Guided hypnosis (hypnotherapy) and meditation are both forms mind-body interventions, that involve focused attention, in order to access the unconscious mind.
Holi Cow Teachings combines elements of both methods along with imagery in order to provide relaxingly therapeutic recordings.
Evidence-based research has demonstrated the positive impact guided hypnosis and meditation can have on managing a number of ailments, in particular anxiety and anxiety-related disorders.
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Guided Hypnosis (Hypnotherapy)
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Guided Hypnosis is an entirely natural process that draws the listener’s attention away from their immediate surroundings and focuses it instead on images and feelings of relaxation, in order to subdue the analytic brain and engage with the non—analytical brain (subconscious). It is at this point, the subconscious becomes more receptive and responsive to suggestions made by the hypnotherapist.
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Guided Meditation
Guided Meditation is a state of relaxed concentration led by another person. The guide will lead the listener through mental images and visualizations in order to achieve mental, emotional, and physical healing and stress relief. As our minds tend to wander, many find it easier to focus and relax when their minds aren’t entirely left to their own devices.
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Guided Imagery
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Based on the concept of the mind-body connection, Therapeutic Guided Imagery directs and encourages the listener's concentration on vivid mental images, often through storytelling, evoking all 5 of the senses, in order to improve both emotional and physical health.
How does it work
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​As the subconscious can not distinguish between fantasy and reality, and uses the language of imagination to communicate ideas to the conscious mind, all of our bespoke recordings are based around engaging the imagination, creating vivid pictures the mind and enlisting all 5 senses.
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Imagine being faced with a plank of wood on the ground in front of you. You are able to walk the full length of it with ease, without losing your balance, no problem. Now, imagine the same plank of wood has been suspended thousands of feet in the air. Could you still walk as easily, with your imagination wreaking havoc on your logic? No, not so easily i imagine.
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Our imagination is so powerful, it is one of our greatest tools. It is the tool we use to program the subconscious mind to help us achieve our goals and dreams, yet we tend to only use it negatively, such as to imagine the things we don’t want rather than how to achieve what we do want.
What happens when we imagine something that makes us really scared or anxious? We start to feel, well, scared and anxious. Our hearts can begin to race, thought patterns can become erratic, we have a physiological response.
It is the same with the reverse. When we imagine ourselves overcoming challenges and achieving great things, we can feel accomplished and confident, something that may not come to us as easily, but here, with some guidance and direction, you can learn to shift the way you think, not just to achieve goals but to change the way you see yourself and what you are capable of.
If used correctly guided hypnosis, imagery and meditation techniques can be combined to create a powerful tool used to assist individuals with overcoming many ailments, including anxiety, depression, trauma, pain, maladaptive behaviors, habits, and achieving goals.
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Results are achieved by using the below several techniques.
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Relaxing
Using meditation, imagery and hypnosis to get into a deeply relaxed state by intentionally thinking of a peaceful place or scene. This can be somewhere from memory or somewhere made up and will typically involve the natural world like a serene beach or a lake.
This technique is very easy to do and can be practiced anywhere at any time, either to counteract increasing feelings of stress or just for a nice momentary mental break!
Reframing
Guided imagery and hypnosis offer a fresh perspective that liberates you from self-criticism and enables you to release negative emotions like shame and guilt. Through the process of reframing, where you mentally reconstruct unsatisfactory past experiences, you can develop greater empathy for your decisions and gain newfound insights. This can lead to an improved sense of well-being as you embrace these realisations during a relaxed state.
Rehearsing
Mentally preparing for an upcoming scenario by imagining yourself succeeding whilst using desired behaviours and skills.
Mental rehearsal in this way can increase confidence, decrease anxiety and fear, and ultimately assist you in achieving your goals.
Remembering
Re-visiting a memory where you are succeeding or achieving a goal that was once seemingly impossible, this could be something very simple such as when you learned to ride a bike or tie your shoe laces.
Merely changing your perspective towards situations you may deem as insignificant achievements can help you to realise all of the inner resources you possess and what you are capable of.
Creating
Similar to remembering, this involves vividly creating positive scenarios in the your mind. By seeing yourself succeeding at imaginary challenges such as climbing a mountain or making your way through a pathless forest, you are encouraged to tap into your inner strength that has so far felt out of reach, leading to more positive thoughts, feelings, and an increased sense of self-confidence.
Positive Suggestion
Hypnosis enhances suggestibility by relaxing the mind and sharpening focus, reducing the critical conscious thinking. This facilitates the absorption of positive suggestions and promotes their influence. In hypnotherapy and our guided hypnosis recordings, we employ this method of incorporating positive verbal suggestions to foster transformative changes.
Story Telling
Storytelling and metaphor are a common feature in hypnotherapy. Embedded in such stories are meaningful truths that the subconscious mind will understand and process in a different way to the conscious mind. Our recordings often incorporate a story in which the listener is the main character.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which the individual focuses on being intensely aware of what they are sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress. We incorporate elements of mindfulness in our recordings to relax the listener and to keep them present, in the moment.