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A Transformative Touch Monthly Newsletter
Every month we send out a newsletter packed with
educational and fun articles, information,
and events. 

Below are the featured articles for the month.

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Links to Archived Health Articles are also at the bottom of the page.

 

November 2011 Newsletter

Verbalizing Feelings Helps Us!


A UCLA brain imaging study shows we can lower the intense feelings by simply putting them into words.

 

A portion of our brain called the amygdala reacts like an internal alarm when we view a scene of anger or fear. Scientists used photos of faces displaying anger or fear to cause subjects brains to increase activity in the amygdala. The study showed that simply labeling the emotion seen (“that is an angry face”) serves to reduce the response from the amygdala! While the amygdala showed less response when verbalazation was used, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex showed an increase in activity. This brain region is associated with thinking in words about emotional experiences, as well as in dampening behavior to emotional issues.

 

This study involved 30 people who were shown images of faces showing emotions like fear or anger. Labeling the faces with the correct emotion showed a significant drop in the emotional reaction of the subject, while using other words showed no reduction. For instance, saying (or writing) ‘that is Joe’ did not reduce the emotional response to a face showing anger, while saying (or writing) ‘that is anger’ showed a significant reduction.

 

The study reinforces an ancient understanding of human nature: if you can get someone to talk about their problems it will often be helpful for them. The study also underlines the 2500-year-old Buddhist teaching of ‘mindfulness’. One aspect of mindfulness meditation is being aware of, and labeling, what you are experiencing at that very moment, without passing judgment on your experience. One might say ‘I am feeling angry right now’ or ‘I feel stressed out right now’. This is the first study that directly explains the links in brain activity with mindful meditation results in greater mental and physical health.

 

For the first time in history we have some of the tools needed to explain why and how some of the ancient practices work, and it is encouraging to see modern science tackle these questions. The take home from this study is: talk about your feelings! Whether it is with a friend or a therapist, merely labeling what is wrong is the first step toward healing.

 

 





Bridging the mind-body with Oriental Medicine

 

 

Do you like the way you look?  Do you like the way you feel in your body?  So many of us have difficulty esteeming ourselves physically.  The emphasis on youth, perfection, beauty and a sculpted body in our Western society creates a standard that doesn't really match who we are.  We might see images or messages in magazines or movies that seem to tell us we're not good enough.  Indeed, how we relate to and value ourselves impacts our health, on all levels.

 

At the heart of low self-esteem and a poor body image is carried shame.  Shame is the feeling that tells us we're not good enough, that we're too tall or not tall enough, that we're too fat or too thin.  Carried shame prevents us from developing a strong sense of self and limits our ability to express ourselves and relate to ourselves and others.  Where does this carried shame come from?  It comes from parents, primary caregivers, teachers or other authority figures that fail to validate the child's feelings, needs, ideas and natural qualities, like spontaneity, curiosity, perfect imperfection, and dependency.  Whenever the child has an experience that is less-than-nurturing for his/her healthy development, the child takes on shame.   This undermines the child's ability to esteem the developing self, and the child learns that he/she is greater than or less than others, not equal to.  This carried shame manifests as illness, poor body image, dysfunctional relationships and other symptoms.

 

Chinese Medicine offers us a way to explore where we hold this carried shame.  Combined with Inner Child Work, craniosacral therapy and somatoemotional release work, we can begin to free our bodies from the impact of the shame, develop a greater sense of self-worth and renew our vitality.  We can learn to attune ourselves consciously to our own bodies and make better choices, such as eating healthier foods, exercising well, sleeping enough, and expressing our feelings, thoughts and needs in our relationships.  As we develop an inner core of self-worth, our outward appearance becomes more vibrant, and people notice.

 

Chinese Medicine helps us to see how our families, childhoods, relationships, diet, exercise, work, environment and emotional lives all influence our health. Everything is interconnected.  How we feel, think and act directly impacts our body, and the physical state of our body influences the way we feel, think and act. Each tissue in our body, each organ, is related to a particular energy pathway, or meridian, that needs to stay open and balanced to ensure health.  When we overwork, make poor food choices, lose sleep, stop exercising or hold back what we're feeling emotionally, these channels get blocked or damaged, and we lose vitality.  Chinese Medicine helps us to recover and heal this damage and to maintain a natural healthy balance.  Without a doubt, the appearance, posture, shape, weight and vitality of our body reveals our history, the way we feel and think, and how we live our lives.

