SOME may still smirk at the thought of hypnosis, but more Malaysians today are hypnotising their way to a sounder sleep, healthier diet and less stressful life.

It's not just the healthcare experts who are doing it.

Even the man/woman in the street is very open to learning self-hypnosis, says hypnotherapist Sheila Menon.

"Anyone who can daydream can practise self-hypnosis. Intelligent people with a good sense of what they want make ideal candidates."

Sheila, who heads the local branch of London College of Clinical Hypnosis in Petaling Jaya, says workshops for both the public and experts run by the college have enjoyed good support.
In fact, overwhelming requests for self-hypnosis training and therapy have led the college to set up a referral system that allows people from all over the country to get the information and assistance they require.

Many have reported benefits in their lives and return for more sessions because the motivation to practise needs to be developed.

Doctors, psychologists and counsellors, who graduated from the college and are now working in all corners of the country, have further advocated the practice.

Part of the reason for the deepened interest in hypnosis in recent years is Malaysians want to better themselves, says Sheila. Self-hypnosis is also a skill that's easy to pick up.

"We want to control our stress. We want to get better at whatever it is we are seeking to improve.

"We also have a healthy mindset for change and are familiar with the experience of hypnosis, which is similar to meditation. Malaysians are already very good at imagination and meditative practices. It's in our culture."

Self-hypnosis is not meditation, however.

It uses the same physiological state but also engages the mind in the most useful and functional way.

The hypnotic state is characterised by a narrowing of focus into what we want, the ability to imagine suggestions more easily, and an increased sense of physical and mental relaxation.

More specific to self-hypnosis is an increase in activity in the areas of the brain associated with learning.

"It's a bit like having a focused daydream."