Hypnosis: One Woman, an Artist and a PhD Candidate

Although I’ve practiced and shared hypnosis with others for more than six years, I only formalized my work in this area in early 2012.  It took eight weeks of research to develop a unique approach that I call the “Hypnotic Experience.”

Hypnotic Experience comes in a couple of flavors. It’s a blog; an entertaining show for community festivals, events, parties and fundraisers; and an informative seminar for stress management, career or academic achievement and athletic performance.

Plus, I have had the good fortune to teach self-hypnosis to individuals and small groups in a more intimate environment.  This is enjoyable and incredibly rewarding as I am able to establish a personal connection during the process.

Last Wednesday is a prime example.  A few weeks back I connected with a woman in follow-up to a seminar I co-hosted.  She expressed an interest in experiencing hypnosis with her live-in boyfriend and a few of their adult-aged children.

The woman’s story is one of a great challenge, sacrifice and accomplishment.  I won’t go into specific details, yet she’s the type of person who has persevered through situations that could have easily led her down an unproductive path.

Her introductory experience with hypnosis was incredibly positive.  She slipped quickly into a trance state, and I focused the suggestions on feelings of confidence and empowerment.  It’s a classic approach to stress management.

The two young adults in the session were equally fascinating.  One is pursuing an undergraduate degree in fine arts and drips with creativity – from his appearance to his personality.

Hypnosis is a powerful tool for people who have a vivid imagination, such as artists and athletes.  They can focus and they’re exceptional at visualization.

He was no exception.  To his surprise, he entered a deep hypnotic trance and emerged from the session surprisingly refreshed.

The second young adult in the session was a first for me – a PhD student in clinical psychology.  Although she enjoyed the hypnotic induction and definitely relaxed, she ultimately wasn’t able to allow her conscious mind take a step back to achieve a true hypnotic state.

At the conclusion of the session, we had a fascinating discussion about how the brain functions and processes stimuli.  

Admittedly, my understanding of the science of hypnosis is limited.  It’s an area where I plan to read more in the coming weeks.

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Here is an Email the woman sent to me after the hypnosis session:

“Thank you so much, Marc!  I wish you could have heard the very positive and excited feedback on the car ride back!  We were interrupting each other all the way home raving it about. 

It totally worked for Jordan and he said he was skeptical about it at first.  He is the artist son.  Now he is very excited about it and went on and on about how you don't believe it until it works for you and then you have no choice but to believe in it. 

Amanda is a big believer too.  She likes the focus on the positive and said there is a lot of research to prove it works and is a valuable tool, so she thought it was great and enjoyed the way you presented it.

I went for Brian but realize I have a lot to learn about relaxing myself and while I usually go to the hot sunny beach in my thoughts when I am ill, I need to use that a lot more often like you do for maximum benefit.  It was great that we all got a lot of positive out of it.”

For My 50th Post: Best Read and Best Viewed

It has been quite a first year for my "Hypnotic Experience" blog. 

I published forty-nine articles that attracted more than 1,800 readers who share my interest in the use of hypnosis for emotional and physical well-being, stress management, career and academic achievement, and athletic performance.  I even had attendees at events where I performed mention the blog and how something I had written inspired them.

Amen to that!

So...I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my 50th post than to publish a "best of."  Included below are links to my three most popular articles this year and a set of performance photos from my Flickr account.

I plan to take a few days off for Christmas with the family.  I'll be back this coming week with a recap of a group session I have planned for Wednesday night on hypnosis for stress management.

Enjoy the holiday!


Impressions from the "Hypnosis for Exceptional Living" Event
Published November 19, 2012

The majority of participants did achieve a baseline level of hypnosis.  Simple suggestions related to "sleep" and "heavy eyes" worked well and presented a foundation for me to move to post-hypnotic instructions for stress relief and a positive view of life.

I then worked with the group to introduce their own voice into the process through a mental countdown from the number of 20.  This was a bridge for a discussion about self-hypnosis.


One Hypnotizing Weekend
Published September 2, 2012

I was fortunate to have lined up this Labor Day holiday weekend three opportunities to introduce hypnosis to people who expressed an interest in learning how it can be used for stress management, academic excellence and athletic performance.

-Georgetown University's Midnight Carnival
-Helping Fix a Flawed Shoulder
-Gathering of an Exceptional Set of High Schoolers


Yoga-nidra and Hypnosis:  Similar Process, Similar Experience
Published July 31, 2012

I have been on a comparison kick exploring the relaxation and stress management benefits of hypnosis with other popular and proven techniques.  A few weeks back I spent time with a yogi and, after hypnotizing her, asked her to assess her experience in relation to Bikram.  Here's a link to that post.

Today, I worked with a successful, intelligent and professionally driven woman who has practiced Yoga-nidra, also referred to as "yogi sleep."  The hypnotic experience was an exceptional and powerful one for her which I believe can be partly attributed to some work stress she has been under during the past few weeks.

The "sleep" suggestion at my Friday night performance at the Bradley Farm Haunted Mansion festival.

 

A technique to deepen the hypnotic state from Saturday night show at Bradley Farm.

The "funny face" suggestion.  The girl on the right remains deep in trance.