 

For more information on how Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture and other modalities can help you to feel healthier and better about yourself, contact Jeremy at (520) 971-8200 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

 

 



Psycho-Energetic Acupuncture

 

 

Each human being is an energetic form of consciousness who holds within the self a great deal of knowledge and wisdom. This sacred information is stored in the body and human energy field (or aura) via mental image pictures, energetic patterns, and psycho-emotional blueprints.

We are each multidimensional beings. We are physical, with magnificent bodies, able to breathe, eat, move, dance, create and play. We are energetic, generating and interacting with cosmic electromagnetic fields and the frequencies of the Earth. We are emotional, with the capacity for great feeling. We are mental, psychological, with the capacity for creative thinking and self-expression. And, we are also spiritual, with the need to contemplate reality and the source of life itself. We are all these things and more.

We hold the answers to all our questions within our own bodies, energy fields and Hearts. To discover these answers, we may need a guide to escort us through our inner worlds to gain greater insight, understanding and connection with our own Source.

Psycho-Energetic Acupuncture combines clairvoyant aura reading with the ancient theories and practices of Chinese Medicine to provide you with a powerful healing tool for self-discovery and transformation.  Each session begins with a 30 min aura reading during which you may ask specific questions about your life, including health, work, relationships, family history, etc.  Then, based on the information that comes through the reading, we create together an intention and vision for the acupuncture treatment.  The practitioner constructs an energetic pattern that embodies this intention and enhances the effect with other advanced energy healing skills, such as aura clearing, chakra balancing, past-life clearing, removal of psychic cords, boundary work, and grounding.  Psycho-Energetic Acupuncture is a unique and sacred experience that can bring new insight and inspiration to your life.

For more information on Psycho-Energetic Acupuncture and to schedule your appointment, please contact Jeremy at (520) 971-8200 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

October Newsletter

The first detailed record of hypnosis being used to alleviate grief is probably the one made by Dutch physicians De Waal and Bakker in 1813.

 

The case involved a woman suffering from traumatic grief over the loss of a loved one. De Waal and Bakker reported dealing directly with the patient’s spontaneous reenactments of the circumstances surrounding the death. After the death of ‘her lady’ the patient suffered from spasms, nightmares, weakness, and panic attacks. In modern terms we would say that the patient was suffering from traumatic grief with strong dissociative features. At the time the doctors considered it all to be associated with ‘animal magnetism’, and thought that the reenactment of the event while under hypnosis was an interesting feature, but didn’t recognize it as the actual curative effect.

 

While Bakker et al treated the patient with hypnosis and subsequently she lost all her symptoms and regained a normal and balanced life, their understanding of the cause and affect was somewhat less complete than what we have today. Today hypnosis is often the treatment of choice for traumatic grief (see Van der Hart, et al., 1990); PTSD (Brown & Fromm, 1986; Kingsbury, 1988; Spiegel, 1988); and dissociative disorders of various forms (Putnam, 1989). The ability of hypnosis to work through grief has been very well documented, and continues to prove itself in tens of thousands of cases every year.

 

Grief comes from the loss of something we value greatly, whether it is a relative or friend, a pet, or even some object of great sentimental value. We can go through such emotional trauma that we suffer from all sorts of related physical, mental, and spiritual issues. Hypnosis can provide a deep relaxation and a ‘turning loose’ of all that emotional baggage. You will not forget the event, nor the loss, but you can come to a more balanced and healthy understanding of your own internal turmoil. Through an experiential recall of the event, hypnosis allows one to move on to actual conscious recollection, acceptance, and (finally) on to peaceful integration of the emotions involved.

If you, or someone you know is suffering from grief, give us a call; we’ll be glad to help.

 

 

 

 

September 2011 Newsletter

 


Seasonal Connections

From ancient times, practitioners of Chinese medicine have known that our health is intimately connected to the seasons and seasonal change. Indeed, we are a part of nature, and what happens in our environment impacts us directly. The more we align with the natural cycles of life, the more energy, vitality and health we’ll enjoy.

