recall everything that occurred during their session.

• You cannot be made to do anything against your will.
  You are in control of the process, including how deep you allow yourself to go, and you will only act upon suggestions that reinforce expected behavior and are aligned with your own morals. Otherwise, you will simply ignore the suggestion, or perhaps even come right out of hypnosis.

• You cannot get “stuck” in hypnosis.
  Should the hypnotist stop speaking to you unexpectedly, you will either come right out of the hypnotic state, or drift off to natural sleep & wake up shortly after.

Will Hypnosis Be Able to Help Me?

• What goals do you have?
• What kinds of changes would you like to make in your daily life?
• What do you find yourself struggling with on a regular basis?
• What negative thinking patterns do you sometimes get stuck in?
• Are there things you find yourself doing, without first thinking about it, that you wish you could do differently?

What if you could tap into and harness the power of your subconscious mind? What if you could speak directly to your inner mind? What would you like to tell it? If you keep finding yourself doing what you know doesn’t work, although maybe you *logically* know what you should be doing to have what you want, then hypnosis can help you!

What Can Hypnosis Be Used For?

People frequently ask what kind of things hypnosis can be used for, and they are often surprised by the vast array of possibilities. Usually the first thing I like to tell them is that hypnosis is helpful for anything where your mind is influencing the situation. And the human mind is really quite powerful – what you are consciously aware of is just the tip of the iceberg.

Hypnosis has proven effective for people who want help with:

• Weight Loss
• Smoking Cessation
• Stress Reduction
• Relief from Insomnia
• Overcoming Fears & Phobias
• Self Esteem & Confidence
• Study Skills & Test Anxiety
• Motivation & Organization
• Good Habits for Financial Well-Being
• And much, much more…