Hypnotherapy > Reviews (10)

In an earlier op 'Racing without much on yer feet man', i stated that i had found two ways to help improve athletic performance without virtually any extra effort. Here is the second- Self Hypnosis. I studied this topic in great deal at uni, thus applying what i had learned to a real life situation. This was for part fulfilment of my degree...the dreaded 'dissertation'!!! Actually it all became rather fun, but i will spare you the boring details. Instead i am going to guide you on a tour of what hypnosis (or hypnotherapy) is all about, as well as how it could benefit you in a sporting situation. Although i have not given an opinion on a specific product....you should end up with a clearer picture of what to buy- if need be! Here goes :-)...

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What Is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state that we all go into many times each day. Examples of this are being so engrossed in a book or television programme that you aren't aware of the things going on around you. This does not mean that you are 'out of it', just that your focus is on something else.

Am i asleep?
No. It's more like the stage when you're just falling asleep or waking up- a very comfortable and relaxed state, but you're still aware of what's going on.

What if i don't 'wake up'!
That has never happened!! You can arouse at any time (not in the sexual sense though!) you like and you're not reliant on a therapist or self-hypnosis tape to wake you (although of course this happens when the session is over!!).

Do i lose control or is the therapist in control of me?
Absolutely not! YOU are totally in control throughout. An easy way to think about it is looking at the releationship between a driver and a navigator. You are the driver of the car, and the hypnotherapist is the navigator, showing you the easiest and quickest way to get to your destination.

What can the therapist make me do?
Nothing that you don't want to! You can't be made to do anything you would not ordinarily do, and you can arouse at any time that you like. The success of hypnotherapy lies in the fact that YOU want to make these changes for yourself- hypnosis just guides you safely and easily towards making those changes so you can achieve the goals YOU set yourself.

So you can't make me bark like a dog!!
Not unless you want to, no! This is the domain of the stage hypnotists (NOT hypnotherapists) who are there solely to entertain large audiences. The individuals participating in these shows are already extroverts (otherwise they would not volunteer) who enjoy entertaining others and are therefore willing to take part in whatever the stage hypnotist asks them!

So what will it feel like to be hypnotised?
Different people experience different things, however the athletes that participated in my study felt calm, relaxed and comfortable. They even felt lighter and experienced a pleasant, drifting sensation as they continued further into the session. Some people don't feel like they have been hypnotised at all, whereas other people know that they experienced something different to their normal everyday state.

Can anyone be hypnotised?
Generally, yes. Some with psychiatric conditions cannot be hypnotised, but the general public can be. If you have the motivation to make the changes you want, hypnosis could be the easiest and most successful strategy you could try to aid your sport performance. All one has to do is listen to a 'self hypnosis' tape each day and when you train...or alternatively use a hypnotherapist instead for around twenty minutes! Ok...admittedly it does not work with everyone, but many have benefitted from sparing a few minutes of their time.

How will i benefit from being hypnotised?
Hypnosis will allow you to experience a state of 'flow'. This is an optimal psychological state, and when a person is in flow they can become totally involved in an activity. They can experience positive characteristics...which sports scientists (like myself) have found to be the psychological process underlying peak performance. For example characteristics of flow could be ; concentration, control, feeling rewarded by training...or even notice changes in time!!!

Hypnotherapy certainly benefitted the athletes that used it in my study. It has also helped in situations, for example, of penalty taking, goal kicking, golf putting, tennis skills..and many, many more.

Although sometimes difficult to find, one can buy self-hypnosis tapes for these purposes.

If you are more interested i recommend these books...

Liggett, D. 2000. Sports Hypnosis. Human Kinetics.
Jackson & Csikszentmihalyi. 1999. Flow in Sport. Human Kinetics.
Csikszentmihalyi. 1991. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Harper.

...or look out for my work- which is going to be published soon!!!

If you have any other burning questions, or would just like to know a little more... i will be more than willing to help you out. Just leave a note in my guestbook. Tom.