Have you ever felt headaches or body aches when the clouds roll in? Have you started sneezing in the springtime? How about getting colds or the flu the same time every year? When we are well and our constitutions are strong, environmental factors do not cause disease. However, when we are weaker, deficient, and run down with all the stress in our lives, we become susceptible to these outside influences.

According to Chinese medical theory, an energy known as Wei Qi, or Defensive Qi, circulates through the muscles and skin to keep us warm, to fend off pathogens and to keep us healthy during times of change and transition. When our Wei Qi becomes weak from things like physical overwork, emotional stress, pollution, poor diets or lack of enough exercise, we are less able to keep out environmental influences. We might then experience fever and chills, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, body aches, fatigue, or even more severe infections of the respiratory tract.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been used effectively for millennia to treat illnesses and imbalances that occur seasonally or during times of transition from one season to the next. So, when you get that first sniffle or chill, or you wake up sneezing or with a tickle in the throat, call your acupuncturist and consider starting a course of Chinese herbal medicine to prevent or lessen the symptoms of any cold or flu.

Remember, prevention is better than a cure, so stay healthy and vital by eating right, enjoying regular exercise, staying hydrated with plenty of fresh water, getting enough rest and relaxation to reduce the effects of stress, and getting regular acupuncture treatments.

For more information on how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you, call or email Jeremy at (520)971-8200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Here’s to your health!

 


Chronic Pain, Constant Cost

If you suffer from chronic migraines, subtle changes can trigger searing pain. Treating migraine pain with hypnosis can make a big financial difference over a year’s period of time.

Dr. Donal Penzien a University of Mississippi Medical Center professor of psychiatry has coauthored a study which compares prescription prophylactic drugs to behavioral treatment like hypnosis. This study found that there are significant differences in the costs of the two competing methods over an extended period of time. While traditional drug treatment is spread out and may look like the better alternative at first glance, this study showed that hypnosis could save $500 over the first year, and more in additional years. While behavioral treatments are ‘front loaded’, meaning they cost more initially, once you go to the initial treatment sessions you can maintain the benefits on your own, and the benefits last for years.

Grants from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke funded this study. The study, which was in the June issue of the journal Headache, was conducted by Wake Forest University, UMMC, and the University of Mississippi, and showed that hypnosis became financially equal to traditional drug therapy after only six months, and surged ahead after that point, saving hundreds of dollars per year. The study also showed that patients are usually not given any information about the effectiveness or cost savings represented by hypnosis and other behavioral therapies.


As a point of reference for your own figures, this study averaged individual behavioral sessions at $175 per intake and $125 per follow up for a median of 10 visits. ‘Minimal contact’ methods, in which you go for a smaller number of individual sessions and then continue the practices at home, were about half this cost. The study averaged the pharmacologic approaches at $250 per intake session and $140 per session for follow up visits. Even with the most expensive behavioral mode and the most cost effective pharmacologic treatment, the behavioral treatment became more cost effective within the first year. When looking at minimal contact behavioral treatment, it was competitive with the cheapest medication treatment within the first few months.

So, with the cost of health care sky rocketing out of sight, and with the literature showing increased worries about drug interactions and long term drug effects, it makes sense for anyone suffering chronic pain to seek answers offered by alternative therapies like hypnosis. Better for you, better for your bank account!

 

 

 

August 2011 Newsletter

 

Our mind/body connection goes deeper than is generally suspected! A report in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry highlights the connection between childhood psychosocial issues and chronic physical issues in adulthood.

 

Kate Scott, Ph.D., from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, examined data from countries in the World Health Organization Mental Health Surveys. These surveys included sections on chronic physical conditions and on childhood psychosocial issues. Issues included in this study were anxiety disorders, depression, and childhood issues like abuse, neglect, loss of a parent, parental criminal behavior, economic adversity, and family violence.

 

Early mental disorders were directly associated with adult chronic pain including severe headache, osteoarthritis, and spinal (neck or back) conditions. Early physical abuse was associated with heart disease, asthma, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and chronic spinal pain. The findings also support a direct correlation between the number/severity of childhood problems and the number/severity of adult chronic physical conditions.

