Women who have used techniques learned during hypnosis to relax during pregnancy report calmer, more relaxed babies. These babies tend to be better eaters and cope with stress better than children of women who were overly stressed while pregnant.

Hypnosis during labor is particularly valuable. Techniques can be taught during a hypnosis sessions, and then used during the birthing process, to help the laboring Moms relax, aid the body in its physical work, and see the process move easily to its ultimate conclusion: the Baby.

Having been taught how to do self-hypnosis, many Moms can control pain and other physical discomforts and will have the ability to distort the time. The time distortion lengthens the pleasurable times and reduces the uncomfortable times.

Even though the Mom is able to access a deeply relaxed state, she is not disconnected from the process of childbirth. In fact, she is much more attuned to the process. She is able to hear, understand, and respond to instructions from the doctor, midwife, nurses, or others involved in the birthing.

Many hypnotherapists incorporate childbirth hypnosis into their practices. However, some have taken it a step further and offer full Natural Childbirth Classes to Moms and their Birthing Companions. HypnoBirthing® is one of these courses. Developed by Marie Mongan, HypnoBirthing® is based on the work of Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, the Father of Natural Childbirth. Marie designed the program after utilizing self-hypnosis during her own birthings and guiding her daughter through childbirth.

She founded The HypnoBirthing® Institute, to promote and teach the philosophy and techniques of true natural childbirth to nurses, doctors, and hypnotherapists. Only practitioners who have completed the HypnoBirthing® course are eligible to use the designation "Certified HypnoBirthing® Practitioner". .

HypnoBirthing® is more than just a program or technique to provide women with the knowledge and tools to create a safer, easier, and more comfortable birthing experience. It is also a philosophy based on the belief that, when freed from unnecessary fear and tension, and given the correct knowledge and tools, women can create for themselves and their babies a relaxed, stress free birth. In addition, their birthing can, most often, be pain-free and free from drugs and other medical intervention.

The HypnoBirthing® classes are designed to be presented to both the pregnant woman and her birthing companion. The birthing companion is taught to guide and support the birthing mother as she accesses deep relaxation. Moms learn various breathing techniques designed to relax the body and thus maximize the work the body is doing during labor. They are also taught how to enter a state of self-hypnosis, in which they use a variety of visualizations to facilitate relaxation, dilation and birthing of the baby. The Moms are trained in various physical exercises and massages designed to prepare the body for the physical demands put upon it during childbirth. It is felt that with the combined abilities of the conscious and subconscious minds childbirth can be a stress-free and rewarding experience for Mother, Baby and Companion.

For more information on HypnoBirthing® you can visit the HypnoBirthing Institute at www.hypnobirthing.com

Hypnosis for Sports Improvement by Roy Streit, Certified Hypnotherapist

Any athlete, in any sport, at any level of competition, can improve his performance by utilizing hypnosis to unleash the power of his subconscious. You’ve probably heard the statement “Winning’s between the ears.” That truism emphasizes the fact that an athlete’s mental focus is more important than his native physical traits. As Arnold Palmer said, “Golf challenges you mentally at any age”

1 Using hypnosis, an athlete can learn to tap his subconscious faster and more efficiently than is possible by trial and error. Taking lessons, using a coach, watching training videos and television, and other methods of learning, give the athlete the physical instruction to compete. But effective use of various techniques to fully engage the subconscious allows the athlete to further improve his performance and “play in the zone”. Because golf is so popular, let’s use that game to discuss and illustrate the many ways hypnosis can improve the mental aspects of a athlete’s performance. (You can make the comparison to your game of choice.) Various suggestions and techniques that can be used in hypnotherapy sessions to improve performance will be explained. Every golfer can improve his game by learning to reduce, control, and/or manage stress. If an athlete is under stress, his muscles are tensed, adrenaline is flowing, respiration is shallow and jerky, and tunnel vision sets in. These reactions make it impossible to hit the perfect shot for the circumstance. As Grace Park, 1998 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion, said, “Control your adrenaline. Too much excitement can pull you right out of The Zone, and once you leave it, you can't go back. So above all, stay calm. Walk a bit more slowly. Take deep breaths.”

2 (Taking deep breaths is a basic way to begin to relax.) Hypnotherapists routinely teach clients various relaxation and stress management techniques, suggestions, tips and exercises. These tools particular to the athlete’s game are reinforced in hypnosis, and can then be automatically used on and off the golf course. Practicing and using the stress reduction techniques will let the physiological movements be smoother, stronger, and more effective. Because the subconscious can allow the golfer remain more relaxed and more focused under pressure, he can easily and comfortably tune out distractions, disregard a bad shot, or even drive further because relaxed muscles unnecessary to the movement will not interfere with the muscles needed for the swing. The golf stance, swing, and other mechanical techniques are learned by the conscious mind. Then habits are impressed on the subconscious based on how the golfer practices and plays (perfect, good, bad, or indifferent). Maximum effectiveness occurs when the subconscious is made aware of the perfect techniques in hypnosis where the golfer can refine and improve his technique all the way to perfection. In hypnosis, the golfer can remember many great and terrific shots made under various circumstances. Focusing only on those very best shots, the subconscious can recall exactly how the muscles, respiratory system, and nervous system were performing throughout every aspect of the shot. It then is much easier for a relaxed golfer to duplicate those great shots in similar circumstances on the golf course. Visualization, affirmations, and self-talk are also very useful tools. Unfortunately, most people focus on the negative things that might happen, rather than the positive outcomes possible. A hypnotherapist can help the golfer visualize the desired results in a positive way, and eliminate the negative “but” that usually gets added to affirmations and self-talk. Eliminating the negative self-talk strengthens the golfers self-esteem and increases his confidence. Rose Mary Wasielewski, MSN, R.N., director of cardiac rehabilitation at The Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana stated, “Just as Tiger [Wood] visualizes a perfect shot and tells himself that he can do it, we too program our behavior…..Winners, like Tiger, tell themselves repeatedly that they can do it; they visualize themselves as doing it and they are successful."

