MyNewsletterBuilder | Hypnotherapy 07/2009 (Preview)

1. Tailor new information to fit your learning style. If you learn by hearing, repeat a person's name back to them throughout a conversation to help yourself remember it. If you are visual, write things down so that you can read them back to yourself. If you learn by doing, practice a new activity several times after learning it.

2. Connect your memories. Try to incorporate new information in a way that connects to other knowledge you already have. If you are building on existing knowledge, focus on that connection. Many times a simple connection such as "oh, Mary is from my hometown" or "her office is right next to my favorite chocolate shop" can help you to remember new facts. Organizing information (both mentally and in the physical realm if you've written it down) can help you to draw even more connections.

3. Exercise your brain. While your brain isn't a muscle per se, the same "use it or lose it" applies in this case. Take up brain-challenging puzzles, learn a new skill, or spend a day doing everything left-handed (right-handed for those of you who are left-handed) to help your brain stay quick.

4. Get your senses involved. Sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch all play a part in forming memories. If you read something you want to remember, say it out loud. Remember a meal by tasting, touching, and smelling your food. Decide what color something might be or how it might smell – the simple act of doing so will help your brain record that information in several different ways, which improves your chances of recalling it later.

5. Finally, pay attention. This means focusing all of your attention on what you are learning. No multi-tasking, no eating while reading, no surfing the Internet while talking, etc. Your mind cycles through different thoughts ever few seconds, so you need to made a conscious effort to keep your focus on the task at hand.

Many people who are interested in hypnotherapy have questions about what the process of being hypnotized is like. It is an unfortunate fact that stage hypnosis acts have greatly altered the public's perception of hypnosis. In fact, a person undergoing hypnotherapy experiences almost the exact opposite of the brainwashed image of the person on stage who is quacking like a duck at the mercy of the hypnotist.

Hypnosis is a state of heightened awareness. While under hypnosis a person is neither unconscious nor out of control. The state of hypnosis is one of deep relaxation, and one that can be entered into or out of at will. In this state, a person is able to make decisions and access their greater truth. Ultimately, their susceptibility to suggestions is only true if those suggestions are, in fact, in alignment with what that person truly desires. It is a powerful tool that allows people to access their deeper, truer self, far past the idle chatter of the monkey brain.

People experience a number of things during hypnosis. Most feel very peaceful and secure. Some people feel very light and as if they were floating, while others feel as if their limbs are very heavy. As the brain enters slower wave patterns, breathing usually slows down and all anxiety disappears. As there is no actually "falling asleep" there is no need to "wake up" from hypnosis, one simply brings their conscious back to the present moment. With continued practice, it will become easier and easier to access the subconscious self, and it will always remain easy to return right back to consciousness as well.

Mindfulness is something that most all of us here on Earth have the opportunity to work on. This is why so many spiritual teachers emerge to teach us different aspects of mindful living. To be mindful is to be aware, thoughtful, and fully present. It is, in this day and age, particularly difficult to be fully present in any given moment. Thoughts of the past, of the future, of what you need to get or do, or what you've already done – all of these things prevent you from living in the moment.

To discover mindfulness, think of the way that children interact with the world. Children are capable of being very strongly present and focused on the current moment. When exploring the world around them, they aren't thinking of anything other than what they are experiencing. Their entire world can be reduced to a dandelion, something that most adul

ts would struggle with. Another way you can watch children demonstrate presence is when they fall down. They may fall, but unless they receive negative attention as a result, they just keep on going, continually moving on to the next thing in their journey.
The next time you feel your mind racing ahead of you, stop and practice mindfulness. Take deep breaths, focusing on both the inhalation and the exhalation – and the moments in between. If thoughts occur to you, take note of the thought and then return to the focus on your breath. Once you feel that you are back in the present moment you can consider any thoughts that may have occurred to you. Sometimes, all you need to do is acknowledge a thought and dismiss it. Being mindful can help you achieve your goals, find a greater sense of peace in the world, and even reclaim some of the joy you experienced as a child exploring the great wide world.

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In This Issue:

Five Tips for Improving Memory

What to Expect of Hypnotherapy

Conscious Living, One Step at a Time

This Month

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Summer Snacks!

Summer is a wonderful time to eat fresh food right out of the garden or from the farmer's market. Don't even THINK about turning your stove on this time of year when you're looking for a snack. Instead, munch on something fresh!

Veggie Plate: Throw a bunch of summer veggies on a plate and munch away. Dips are great, but be aware that many conventional veggie dips are extremely high in fat.

Fruit Bowl: Cut up a bunch of your favorite summer fruits, grab and fork and start eating. No alterations required!

Summer Food on the Go: If you need food for later, grab fruit and cheese, or a few choice veggies rolled up in a whole grain tortilla to eat anytime.

Social Anxiety

Social anxiety affects many people, and in a very profound way. Those with social anxiety experience anxiety almost solely when in social situations, such as being introduced to new people, speaking in public, interacting with authority figures, or when attention is called to them. They experience the full range of anxiety symptoms, such as sweating, dry mouth, racing heart, blushing, etc. Others may perceive them as being shy, standoffish, or aloof when in fact they are simply too fearful or nervous to interact normally. Fortunately, there is great success in treating social anxiety with a number of modalities, including hypnotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Yoga Pose For Balance and Clarity: Vrksasana

Vrksasana, also known as tree pose, enhances strength, clarity, balance, and concentration. To stand in tree pose, put your weight into one foot, and place the other foot flat against the opposite thigh, with your leg turned out from the hip. The foot should be placed as high up as is comfortable, but never pressing directly against the knee. Then, lift your arms into prayer pose and focus your eyes just above eye level. After taking several breaths in this position, press the palms together and lift the arms straight overhead. Do not allow the shoulders to rise up towards the ears when the arms lift. Take several breaths and then bring the hands back down to prayer pose. Gently come out of tree pose and take a breath before entering tree pose on the other leg.