by Calvin D. Banyan
When a hypnotist works with a client, after learning about what the clients wants him or her to help him with, the hypnosis part of the session almost always begins with producing the hypnotic state. That process of creating the hypnotic state is called a "hypnotic induction."
There are many ways to create the hypnotic state. Some of them are quite old and there are also some more modern styles of induction. Some inductions take a long time and some induce hypnosis instantly. Longer inductions can take 45 to 60 minutes! These longer inductions usually consist of progressively relaxing each part of the body, and are called "progressive relaxation inductions". Most hypnotists at this time in the development of the profession use these types of inductions. But they can be problematic because they take so long, and sometimes people fall asleep before they get into the hypnotic state. That is why more and more professional hypnotists are moving more and more toward doing the faster inductions.
These faster inductions have the advantage of enabling the hypnotist to induce the hypnotic state much more quickly. The longest rapid induction that I use and teach takes 2 to 3 minutes to induce a deep level of hypnosis, and my fastest induction works so fast that it induces hypnosis instantaneously (0 seconds).
When selecting a hypnosis induction to learn you would be better off learning the rapid inductions that take just a few minutes to induce a deep level of hypnosis. A good example of that induction is the Elman Induction. Here is a link to a modern version of it called the Elman-Banyan Rapid Induction. This induction was intended to take a willing and properly prepared client into a deep state of hypnosis (levels 4 to 6 on the Harry Arons Depth Scale).
Notice that I said, "properly prepared client." By this I mean that inductions work best and most reliably when the individual who is to be hypnotized, wants to be hypnotized, is of normal intelligence, is mentally healthy, and the hypnotist has educated the individual in order to free him or her from fears and misconceptions that he or she may have about hypnosis.
Once, the client has been properly prepared an induction like the Elman-Banyan Induction will work quickly and reliably. Effectively, that induction and most other inductions use a process of relaxing a part of the body, and then using that relaxation which was created in the body as a model for relaxing the mind of the client. This relaxed mental state is the most popular way to create the suggestible state that defines hypnosis. However, the suggestible state of mind can also be created in a number of other ways, such as by causing the individual to be hypnotized to become emotional, or if he or she is surprised. A good example of those procedures can be seen when I conduct my Eight Word Induction, or my AIAR Induction (pronounced "air induction").
So how can you hypnotize someone? It is easy, just properly prepare them, use a induction like the ones listed. Anyone of normal intelligence and is mentally healthy can be hypnotized using these methods.