3 The refreshed memories of great and terrific shots can also be used to more effectively visualize making perfect shots in many different locations, weather and course conditions or competitive circumstances. Visualization is a terrific way to practice. Every possible condition can be created to practice making perfect shots. The subconscious can practice thousands of perfect swings every day simply by using visualization. Visualization can also include practicing controlling stress and remaining relaxed and focused. Visualizing how to successfully cope after a bad shot, shoot out of difficult lies, make a game winning clutch putt, play with a demanding customer or boss, or confront any other negative circumstance reduces or even eliminates the surprise when that situation comes up. A hypnotherapist can also work with a golfer to eliminate a bad habit. Sometimes a habit might be so ingrained that specific suggestions for the specific problem have to be used. Most often, the golfer’s subconscious can be directed to utilize his experience, learning, or knowledge to find and implement the solution. Sometimes the subconscious might direct the golfer to a pro for specific lessons. A golfer who has learned to manage stress and stays relaxed and focused will also get more from any lessons he might take. By remaining relaxed and focused information and instructions are more easily and deeply absorbed. Hypnosis is also a great tool for helping the athlete get and keep emotions under control. Fear, anger, jealousy, or feelings of insecurity or inadequacy are some of the negative emotions that can interfere with athletic performance. The hypnotherapist can help the client discard or control the negative emotions and thereby improve athletic performance. As with any sport, pain can be a factor in golf. The soreness experienced by the weekend athlete will be less, and recovery from that soreness can be faster. Because a relaxed golfer with good form and technique uses his body more efficiently, injuries will be less frequent and less severe. Additionally, there are pain-relieving techniques that are taught in hypnosis that can be used to minimize the impact pain might have on the golfer. While physical training, practicing, and conditioning remain important, the more you use your subconscious the more successful you will be. No matter your sport, no matter your age, no matter your skill or athletic level, you can use the power of hypnosis to unlock your subconscious and perform better.

Reference - 1 Golf Digest.Com, January 2000 , 2 Golf Digest .com, December 1998, 3 Vigor Magazine, Summer 1998

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Current research is beginning to show just how harmful prolonged stress can be. In a recent study using positron emission tomography (PET), participants were asked to think about someone they loved and then about something that made them angry. The PET scan demonstrated beyond a doubt that every cell in our bodies reacts to every single thought.

In the short term, we respond to stressful situations with a surge of adrenaline and increased heart rate and respiration; our blood sugar rises and digestion slows as we prepare to react to a real or imagined danger. Our bodies return to normal when the stressor has passed.

But what happens with long-term, unrelieved stress? Researchers estimate that more than 50 percent of all doctor visits may be due to stress-related problems, and some say the figure is closer to 75 or 80 percent.

What kinds of physical problems may be stress-related? High blood pressure is one, as are many gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and even diarrhea and constipation. Headaches are part of the stress syndrome, as well as insomnia, pain, cold hands and feet, tightened neck and jaw muscles, teeth grinding, and even colds. Researchers have also found emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression to be stress-related.

Oftentimes it is difficult for us to recognize when we are under stress. If we tend to be impatient, demanding, perfectionistic and workaholics, we may be so focused on our work or family that we do not even notice what or how we are feeling.

So, if you recognize yourself in any of this, what can you do? Well, if you recognized yourself, you have taken the first step. Awareness is a key factor in changing behavior.

Second, look at the way you think. Are you a black-or-white all-or-nothing person? What kind of demands do you place on yourself and others? How inflexible are you? Do you need to be in control?

Third, begin to look at what you can control in your life - not your spouse, not your kids, not your coworkers, not the weather, not the traffic jam you are sitting in.

Fourth, take positive steps to deal with stress: maintain a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and healthy habits; exercise; express your feelings in whatever way is appropriate for you; take some time every single day to relax your body, whether it is through self-hypnosis, meditation, or some other form of deep relaxation.

And, remember, "relaxation" is not about vegging out in front of the TV until bedtime. It is about achieving a deep level of relaxation on a regular basis for a certain period of time (usually about a month) so that your body can begin to change its response to the stress hormones.

De-stressing may take a bit of time and effort, as do many things - but you just may live longer and enjoy yourself immensely in the process.

1. physical pain
2. emotional pain
3. physical pain resulting from emotional pain
4. emotional pain resulting from physical pain

The primary responsibility of a hypnotherapist is to help reduce or eliminate a client's pain. My experience has taught me that it is absolutely necessary to identify the source of a client's pain.

Pain is an important function of the physiological process and the human condition. We rely on pain to inform us of physical issues requiring treatment and emotional issues requiring attention; we rely on pain to remind us of our limitations and to inspire us to heal.

In some circumstances, pain serves us well, both physically and emotionally, and is an entity we might better befriend and forgive. Since pain can be an ally or an enemy, our clients' unique perceptions of pain are therefore important sources of information to help us help our clients to reach their goals.

What is the best method of identifying the sources of a client's pain? Listening! At some time during the course of the initial interview or in the session itself, a client will reveal his or her real source of pain, and that true source of pain may not necessarily be a manifestation of the physician's first diagnosis, or the client's self-diagnosis.

"It is the disease of not listening, the malady of not marking, that I am troubled withal."
--Henry IV, Shakespeare