Authored by Rodney Southern in Society
Published on 01-18-2009

Hypnotism is certainly one of the oldest and most abused of the relaxation techniques. People have for years thought that the power to hypnotize means that a person can exert some type of mind control over their subject. The fact is, hypnotism is powerful. Just not when it comes to creating mindless zombies or slaves. Hypnotism is a powerful way of transferring relaxation and suggestion to a willing participant. The art of hypnotism is something that takes a great deal of practice to become good at it.

The first thing to consider when trying to hypnotize someone is to make certain that the person is comfortable. To be hypnotized, one has to be comfortable and have a calmed mind. A nice soft chair or sofa is ideal.

The next thing you should do before you begin the hypnotism is to go through a deep breathing exercise with the person. Have them take in deep breaths and then exhale slowly. Do this exercise slowly and right along with them as your relaxation is also needed for a successful session.

Next you will need to find something for them to focus on. This does not have to be the typical swinging object. It can be a spot on the wall, or a place in their mind. Many hypnotists will have the person hold a photo or memento that has special meaning to them if it is a memory they are seeking to retrieve. Anything that the individual can focus on intently will do the trick nicely. The key is to cancel out the outer thoughts surrounding the focal point of the mind. You want to dial directly into that area that you are focusing on.

Watch for certain things from the individual. For example, they may begin to breath calmer, or their eyes may close. These are signs that they are coming closer to relaxation and hypnotism. Once you feel the patient is beginning to relax, then you may begin the suggestion phase of hypnotism. Some people are hypnotized to retrieve memories, some to quit smoking, and some just to learn to deal with a specific phobia. Regardless of the session, make sure that you deliver the suggestions in a calm, relaxed, even manner. Their should be no background noise whatsoever except the sound of your voice.

The number one skill of a great hypnotist is the ability to be patient. Not every person responds immediately, or even at all. It takes a great deal of patience to keep everything on the right level to foster good hypnotism. Take your time and do not ever rush the process. This is completely counterproductive to the benefits of a successful hypnotism.