Big Visual Miss from I Am Modern

Inaccurate perceptions about hypnosis run wild.

Mind control…magic…Voodoo…mental trickier…I have heard it all.  It’s why I invest time prior to any performance or individual session on a pre-talk.  My goals are to establish a level of interest and comfort in the hypnotic process, and how it is a tool to help with emotional and physical well-being.

Yet, it’s hard to dispel the myths, especially when I unintentionally contribute to them.

A few months back I was asked by an editor at I Am Modern magazine to write an article about the benefits of hypnosis for their February 2013 “Health” issue.  She had heard about my “Hypnotic Experience” show after a performance I gave in November in partnership with Professionals in the City.

The resulting article published this past week has been well received.  In fact, I have already received a couple of inquiries from readers who are interested in learning more about the practice of hypnosis.

So, how what’s bad about the story? 

Check out the illustration the editors selected to accompany the article.  It plays to this nonsense stereotype that a hypnotist is a tuxedo clothed illusionist who yields magical powers of mind control.

Yuck!  This disastrous visual selection crushes the message of my article.

I encourage you to read the article, yet focus on the words.  And then read this piece entitled “Hypnosis Myths…Solved.”   It does a wonderful job of clearly explaining what hypnosis is and why it’s such a wonderfully powerful tool for positive change. 

The February issue of I Am Modern magazine includes my article on hypnosis.

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.

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.

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!   

What Does It Feel Like to be Hypnotized?

The feeling of hypnosis is unique for each person.

One of my volunteers was surrounded by her friends who peppered her with questions.  What did it feel like?  Do you remember anything?  Are you sleepy?

I had just completed a performance of my "Hypnotic Experience" show at the Bradley Farm Haunted House festival and the volunteers continued to be the stars of the evening.  I watched as a few of them relayed to friends their experiences while hypnotized.

It's a frequent question I'm asked as well when people learn I am a hypnotist:  what does it feel like to be hypnotized?

Even having worked with hundreds of people during the past five years, it's a hard question to answer.  That's because hypnosis is very much a personal experience.

Yet, I just came across an article in the San Francisco Chronicle in which a young woman who practices self-hypnosis does an exceptional job of describing how she feels while hypnotized.  Here is a link and an excerpt:


Hypnosis is Akin to Intense Focus 

If you're reading a book and you're really into reading that book and the rest of the world sort of disappears, you don't realize how fast time is passing, someone could call your name and you don't hear - hypnosis is actually similar to that, but instead of focusing on the TV you're watching or the book you're reading or the project you're working on, you're focusing on what's going on inside your head and what's going on inside your body.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Hypnosis-is-akin-to-intense-focus-3975730.php#ixzz2DiUMad6D

If you're reading a book and you're really into reading that book and the rest of the world sort of disappears, you don't realize how fast time is passing, someone could call your name and you don't hear - hypnosis is actually similar to that, but instead of focusing on the TV you're watching or the book you're reading or the project you're working on, you're focusing on what's going on inside your head and what's going on inside your body.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Hypnosis-is-akin-to-intense-focus-3975730.php#ixzz2DiUMad6D

 

If you're reading a book and you're really into reading that book and the rest of the world sort of disappears, you don't realize how fast time is passing, someone could call your name and you don't hear - hypnosis is actually similar to that, but instead of focusing on the TV you're watching or the book you're reading or the project you're working on, you're focusing on what's going on inside your head and what's going on inside your body.

Research Reports on Health Through Hypnosis

The initial five minutes of my "Hypnotic Experience" show are perhaps the most important part of the performance. 

My pre-talk is both entertaining and informative as I define hypnosis and set expectations of what's to come during the show -- for both the volunteers and the audience.  I also overview the the emotional and physical benefits derived from the practice of self-hypnosis.  (Yes...I teach self-hypnosis in a small group setting or one-on-one.)

It's at this time I typically share with the audience that with the exception of modest bout of stomach flu earlier this year I have not been sick in three years.  No colds.  No infections.  Nothing.

