The myths and facts of hypnosis.

You may be interested in becoming a Hypnobirthing Practitioner or taking our Hypnotherapy Training but are worried about getting involved with hypnosis because of stories and myths you have heard.

You may be a mother-to-be who would like to attend hypnobirthing classes but afraid of hypnosis.

Can I be made to do something stupid or against my will?
It has been said that all hypnosis is self - hypnosis: you have to consent for it to happen.

No matter how experienced, hypnotists cannot make you do anything against your will or that morally you would not do.
Hypnotists cannot make you run around like a chicken with no head, or do anything you do not want to do.

Our Hypnobirthing Practitioners are trained to a high standard necessary to practise hypnosis as a professional Hypnobirthing Practitioner.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis means ‘Inducement of sleep’ it was named by Dr James Braid 1795 – 1869 after Hypnos the Greek god of sleep.

Hypnotherapy is a form of deep relaxation, whilst the subject is relaxed they are given positive suggestion that allow them to make changes in their life.

Braid soon realised that hypnosis was not a sleep but an altered sense of awareness.

Braid tried to change the name, but the technique had already become known as hypnosis and it is so called up to the present day.

How does hypnosis feel?

It may surprise you to know that the hypnotic state heightens the senses.

As hypnosis is an altered state of awareness, you will be aware of your surroundings and aware of what is going on around you.

This is why some people will say they did not feel hypnotised, or feel any different; they expected to be completely asleep and unaware of anything.

While you are in hypnosis your senses are actually sharper, your sense of hearing and smell improve, while in a trance you would be more aware than the hypnotist.

If the hypnotherapists are playing music to a client in trance, they must keep the volume low, as the deeper the trance state the louder the music will seem.

Is the hypnotic trance dangerous?

Hypnosis is not sleep: it is a state of altered awareness that is completely natural.

There is no record of any harm befalling anyone in hypnosis.

Waking hypnosis is experienced when you watch a film, or read a book and become so engrossed in the plot that you are not aware of anything else.

How often have you been on a bus or train deep in thought and suddenly you realise you are at your destination? You were in trance then.

During the moments before sleep at night you are in the same trance state as if you were in hypnosis.

When you are waking up in the morning and you can’t be bothered to move but are aware of things around you, this is the same feeling as being in hypnosis.

You hit the alarm clock and stay in that half sleep half wake state.
If someone you knew came into the room, they could bring you a cup of tea and put it on the bedside side cabinet, you would not be bothered to move.

But if a stranger entered the room you would be awake and alert immediately. This is the same feeling as being in hypnosis.

There are methods that an experienced hypnotist would use to bring you out of the trance, Hypnobirthing Practitioners trained by us have this knowledge, so please do not be afraid of hypnosis, you will be safe with our Hypnobirthing Practitioners.