One of the best ways that you can achieve total relaxation is to use hypnosis or self-hypnosis. Many people use self-hypnosis or hypnosis CDs to relax, as these methods do not require you to see an actual hypnotist or hypnotherapist. Self-hypnosis is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a calming and relaxing hypnosis session in the privacy of your own home. Self-hypnosis can be done daily to achieve the maximum results.
Hypnosis invokes a relaxation response in the body that is much like meditation. Stressful and chaotic thoughts are essentially locked out of the mind during hypnosis, allowing for a state of deep relaxation that cannot be achieved when awake with a conscious and stirring mind. Self-hypnosis lets the body relax to release all tension and stress from muscles through a series of visualizations and imagery.
By practicing self-hypnosis, you are going to be going deeper than you would if you were simply meditating. During hypnosis, positive affirmations and suggestions are used to build self-confidence and get the most out of every hypnosis session. These affirmations and suggestions can be created by you, you can find them on the Internet, or you can purchase a guided self-hypnosis session on a CD or MP3 to assist you in your hypnosis session. An example of a positive affirmation for a relaxation hypnosis session would be “I can achieve total relaxation and release stress from my life.” Affirmations counter the negative and stressful thoughts that may normally crop up in our day-to-day lives.
To use hypnosis to relax yourself, first find a spot where you will be comfortable and uninterrupted. Block out at extra light and noise, if possible, to create a Zen-like environment for your hypnosis session. Lay down on a couch, bed, or other comfortable resting place. To begin self-hypnosis, visualize all of the tension being released from your muscles. Start with the muscles in your toes and work all the way up to your facial muscles. Imagine these muscles expelling all tension and tightness and sinking away below you. Deepen the sense of relaxation by reciting in your mind how comfortable and relaxed you feel.
Next, work through your positive affirmations that either you have prepared beforehand, or you have obtained from either Internet searches or hypnosis CDs or MP3s. Recite the affirmations in your mind multiple times to allow them to truly connect from your mind to your body. Self-hypnosis sessions normally last between 15-30 minutes from start to finish, though your session may vary depending on how long it takes you to achieve total relaxation, how many affirmations you are reciting, and the amount of time needed for you to gently awake.
After reciting your positive affirmations, bring yourself back to a wakeful state by reinvigorating your body through visualizations. Imagine your muscles begin to come alive again. Some people use even more imagination in their visualizations, such as having themselves climb up a long flight of stairs and awaking at the top, or emerging from a peaceful sea with waves gently crashing. However you choose to bring yourself back to total consciousness after a hypnosis session should be slow and gentle to your mind and body. This includes not standing up too quickly after hypnosis and not immediately engaging in any strenuous activities.
Hypnosis can be a very powerful tool to relax yourself because it allows the mind and body a much needed break in the chaotic world we live in. Choose a method of hypnosis that works best for your lifestyle, and stick to it to see the best results. Over time, hypnosis will build up a core center of relaxation and make you a happier and more relaxed person at all times of the day, not just during your hypnosis sessions.