Hypnotic Perfomance on New Year's Eve

Are you still considering your New Year's Eve plans?

If so, I encourage you to check out the 2013 New Year's Eve Gala hosted by Professionals in the City at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.

I maintain a relationship with Professionals in the City and recently collaborated with them on an event entitled "Hypnosis: a Positive Approach to Exceptional Living."  Their events are well organized, fun and typically feature a line-up of impressive entertainers.

Near Year's Eve is no exception.  There will be live music, dancing, comedians, circus acts and...yes...me with my "Hypnotic Experience" show.  In fact, I am the featured performer on the London Stage at the event.

So...check out the Web site and consider joining 3,000 people for what I anticipate will be a wonderful evening.


PS, you will receive a $5 discount on each ticket if you use the promotional code "Hypnotist" when registering.

Well Being and the Accomplished Professional

On this blog I discuss my practice of and interest in hypnosis as a tool for emotional and physical well-being, as well as the performances, seminars and individual sessions I participate in.  Yet, this represents a small part of my professional world.

On January 6, I will celebrate 18 years as the founder and CEO of a professional services firm that helps companies grow their business through more effective marketing, social media and communications programs.  I'm truly blessed to have exceptional clients, and a set of colleagues who are passionate and professional.

In fact, I have worked with each member of my senior team for more than five years.  My lead operations and financial executive has been a friend, trusted advisor and co-worker for 15 years.

While my professional world has long been in good standing, I have still been challenged by the stress, tension, worries and competitive pressure that comes with being in business.  It has taken its physical toll on me and, I'm convinced, prematurely aged me.

For instance, my brother -- just a few years younger -- sports a healthy head of hair with merely a touch of gray.  I'm not quite as lucky on either front.  Solely genetics?  It's doubtful.

My introduction to hypnosis six years ago was born out of my desire for a natural approach to well-being that I could practice independently.  The improvements it has brought to my life inspired to to share the practice with others.

Regardless of your choice of career and decision about family, I encourage you to find an approach to well-being.  Eat well.  Be active.  Sleep.  Love.  And shed stress.

You'll be happier, healthier and perhaps keep your hair longer.

PS, Here is a link to a great read with 12 tips on how a business professional can manage career stress.  My favorite suggestion:  "Learn how to switch off: This is a skill and has to be learnt. You can meditate, cycle, learn yoga or paint - whatever works for you – just do it!"


Managing Stress at the Top  
Management Issues Magazine (12.13.12)

Image Source:  Wise Living Yoga

    

A Higher Plain of Happiness

You're driving in the car and a song comes on the radio that takes you back to your high school days.  Neglected memories instantly emerge from deep within your mind. 

Or perhaps you are walking down the street and the smell of freshly baked bread transports you to Sunday dinners growing up.  You're with your family as if time itself has stood still.

That is the power of your subconscious mind.  It has the ability to associate external stimulus (i.e. smells, tastes, sounds, etc.) with warm and pleasant memories.

When properly directed, hypnosis can serve as an effective tool to harness these wonderful feelings to effectively mitigate stress, and improve physical and emotional well-being.

This evening I visited with a woman who from an outsider's view is the definition of exceptional.  Stunning, smart, personable and professionally successful.

Yet, like many of us, she has been challenged to manage a stressful environment and address long-standing self-esteem issues.

We went through a relaxing hypnotic induction which provided a stress release.  After a couple of deepening exercises, I then walked her through two visualizations:

1)  Opening a door to a warm, glow of light to establish base feelings of confidence, comfort and strength.

2) A memory of a time in her life when she recognized and embraced her beauty, intelligence and appeal.  We then attached this feeling in her subconscious mind to a special phrase, which we then reinforced through a mantra.  (It's a process similar to the "umms" during yoga.)

After such a positive experience, I believe hypnosis will serve as a tool she can use to find a higher plain of happiness in life.

For me, it was equally rewarding.  I realize I'm not curing cancer.  Yet, helping one person truly appreciate how wonderful they are is gratifying.  

Visualize a warm glow of light to establish feelings of comfort and confidence.  Image source: cgmotionbox.com

My Call for Stress Busting

I have written frequently on this blog about the adverse impact of stress on our emotional and physical well-being. 

Stress is negative energy and our body seeks to shed it in unhealthy ways.  For many, this can present near-term issues, such as headaches, chest pain, upset stomach and poor sleeping habits.

While this impacts quality of life, it pales in comparison to the long-term damage stress can potentially inflict.  The headline of an article published this week in the Health and Science section of the Washington Post says it all:  "Stress is linked to heart attack and such problems as diabetes and depression."

"Yet another study has been released linking stress to an increased risk of having a heart attack.  The reseach found that women with high-stress jobs...were 67 percent more likely to have a heart attack than women in less-intense jobs."

I've hosted events to teach self-hypnosis as a tool for stress mitigation.  I have also offered up easy-to-follow approaches that can be used daily for stress mitigation.

Regardless of whether hypnosis is right for you, I encourage you to find an activity that is both enjoyable and a stress buster.  Run...swim...practice yoga...take up sculpture...write music...sing...dance...just find your thing!