It's All Personal with Hypnosis

There are incredibly smart researchers studying the science of hypnosis.  What exactly happens to the brain?  Why are some people more suggestible than others?

Here is an interesting quote from a recent study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine and published in the Archives of General Psychiatry:

“Hypnosis is described as a trance-like state during which a person has a heightened focus and concentration…it works by modulating activity in brain regions associated with focused attention.”

I’ve practiced self-hypnosis for nearly a decade, taught the process to more than 100 people and, during the past three years, performed my “Hypnotic Experience” show for nearly 1,000 guests.  I had no idea my induction technique was modulating brain regions.

Candidly, it doesn’t concern me much.  That’s because I am more focused on helping people realize the positive outcomes achieved through hypnosis – stress management, self-confidence and esteem, academic and career performance, and physical well-being.

Yet, I also recognize many of the attendees at the events where I perform seek more than just the experience of hypnosis.  They have a sincere interest to better understand a process often defined by misconceptions.

My performance this evening for DC Global Adventurers is a wonderful example.  Readers of this blog know I’ve struck up an intimate relationship with this 1,800+ person social group because of the respect I have for its founder and the high caliber of people I’ve met at her meet-ups.

You can read recaps of my previous presentations of hypnosis to this group here and here.

About 20 exceptional professionals gathered at my Tysons Corner office for an introduction to hypnosis.  Although the room was a bit cramped (and warm), the induction was smooth and resulted in most of the attendees drifting gently into a state of relaxation and focus.

We then invested nearly 30 minutes in a fascinating Q&A session and discussion of what it felt like to be hypnotized.  Here are a few highlights:

--When asked to visualize a relaxing scenario (i.e. lying on the beach), many pictured themselves with a loved one or close friend, rather than alone.  It’s obvious the desire for social engagement permeates the subconscious mind.

--For some, the pace of my induction was too quick, while others found it just right.  

--My countdown methodology of alternating between three, five and, in one instance, ten also threw some off because of a lack of consistency.  I’ve heard this before and may need to alter my approach.

--And finally, nearly every attendee reported a unique experience when hypnotized.  There was some constants, such as feelings of being relaxed, comfortable, energized and confident.  Yet, the actually experience of hypnosis is clearly a personal one.

The researchers at Stanford provide us with a plausible reason why, “The brain is complicated, people are complicated.”

Each hypnotized guest reported a unique experience when asked to visualize themselves lying on a beach.

It's Hypnosis for Health & Well Being this Saturday

I've created a wonderful partnership with an 1,800-member social Meetup group called DC Global Adventurers to co-host a monthly event to introduce hypnosis as a tool for health, well-being and stress mitigation.

In January, the theme of our hypnosis session was making positive change for the New Year.  Last month we focused on building self-confidence and self-esteem to find and embrace love.  The event had an unexpected twist which I wrote about in this blog post.

This Saturday, March 16 at 4 PM in Tysons Corner, Virginia is our next event.  I'll focus the positive visualization process on improving physical and emotional health as we lead-up to the spring break and spring/summer vacation season.

You can learn more about the event, see a list of attendees and register at this link.

My "Hypnotic Experience" show, co-hosted with DC Global Adventurers. (Feb. 2013)

During my introductory talk I define hypnosis and its use as a tool for health.

More Hypnosis with DC Global Adventurers - Mostly Positive with an Unexpected Twist

Let’s start this blog post with a Nejla Routsong love-fest.

Who is Nejla?  She is the founder and lead organizer of DC Global Adventurers, a social Meetup group that I’ve established a partnership with to co-host a series of events about self-hypnosis.

DC Global Adventurers now exceeds 1,600 members because of Nejla’s commitment to organize unique activities that contribute to physical and emotional well-being.  Hiking, snowboarding, meditation, yoga, hip hop dance, cultural celebrations…it’s all on the agenda.

Plus, the group earns its “global” name by offering once-in-a-lifetime trips to exotic locations like Thailand.

This evening nearly 30 professionals gathered in Chevy Chase, Maryland for a DC Global Adventurers Meetup entitled “Self Hypnosis for Love.”  I’ve included below my observations and thoughts about the event, comparing it to a group session I hosted with Nejla in January.   You can also find a few photos from the event at this link.