I practice smart health and hygiene by eating right, sleeping well at night, frequently washing my hands and visiting doctor.  Yet, I'm also convinced my good fortune is the result of mitigating the impact of stress through hypnosis.

Now there is legitimate research from Ohio State University that supports this notion.  A new study recently published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that "hypnosis and related relaxation techniques can actually prevent the weakening of the immune response that often follows periods of acute stress."

There's a nice overview of the research and its findings in this article entitled "Hypnosis May Prevent Weakened Immune System, Improve Health." 

I encourage you to keep eating an apple a day, take your vitamin C and drink plenty of water.  Plus, you may want to explore incorporating self-hypnosis into your wellness routine.  You'll be healthier and happier this winter.   

 

Image Source:  Definition of Wellness

Hypnosis for Well-Being Performance Set for November 19

The Washington, DC area escaped Hurricane Sandy's wrath.  There was a lot of rain and a bit of wind, yet the damage was minimal.

We were lucky when you consider the plight of New York, New Jersey and other coastal communities on the east coast.

It turned out to be more of a precautionary move for local groups and social organizations to cancel their activities on October 29th and 30th.  One of those cancellations was my "Hypnotic Experience" performance in partnership with Professionals in the City.

Good news!  The performance is back on the calendar for Monday, November 19th at MOCA Gallery in Washington, DC.  Here is a link to the promotional page with a description of the event.

I'll introduce hypnosis, talk through its use as a tool for emotional and physical well-being, take volunteers through a hypnotic induction, and then share a couple of suggestions that will encourage good health.  For those interested, I will then do a brief session to teach self-hypnosis.

If you have ever had an interest in hypnosis, I encourage you to sign up and attend this event.  In fact, you can use the promotional code Hypnosis 11353 when registering and receive a $5 discount. 

These volunteers at my "Hypnotic Experience" performance demonstrate the wonderful feeling of relaxation achieved through hypnosis.

Embracing Life Phases

It's fair to say my exploration of hypnosis as a tool for physical and emotional well being is a mid-life crisis. 

About five years ago I entered a new phase in life personally and professionally, and realized I needed to act on a long-standing interest I harbored in alternative approaches to health.  I reasoned, "If not now...when?"
 
I have also come to recognize hypnosis can serve as a vehicle to help me pursue another long-standing desire -- comedy entertainment.

Yes, I gave straight stand-up comedy a shot and completely bombed.  In fact, I got booed off stage at a free open mic performance.  It was quite humbling.

With my "Hypnotic Experience" show I have developed a unique approach that combines an informative and educational discussion about the power of hypnosis with good fun and entertainment.  My recent performance at Georgetown University was a success and I have gigs lined up this month at the Bradley Farm Haunted Mansion festival and at an event sponsored by Professionals in the City.

Life phases are real and meaningful.  My wife has been incredibly supportive of my endeavors and I think at some level is thankful I decided not to buy a sports car and get hair plugs.  That would have been too cliche.

I've been thinking a lot about life phases since meeting an exceptional young woman yesterday.  She too is in a phase as she transitions to young adulthood, and deals with issues related to career goals, life aspirations and redefined relationships with family and peers.

She also happens to be a truly gifted and creative writer who has the unique ability to emotionally connect with a reader.  I encourage you to block out 15 minutes to click through and read the blog post I have included below.  It's a wonderfully intense experience and captures the emotional toll a life phase has on a person -- both good and bad.

The writing is a bit too much stream of consciousness and the paragraph structure is raw.  That will evolve and mature in time.  Talent is talent though and good heavens does this woman have it.

I introduced her to hypnosis yesterday and suggested that it could be a tool to help her effectively channel her creativity into meaningful outputs (i.e. poetry, short stories, screenplays, song writing, etc.).  I hope she explores this further with me.