 

Our lives, our minds, our bodies; they are all interconnected. It would appear that bad things happening to your mental health in your childhood are likely to result in bad things happening to your adult physical health.

 

If you suffer from chronic pain, asthma, severe headaches, etc., it is quite possible that these physical issues actually have part of their roots in your mental health. This goes a long way toward explaining why we often see physical improvements in clients who initially come in for hypnosis to deal with mental/emotional issues.

 

 

 

May 2011 Newsletter

Don't Take Our Word For It!

At A Transformative Touch we find that most clients who come in for hypnosis share two traits:

  1. They have tried other methods first; hypnosis was not their first choice for treatment.
  2. They have little real understanding of what hypnosis is, how it works, or how accepted hypnosis is in mainstream contemporary medicine.

    Although it has been in use for thousands of years, and scientifically studied for the last two centuries, hypnosis is still a bit of a mystery. In previous issues we have carried articles explaining facts and fictions about hypnosis, and we have covered a few of the many problems hypnosis can address, but not too much has been said about hypnosis in terms of its place in contemporary medicine.

    Unlike some other alternative therapies, hypnosis has a large and growing body of scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness. The British Medical Association, the American Medical Association, American Psychology Association, National Institute of Health, and the American Dental Association have all approved hypnosis. In addition, Stanford University Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Harvard Medical School, American Cancer Society, and most other leading hospitals and medical societies throughout the world have endorsed hypnosis as a standard tool in the treatment of many issues, and regularly turn to hypnosis as a therapy.

    But don’t take our word for it:

    “Furthermore, a growing number of studies show that hypnotherapy can treat headaches, ease the pain of childbirth, aid in quitting smoking, improve concentration and study habits, relieve minor phobias, and serve as anesthesia—all without drugs or side effects.” Psychology Today

    “Imagine that when you eat, you feel satisfied sooner and therefore lose weight more rapidly. Imagine that the pain after heart-bypass or dental surgery feels merely like mild pressure. Imagine that your skin rash is clear up. Recent clinical studies suggest that hypnosis—a form of deeply imagining desired results—can indeed help motivated people accomplish those goals…” Consumer Reports

    “Tiger Woods began mental training with a hypnotherapist on the golf course at age 13, and the hypnosis skills he acquired still contribute to his game. Woods describes hypnosis as ‘inherent in what I do now.’” Golf Digest

    The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology conducted a meta-analysis of 18 different studies on weight reduction. People using hypnosis lost more weight than 90% of the non-hypnosis group, and two years later they were successfully maintaining the weight loss.

    The Journal of Nursing Scholarship found that individuals who quit smoking using hypnosis were twice as likely to remain smoke-free two years later as those who used other methods.

    The National Institute for Health reports women who received hypnosis as survivors of breast cancer experienced a 68% reduction in hot flash frequency and reported significant improvements in depression, sleep, and anxiety.

    A three-year survey of more than 1,000 case studies showed hypnotherapy was more successful than other forms of psychological therapy.  A.A. Barrios, the study author, found the following average success rates for psychological issues: psychoanalysis, 38% recovery after 600 sessions; behavior therapy, 72% recovery after 22 sessions; hypnotherapy, 93% recovery after 6 sessions. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

    “The records of cerebral activity clearly show that hypnosis can change the state of the brain,” Harvard University Gazette

    “Though often denigrated as fakery or wishful thinking, hypnosis has been shown to be a real phenomenon with a variety of therapeutic uses…” Scientific American

    “It’s not surprising, then, that hypnosis is often used to treat chronic pain and help women give birth without resorting to medication. Researchers at Harvard University have found it diminishes the need for anesthesia during invasive procedures such as angioplasty and breast reconstruction and speeds post-operative healing. Hypnosis may also be effective in treating asthma, irritable-bowl syndrome, dermatitis, warts, hives, hemophilia, nausea associated with chemotherapy or pregnancy, undesirable traits such as smoking or overeating, anxiety, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder…” Business Week

