May 20, 2008 by carly.

Over the last couple weeks we have seen uses of hypnosis on network TV. I thought both shows put a positive and accurate light on hypnosis, which is often not the case. In an effort to keep a clear picture of what hypnosis really is and what it can do, let’s take a look at the accuracy of the shows depictions and uses.

In the next to last episode of this season’s “House,” the title character is hypnotized to recall details of a traumatic event. He has one of the doctors who is certified in hypnosis lead him into a very deep stage of hypnosis where House can see the event location in detail and search for clues within that context.

The show is only an hour long, so it doesn’t go into the process of relaxing and deepening House with an induction which makes it seem like he can instantly reach this stage. It’s good to know that this deep of a stage for someone new to hypnosis would take some time to reach (20 min or more) and not all the population can get to this deep of a stage of hypnosis - only 20-30% can ever get here.

So House was conveniently a deep subject and his hypnosis did help him in recalling details of his event. This is a real use of hypnosis and is often used by hypnotherapists to help clients recall events or reasons that have developed or triggered current behaviors. When using hypnosis to recall events, it is important for the the hypnotist to not lead the client or suggest anything that might or might not have happened. The mind has the ability to recall real memories, but it also has the ability to imagine new ones too. (If you really want more information on hypnosis and memory recall, you can read on here.)

Another TV Show that covered hypnosis as of late was “Oprah” (5/13/08), but hypnosis was not the focus - that honored belonged to a discussion on past lives. The show had on Dr. Brian Weiss, and expert on past-life regression, who hypnotized the whole audience and then individually, a funeral director and even Dr. Oz in order to bring back memories beyond birth and back into previous existences.

Yeah, so if you were not scared of hypnosis already, maybe you are now! My personal beliefs aside, it is widely publicized associations with controversial subjects such as past-life regression that scare some of the public away from a tool that is really so natural, healing and helpful.

I would like everyone to understand that hypnosis stands apart from past life regression and the former does not have to lead to the latter. Hypnosis is a process where you are always in control, but relaxed, and in a state of heightened awareness. You can use hypnosis for a variety of helpful reasons such as releasing stress, erasing bad habits, developing new behaviors and even recalling past events to help you heal in the present - just how far past you can go is something you can decide for yourself.

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December 20, 2006 by carly.

Hypnosis and Yoga. Both controversial in their own way, but one has weaved its way into our American Culture more than the other. For many of us, yoga is common place. It has moved from a side-culture activity to mainstream - available in health clubs, studios and home videos. We can find all varieties of yoga, from more eastern inspired practices that include chanting and meditation to more fitness based programs that focus on making the individual sweat and burn calories. Hooray for yoga and its eventual triumphant entry into our exclusive mainstream culture. Some might scoff, but I say the more practicing, the merrier (and the fitter!)

Hypnosis on the other hand has not yet had the sweeping acceptance of our former topic. It is still feared by many. It is called satanic, magic, or imaginary. Don’t worry - yoga was in the same position a short while ago. Our western culture just needs some time, and heaps of education, to warm up to hypnosis and its many powerful benefits. While we are waiting for this mass acceptance, we, the informed and excited, can take pride in the fact that we are in an important group that will be the leaders of the hypnotic revolution and mass adoption.

Let’s briefly look at what hypnosis is, what it does/does not do, and why we need it to improve our lives. This will be brief, not an extensive study, so you may find yourself with many more questions after we are finished. (This is good. You can post them in the comments if you like, and I will try to answer them.)

The definition of hypnosis that I most often subscribe to is “a heightened state of awareness.” I like this definition best because it highlights the fact that the reader is aware. Not asleep, or not listening/comprehending, but more aware of what is going on than he ever is on a normal basis. In normal life occurrences we only use a small percentage of our brain to focus on the tasks at hand. Most of the research I have read mentions a percentage somewhere between 5% and 15% of our brain. The rest of our brain is dedicated to subconscious activities or inactivity.

Hypnosis brings us to a place where we are so relaxed that we can use 100% of our brain to focus on a task at hand. According to Doctor and Certified Hypnotist Garland H. Fross, using this much of our brain on one task is a hard goal to achieve without hypnosis because, “95% of. . . people do not listen because they are preoccupied with their own problems and thoughts.” The only way to get all their attention is with hypnosis. “With 100% concentration of the mind power on the suggestion, there are no units of the mind power left. . . to be preoccupied with problems.” You are not asleep in hypnosis and most importantly - you are in control still. You will not do anything you do not want to do and you can come out hypnosis when ever you want.

The process of bringing someone into hypnosis is not magical or scary - it is very relaxing and simple. One just needs to be relaxed and open. When I hypnotize someone for the first time, I make sure they are completely comfortable by going through a mental whole body relaxation before I deepen them into a hypnotic state.

Now why do we want to be in a hypnotic state? Well, just think about what you accomplish using 10% of your mind. Now think about what you could accomplish using 100% of your mind! The purpose of hypnosis is to bring you a state where you can work on changing your mind to change you into a healthier person. You can use this to work on self-esteem issues, weight problems, addictions, fears, sadness, stress, success and much more. Many times you are working to take away negative thoughts and beliefs that you have built up over many years and replace them with positive thoughts and suggestions.

Your emotions and reactions to events and comments over time have shaped you. In fact, according to Fross, “Emotion concentrates the mind into a condition akin to, if not identical with, hypnosis. Hypnosis may be defined as a ’super-concentration on the mind.’ Any idea introduced under emotional conditions will act with the force of a post-hypnotic suggestion.”

Think of all the times you have technically been hypnotized by your emotions either negatively or positively. You can see how powerful and deep concepts are that you have adopted through emotions and how just trying to think or rationalize these beliefs away (with a measly 10% of your mind) is near impossible! It takes years to do it this way. We need to use a tool just as powerful as these emotions to battle the negativity deeply ingrained in us - hypnosis - or the use of 100% of our mind. Fight fire with fire and you definitely stand a better chance of conquering your fears, insecurities and failures!

Hypnosis is a powerful tool in use in our society today, but only by a few brave souls. We now know that this tool can be used, even on a daily basis, to improve our lives and the lives of others. Hypnosis is not magical or mystical and has nothing to do with religion or evil. It is our duty as the charter members of Hyp-Yoga to spread this message in our mainstream, western culture in order to make the lives of our friends and family more productive, powerful and positive.

~Carly Halleen, CH, PT, YI

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