1.  Larger and more diverse set of attendees.  Attendance this evening was 2X the number in January.  I attribute that to Nejla’s promotion of the event, the 500+ new members who have joined DC Global Adventurers in the past month and the mostly positive reviews I received after last month’s session.

The group this evening was more balanced in terms of gender, as compared to January which was 13 females and a lone male.  There was also a more diverse mix of demographics and cultural backgrounds, which is representative of the Washington, DC community.

2.  More intimate pre-talk.  As I have written on this blog, the most important part of my “Hypnotic Experience” performance is the pre-talk.  I clear up mis-perceptions about hypnosis, discuss its benefits and set expectations for what is to come.

This evening I extended the length of the pre-talk to incorporate a few more personal anecdotes about my life.  I addressed the role my subconscious mind played in an ill-fated decision to pick a fight while in college, as well as a challenging time in my marriage.

Hypnosis is an intimate experience and, as I have come to learn, a group session with a collection of relative strangers can be intimidating.  My goal was to demonstrate my own vulnerabilities to establish a connection and comfort with the participants.

3.  Changed up the hypnotic induction.  I changed up the lead-in to the hypnotic induction and asked the attendees to close their eyes more quickly.  I still took them through an initial focus exercise, yet wanted to remove the visual stimuli that results from a group setting.

With nearly 30 people in the room, there was a mix of responsiveness to the hypnotic induction.  Just as I expected, I had a handful of attendees who dropped deeply into trance, a few who bounced in and out, and a couple who achieved only a light stage of hypnosis.

After bringing the group out of hypnosis to discuss their experience, I had a few attendees ask me to fire up the wireless microphone I bring to performances.  It was needed for clarity as I soften my voice during the induction and suggestion process.

4.  Positive outcomes.  I relied primarily on my “go to” positive visualizations for self confidence and stress management.  I did introduce a new scenario that focuses on meaningful change, yet (admittedly) need to work on language and flow.  My delivery was a bit clunky.

The reaction I received from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive.  I define what a person should consider a successful initial experience with hypnosis (i.e. refreshed, relaxed, positive and interested in trying it on their own), and that seemed to be achieved.

In fact, I have a group of attendees who expressed interest in a one-on-one session.  That’s when I can tailor the process and approach to their specific outcomes.

5.  An unexpected twist.  One DC Global Adventurer member came away from this introduction to hypnosis feeling sluggish with a bit of nausea.

I have had this reaction from show participants in the past and it’s often associated with someone who experiences motion sickness.  The deepening process of the hypnotic induction is motion-based (i.e. go 20x deeper every time I suggest “sleep”).

I spent a few minutes with this participant in follow-up to the event.  I brought the person back into hypnosis, tested the level of suggestion acceptance and then shared a few visualizations to promote physical stability (i.e. lying comfortably on the ground under a tree).

The environment wasn’t ideal though, so the outcome was only moderately successful.

Nejla and I are already in discussion about co-hosting another appropriately themed event on self-hypnosis in March.  Stay tuned in to this blog post as I’ll update it as soon as the event is announced.

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UPDATE:  FEBRUARY 14

I raised the issue of the participant who felt nausea to an online community of hypnotists I am a member of called Hypnothoughts.  I thought this insight from a hypnotist named Sean Michael Andrews was particularly helpful:

Sounds to me like a "hypnotic hangover." Sometimes people will emerge with a headache or feeling of nausea or sometimes just feel "fuzzy." Re-hypnotize and emerge with suggestions of vitality and energy and all sorts of good feelings.

I used to get this in about 5% of subjects, but since I emerge with lots of health suggestions, this never happens anymore.

3 Shades of the Hypnotic Experience

Recently, much of time has been spent on a set of one-on-one sessions with individuals interested in how self-hypnosis can help them make positive changes to their personal and professional lives.

One person desires more focus on the job.  Another seeks peaceful sleep.  A third hopes to quell teeth grinding.

In the next few weeks, I’ll return to a group setting with three interesting and unique performances.

Self-Hypnosis 4 Love

Hosted in partnership with DC Global Adventurers

Tuesday, February 12 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Chevy Chase, Maryland (Metro accessible)

I’ve established a wonderful relationship with the organizer of this social group and partnered with her in January on a similar event attended by nearly 20 of her members.  Here’s a recap.

