How To Hypnotize
How to hypnotize others depends upon your environment, first and foremost. For instance, a stage hypnotist barks a quick, overwhelming series of commands to his subjects, who begin to feel stressed to obey. The fear and anxiety of being up in front of others and not knowing what will happen is tremendous, so the subjects are more likely to flock to someone who seems calm, in control and collected. In other words, the hypnotist! There is another method more commonly used in therapeutic settings where the hypnotist uses relaxation hypnosis techniques. Speaking in a calm, quiet voice, the hypnotist will use counting, breathing instruction and imagery to assist a subject, or subjects, in reaching a state of trance. If you are learning how to hypnotize, then you should start with NLP hypnosis and work your way to stage hypnosis, which is a more advanced method.
The first step for successful hypnosis sessions is the induction. Learning to hypnotize someone is based on convincing that person to abandon their waking state and slip into a more suggestible state of trance. Not everyone can be hypnotized, certainly not without their consent, but you will find that most people are willing to relax, breathe deeply and visualize certain things. A common script for visualization centers on the parts of the body you want your subject to relax. You might say, “Start by relaxing all the muscles in your forehead… let all the cares, the stresses, the anxieties of this day melt away… feel your forehead relaxing deeply to feel the tingling of relaxation… feel your neck become warm with the deep relaxation as you take a deep peaceful breath and just let go…”.
When learning how to hypnotize, you will probably come across the term “NLP hypnosis.” This method is also sometimes referred to as Ericksonian hypnosis and suggests that “artfully vague” language is the best way to connect with the subconscious mind. It is as if you are just having a conversation with the subject, although there is a rhyme and a reason for the way you speak, when you pause, what words you use and how you phrase things. Rather than giving commands like “You are getting sleepy,” you might say something like, “You begin to feel yourself relaxing, as though a beautiful blue mist is enveloping your body.” You’ll use sensory words like “feel/see/touch/sense,” in addition to image-rich language and alliteration, like “beautiful blue mist.”
It’s important that you know not only how to hypnotize but also how to awaken a person from hypnosis. After all, you want your subject feeling fully alert and refreshed afterwards. Be sure to include this command in your beginning induction, letting the subject know “When this session is over, you will awaken, feeling rejuvenated, refreshed, as though you have just had a full eight hours of sleep, ready to start your day.” Later, you will give your subject a cue to awaken, saying, “When I count from one to five, you will awaken. By the time I reach the count of five, you will feel wide awake and alert as if you had a full refreshing night of sleep.” Counting is a common method, but snapping fingers or clapping hands is sometimes used as well.