Do you know how people can be influenced by hypnosis?
Hypnosis, trance, influence and persuasion happen all the time. Most of the time we all are not even a little bit aware of it. It is utilized in many different fields such as therapy, marketing, sales or even dating. When leading someone´s imagination you are using hypnosis. Of course there are many different ways and techniques and different levels of depth which can be applied. There are various factors that oome into play when you want to hypnotize other people.

There are hypnotic inductions, use of voice, lead imagination and hypnotic language patterns. Most exciting is of course the ability to influence others on a very subtle level. If you were able to only master one piece of Hypnosis (which is simple) you increase many other areas together (e.g. influence, persuasion). Combining these tools can and will create a lot more influence and it can be frightening to see how much you can get. Using hypnosis in normal interaction (conversational hypnosis) is both, persuasive and simply amazing. Imagine how cool it could be truly leading someone’s imagination in a normal conversation.

How is trance created?

A trance state is the same as some kind of relaxation state. Hypnosis is (if you break it down to the basics) about being able to getting into a trance. When you are in a relaxed state your conscious barrier gets lower (more relaxation = lower barrier). This is also known as critical faculty. The critical faculty acts as a filter system, which decides what information passes through to our unconscious mind and what not. E.g. when you would like to make a change but you are not really sure about it there is obviously some resistance. In “hypnotic terms” this kind of resistance is named critical faculty. If anybody creates a hypnotic trance state in somebody else, conscious resistance decreases. As soon as this happens the information can pass much easier down into the unconscious. When inducing hypnotic states this is basically the concept which people use. On the one hand it is very handy to be able to use it yourself in order to increase your influence and get what you want. On the ohter hand it is quite helpful to not be influenced wrongly by others, it helps to know the tools.

There are varioius different ways of utilizing Hypnosis and just as many techniques. Without a doubt this powerful tool is underestimated by most people and only really valued by those who want to be highly persuasive in every situation.

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.”

Learning how to hypnotize can be a very enjoyable hobby. You will likely find yourself feeling more relaxed and better about yourself as you help others. You may use your relaxation hypnosis techniques to help yourself fall asleep at night too. If you are engaging in this as a hobby, then books and CDs will probably be all the resources you need. However, if you are serious about pursuing a career or making money in hypnotherapy, then it is best that you attend something like the four-day American Society of Clinical Hypnosis workshop ($595) to engross yourself in the discipline. Stage hypnotists can benefit from the Ultimate Stage Hypnosis Seminar ($1,587), which features guest appearances and training from some of the masters, such as Jerry Valley, Tommy Vee and Alex Mitt.