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About Hypnotism workshop Mumbai
About Hypnotism workshop Delhi
About Hypnosis
Q: What is hypnosis?
A: Experts have been trying to define hypnosis for years,
with little agreement between them! The best way I can answer,
for the time being at least, is this: Hypnosis is a natural and
often spontaneously occurring state of consciousness in which
the conscious mind, the part of our mind that judges, evaluates,
and analyzes is "put to the side" so that our subconscious mind
predominates. When someone is in a hypnotic state of mind they
are open to accepting ideas, concepts and suggestions that they
may integrate into their belief system. This can effect a change
in feeling about an issue, in addition to changing behavior
relating to that issue. Many believe that it is the ability to
change feelings, more than behaviors, that makes hypnosis so powerful.
Q: When I am in hypnosis can someone control my mind, cause
me to do things I wouldn't ordinarily do?
A: Mind control is a popular myth surrounding hypnosis
that many of us in the hypnotherapy field are working hard to
dispel. It is NOT true that someone can control your mind
while you are in hypnosis. In fact, many hypnosis experts like
to say that rather than lose control, you gain control
while in hypnosis. This assertion is based on the fact that our
conscious mind constitutes a measly 10% of our mind, whereas our
subconscious mind rules the remaining 90% of us! Even though it
is said the subconscious mind is open to suggestion and doesn't
judge or discriminate against suggestions, it has been demonstrated
time and again that people will not behave contrary to their moral/ethical
beliefs, they will not violate their core standard of behavior.
What confuses some people is how individuals will behave during
a stage hypnotism show; ordinarily shy, quiet folks will often
bark like dogs, sing like Elvis, do the hula or a myriad of other
silly things in front of sometimes hundreds of strangers! This
observation seems to contradict the statement of non-violation
of personal behavior codes; but there is a reasonable explanation.
Often, when people you least expect to do so, exhibit flamboyant
behavior under hypnosis, we are seeing another aspect of that
person. Just because some people seem shy and quiet doesn't mean
they are destined to always be that way! All it may take is the
opportunity for the conscious, rational mind to step aside, for
another facet of that person to emerge! This is a very simplified
explanation of the dynamics that can occur with some individuals,
but, suffice it to say that, with 90% of your mind in the driver's
seat when you're in hypnosis, someone else has little hope of
controlling you!!!
Q: What are post-hypnotic suggestions and how long will they
last after being given while in hypnosis?
A: Post-hypnotic suggestions are those ideas offered to
a person in hypnosis to "take with them" into their conscious
life. The suggestions often deal with behaviors or beliefs the
person wishes to change, such as to stop smoking, develop a better
sense of self etc etc. How long the suggestions last is extremely
variable and dependent on a number of things. Duration of a post-hypnotic
suggestion is probably influenced most by how well the suggestion
was accepted by the subconscious mind during hypnosis. Acceptance,
in turn, is affected by a number of conditions/variables, such
as resistance, deeper-seated issues affecting the situation being
dealt with, sometimes depth of hypnotic trance and perhaps rapport
between subject and hypnotist. It is probably safest to say that
many issues of long-lasting duration, deep emotional impact and
importance or around which there is a great deal of resistance
to change, will need periodic, perhaps frequent (for a certain
period of time) reinforcement of acceptance until the subconscious
mind can truly integrate the new thought, feeling, emotion and/or
behavior in a comfortable, natural way.
Q: Can anyone be hypnotized?
A: It is felt that virtually everyone is able to go into
a hypnotic trance to some degree or another. In fact, certain
researchers believe that people go in and out of hypnosis spontaneously
several times a day! How receptive the person (subject) is to
being hypnotized by someone else, can be the determining factor
of whether or not they go into trance . The more open a subject
is to relaxing and going into hypnosis, the more successful they
usually are. Because many people don't understand what hypnosis
is, what it can feel like, or how it may be experienced, they
will believe they didn't "go under" during a hypnosis session,
when, in fact, they were hypnotized. It is not true that
a person has to be completely "out" to have been in hypnosis.
Many people achieve a very powerful level of trance (in terms
of being receptive to suggestion) and are able to hear and remember
every word the hypnotherapist says. Perhaps it's helpful to say
that, like many other phenomena in the world, we experience hypnosis
in our own, personal way; there is no right or wrong, good or
bad--our way is just our way!
Interestingly, many hypnosis experts believe that children are
in hypnosis most of the time! Because children play "make believe"
so much of their day, they are in a nearly constant state of "suspended
disbelief", which, in effect, is what we do in hypnosis! This
may also be why children are so able to be influenced by their
environment! What is around them day in and day out is being fed
to their subconscious minds as they "pretend", thus explaining
why childhood-acquired beliefs, philosophies, attitudes and perceptions
are so deeply embedded and often so hard to dispel! There is much
food for thought, research and intervention here!
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