The hypnotic induction and process I’ll use at this event is more personal than my standard performance.  In fact, it’s extremely close to how I approach an individual session.  The cost to attend is more than 50 percent less than I typically charge for a one-on-one meeting.

The Hypnotic Experience

Hosted in partnership with 20s and 30s Going Out Group

Friday, February 22 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Chinatown, Washington DC (Metro accessible)

With nearly 18,000 members, the 20s and 30s Going Out Group is one of the most profile social organizations in the Washington, DC area.

This performance will focus more on the entertainment aspects of hypnosis, yet I’ll incorporate a discussion about the power of positive visualization to achieve health and well-being, and to make meaningful life changes.  The event organizers anticipate more than 50 attendees.

The Power of Positive Visualization

Hosted in partnership with the Welcome Club of Northern Virginia

Thursday, March 7 from 11 AM to 1 PM

Reston, Virginia

I’ll be the featured speaker at the monthly luncheon held by this organization of professional women.  I plan to discuss the use of hypnosis as a tool to better manage stress, achieve balance and find greater fulfillment in life (professionally and personally).  

This is an invitation only event, so please call me at (301) 538-8100 or Email m.russell.hausman@gmail.com if you have an interest in attending.  

A group of volunteers at my "Hypnotic Experience" show at Bradley Farm in Herndon.

With the sleep suggestion, they instantly drop into a wonderful state of hypnosis.

"I Can't Be Hypnotized", She Thought. Or Could She?

In mid-January, I partnered with a social group called DC Global Adventurers to host an event entitled “New Year, New You: How Self-Hypnosis Can Help You Say True to Your Resolutions.”

Nearly 20 professionals attended the event to learn about the power of positive visualization, and experience a hypnotic induction.  You can read my recap of the event here.

One of the participants was enthusiastic about the soothing and relaxing comfort of hypnosis, yet she had trouble maintaining a trance in a group setting.  She bobbed in and out of the hypnotic state, and at times opened her eyes to compare how she was feeling with the others in the room.

I was pleasantly surprised when she reached out to me a few days later to arrange a one-on-one session.  We agreed to meet-up this past Saturday for what turned out to be an exceptional experience.

Here are a few of my impressions:

--Like most people who are attracted to hypnosis, she is intelligent, career oriented, active and athletic, and confident in her physical appearance.  She radiates energy, strength and comfort.

--Yet, I’ve also found these highly charged and successful professionals find any weakness (real or perceived) to be unacceptable.  For her, the flaw is an inability to maintain a high level of focus and attention on a particular task.

--Ironically, I have struggled with a comparable issue in my persona and professional lives.  Although never formally diagnosed, I consider it a slight case of ADHD; not severe enough to medicate, yet still limiting.

--As we began the induction she wasn’t convinced she could actually be hypnotized.  Admittedly, it did take some time to get her focused on concentration and visualization.  After the initial induction and a deepening process that lasted about 30 minutes, she began to immediately respond to my suggestions.  There was no doubt about whether she was hypnotizable.

--In my post hypnotic suggestions I focused on two guiding principles: 1) a positive feeling about hypnosis and a realization that she could easily return to this state during future sessions; and 2) a strong sense of clarity and focus on work-related tasks.

What was the outcome for her?  It may be too early to tell as the meaningful change through hypnosis can take time.  I’ll keep you updated when I receive feedback.

UPDATE, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

In an Email exchange with this woman, she shared the following about the positive outcome from this one-on-one hypnosis session:

"I feel good focus on my job ..positive and for sure feel more productive.  Thank you so much once again!"

Hypnosis can help a person maintain a high level of focus on the job.  Image:  Scoremoresales.com

 

Exploring Self-Hypnosis with DC Global Adventurers

“This was a great introduction to the group. Thank you Nejla for organizing this meet up. Thoroughly enjoyed it!”

Comment from an attendee

I have a life plan.  It is flexible.  It evolves and shifts.  It focuses on my physical, emotional and spiritual points of fulfillment – marriage, parenting, family, career, mentoring and caring for others.