Follow Your Intuition

Excerpt

I was unable to see how my mother’s relationship with her own mother affected and influenced the way that she interacted with me for so long. I had mistakenly thought that she was un-nurturing, not wanting me in her life. I internalized that and began to believe that I was incapable of being a nurturing person and genuinely loving something or someone. I couldn’t even bring myself to say the words that my best friend and boyfriend of 4 years needed to hear so that he knew how I felt. I was selfish and stubborn, and I resented my mom for not showering me with the “I love you’s” that everyone else had. I blamed her for my own ruined relationship…and I ran away from home for a number of years because I believed that the easy was the best thing for me.

Slaying Unwanted Habits with Hypnosis

At the fitness club this morning I linked up with a woman who is one of their most respected instructors.  She teaches yoga, as well as several aerobic and core muscle development classes.

We've chatted in the past about how hypnosis can be a wonderful tool to enhance the physical and emotional benefits of a consistent workout regimen.  Hypnosis helps improve focus, alleviates stress and facilitate more rapid physical recovery from exercise.  

It was perfect timing today as she had just finished teaching a class and had a few minutes to give hypnosis a try.  We set up in one of the yoga studios, and we were joined by her two teenage daughters and another woman who was in the room stretching.

What a fabulous session!  The hypnotic induction was successful as it typically is for practitioners of yoga.  They are open and comfortable with the relaxing, mediation-like process I employ and often have very creative minds.

It was the fourth woman who joined this session that I found most interesting.  She was chewing rather aggressively on a stick of gum and sported band-aids on the tips of four of her fingers.

After bringing her out of hypnosis to confirm she enjoyed the feeling, I learned during our talk that she's been under a considerable amount of stress.  To rid herself of this negative energy, she had developed a couple of unwanted habits:  1) biting at the cuticles on her fingernails; and 2) clenching and making uncomfortable movements with her tongue.

I gently returned her to the hypnotic state and encouraged her to focus on three positive suggestions:

1.  A feeling of confidence, calm and control that surges through her body whenever she feels anxious.

2.  A deep understanding that she is a wonderful mother, spouse and career-oriented professional.

3.  A wonderful sense of relaxation comparable to the soothing effects of a two hour full body massage.


Is hypnosis a cure-all for everything that plagues us physically and emotionally?  Of course not.  And this woman may indeed continue to struggle with these habits. 

Yet, hypnosis is an effective way to manage the harmful outcomes of stress and, equally important, to take ownership of her well being.  That's an important start!   

Anxiety, nerves and stress can lead to bad habits.  Hypnosis can help.  Image:  Bigstockphoto.

The Impossibility of Perfection

Perfection is a wonderful aspiration, right?

For many it's sought in physical appearance.  Do a Web search using the phrase "plastic surgery and beauty" and you'll see what I mean.

For others, perfection is paramount in professional or academic accomplishment, athletic achievement and/or family relationships.  I used the words "and/or" in the previous sentence for a reason.  That's because the desire to craft perfection in different aspects of life can become all consuming.

The perfect marriage...perfect kids...perfect friends...perfect career...perfect hobbies - I hear this all of the time from my friends, neighbors and people I interact with professionally.

To this my response is always the same:  "For me, good enough is good enough."

Perfection is simply an unrealistic expectation.  Its pursuit creates an unsustainable level of stress and dissatisfaction that can manifest itself in a myriad of unhealthy ways, such as restless sleep, irritability, illness, nagging physical injuries, poor career or classroom performance, etc.

In my pre-talk prior to the start of a hypnotic induction I seek to learn a bit about the person who has expressed interest in exploring emotional and physical balance and well being.  I don't probe too far, yet it is often apparent the person has set themselves up for failure and disappointment by pursuing perfection in aspects of their life.

It's not an age thing either.  Earlier this month I hypnotized a group of college and high school students who had defined completely unachievable goals for themselves in school, athletics and personal relationships.  A fair number of them expressed feelings of regret for perceived failure.

Hypnosis is a powerful tool that can help an individual let go of pent up stress and tension, and more effectively manage it in the future.

Plus, I typically encourage a person under hypnosis to embrace the concept they are beautiful, smart, energetic, confident and loved exactly the way they are.  Good enough is good enough!

Yuck!  The unrealistic journey to perfection can create stress and anxiety.  Source: CNN.com