“Hypnotic Experience” was born from this plan.  It’s what brought me to the Friendship Heights Village Center on Tuesday evening.

I was fortunate to have connected with Nejla Routsong who founded and directs an 1,100 person Meetup group called DC Global Adventurers.  Unlike other social groups that focus solely on single-centric activities (i.e. bar trivia, Karoke, etc.), Nejla creates unique and health-oriented events, such as nature retreats, meditation and yoga.

Together, Nejla and I co-hosted an event entitled “New Year, New You: How Self-Hypnosis Can Help You Say True to Your Resolutions.”  Sixteen members of the group braved a rainy, cold and unpleasant evening in Washington, DC to attend.

Here are a few initial observations from the two hour event:

1.  Consistent with past events I have hosted or participated in, the people who seek new approaches for improvement tend to already lead exceptional lives.  The group this evening was professionally oriented, altruistic and socially conscious.

Plus, it was a stunningly attractive group of people.  Different looks and different cultural backgrounds, yet I suspect each attendee is someone who is noticed when she enters a room.    

2.  Notice I wrote “she.”  That’s because 15 of the 16 participants were women.  Again, that is right in step with what I have found in my other group sessions. 

During my introductory remarks, I acknowledge that in my experience practicing and teaching hypnosis I have found that women put more pressure on themselves to be perfect in all aspects of their life.  This self-induced intensity can create stress-related issues and negative outcomes.

I wrote about this issue last year in a blog post I titled the “Impossibility of Perfection.”

3.  I do my best during the pre-talk to set realistic expectations about the hypnotic process, what it feels like to be hypnotized and anticipated outcomes.  Yet, there is often a sense of disappointment in the experience from some attendees when they realize it’s not magic.

Hypnosis is refreshing, relaxing and incredibly positive for most.  Yet, there’s no loss of self or time.

I now tackle this issue head on by encouraging each attendee to incorporate self-hypnosis into their daily routine for a two week period.  Will they achieve a more positive outlook?  Can they sleep better at night?  Display improved self-esteem?

You bet.  While the changes may be subtle, they are real and meaningful. 

Positive change is in each of us already and hypnosis is merely a tool to re-shape how we subconsciously view ourselves and the world around us.

When a person comes to this realization I feel a tremendous sense of fulfillment.  It’s all part of my life plan.

Keep Your New Year Resolution with Positive Visualizations

This past Saturday morning I pulled into the parking lot at Bethesda Sport & Health Club to be greeted by row upon row of cars.  It was so jammed that I was forced to make the trek to an off-site public garage to secure a spot.

Welcome to the post New Year's health club with its throngs of newly signed members who are trying to make good on their resolution for improved fitness.  Although the parking inconvenience was an irritant, I am comforted by the fact that many of these January health hounds will toss in the towel on their well-being commitment in just a few weeks.

Come February, weekend parking at the Club will no longer be such a challenge.

It shouldn't be that way though.  For many people, the process of following through on New Year's Resolutions (i.e. better health, smoking cessation, career advancement, etc.) requires a shift in thinking at the subconscious level.

That's the focus of an event I am co-hosting the evening of Tuesday, January 15th in Chevy Chase, Maryland in partnership with a social meetup group called DC Global Adventurers.     

Entitled "New Year, New You:  How Self-Hypnosis Can Help You Stay True to Your New Year Resolution," the event will bring together a group of professionals to discuss their resolutions, and then experience how hypnosis can be used as a tool to maintain focus and motivation.

I plan to use a hypnotic induction similar to the one I employed during the "Hypnosis for Exceptional Living" event I presented in November with Professionals in the City.  It's an incredibly relaxing process with a couple of positive visualizations designed to instill feelings of strength, confidence and self-esteem.

I've included below more information about next week's event, including a link to the registration Web page.  I encourage you to join us or contact me directly at m.russell.hausman@gmail.com or (301) 538-8100 to arrange a one-on-one or small group session.


New Year, New You:  How Self-Hypnosis Can Help You Stay True to Your New Year Resolution
Friendship Heights Village Center
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Tuesday, January 15 - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Cost:  $35

Location is metro accessible - Red Line (Friendship Heights)

A hypnotic induction in action from my performance at Bradley Farm Haunted Mansion festival in October 2012.