    “Hypnotherapy has also be used to control arthritis pain, migraine headaches, allergies, heart rate, blood pressure, blood vessel diameter, cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), side effects of cancer treatments, stomach ulcers, skin conditions, addictions and many other conditions. Pregnant women may use hypnotherapy to help control morning sickness and shorten labor. People who want to quit smoking or stop overeating, two risk factors for heart disease, may benefit from hypnotherapy as well.” Aetna Intelihealth

    “Despite widely held misconceptions about hypnosis (in part because of its long history as a type of entertainment), a growing body of research supports the ancient practice as an effective tool in the treatment of a variety of problems, from anxiety to chronic pain. Today, as practitioners work to assess and refine the clinical applications of hypnosis, they are also exploring its underlying mechanisms, using state-of-the-art imaging technology to document changes in the brain that occur when someone is in a hypnotic state. This increased understanding of how hypnosis works and what it does makes it a legitimate option for patients whose needs have not been met by more traditional methods.” Newsweek

    There, we couldn’t have said it any better!

    These are just a few quotes from literally thousands of clinical trials, publications, and medical experts from around the globe. Hypnosis is a fantastic health tool, made even more amazing because (for the most part) those who try it have already tried other methods which have failed. Here at A Transformative Touch we are continually refining the most advanced techniques to assure our clients that they are receiving the fastest, most effective help possible. If you have an issue that is holding you back from being as healthy or as happy as you feel you should be, contact us to see if hypnosis can help you.



April 2011 Newsletter



Hypnosis VS Pain

A University of Washington School of Medicine meta-analysis of clinical trials had this to say: Randomized controlled studies with clinical populations indicate that hypnosis has a reliable and significant impact on acute procedural pain and chronic pain conditions.

Hypnosis has been with us as long as humans have had their current brain configuration and development. In the 1950’s the American Medical Association approved hypnosis as a treatment for pain, as well as many other medical issues. One interesting 1957 study by a Scottish physician named Esdaile reported on 345 major operations performed using hypnosis as the only anesthetic. A 1975 report listed 14 types of surgeries in which only hypnosis was used as anesthetic, to include: appendectomies, gastrostomies, tumor excisions, vaginal hysterectomies, and more.

Burn injuries are a field that has seen extensive use of hypnosis for anesthetic (general) and analgesic (local) pain relief. An added benefit of hypnosis is also seen in faster healing times. Hypnosis has been used effectively for pain associated with dental work, cancer, amputation, spinal injuries, childbirth, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, temporomandibular joint disorder, postsurgical pain, low back pain, headaches including migraines, and many other pain related issues. As the meta-analysis concluded, “In short, hypnosis has been reported to be useful for virtually every clinical pain problem imaginable.”

Thanks to modern technology it is now possible to use imaging devices to observe the brain while it works, giving us a greater understand of what occurs to a patient under hypnosis. Apparently hypnosis works on managing pain in both the emotional and the sensory sections of the brain. In the emotional area it reframes how we react to pain, taking our attention away from the pain at the subconscious level, leading to a reduction in ‘felt’ or subjective pain.

In the sensory section of the brain hypnosis actually reduces the firing of pain receptive neurons, leading to a reduction of ‘actual’ or objective pain. There is now additional and mounting evidence that hypnosis works in some way to suppress pain signals in the spinal cord, before they even reach the brain.

The subject of pain is much too broad to be covered in detail, but suffice it to say that literally hundreds of clinical trials have proven hypnosis is an effective tool in the battle against pain.

If you would like more information on any specific type of pain and how hypnosis might help, please contact A Transformative Touch. We are always happy to talk about our business!



How You Start The Day Is Important!

A new study aimed at more efficient customer service reveals importance of mood.

A good mood is the start of a good day. This is a recurring theme for us at A Transformative Touch. Negative thoughts turn in to negative actions that turn in to negative re-actions, and the cycle starts over.  Researchers found that those who started work in a bad mood continued to feel bad all day.  In addition, their mood led to a lower opinion of customers, and a decline in performance covering both how well a job was done and how much work was done in general.

This study followed customer service representatives as they answered questions from customers over the course of three weeks, with participants filling out evaluation forms at the start of each work day and at two random times during each day.

Included in the evaluations were subjective questions about their latest customer; did they seem cheerful or rude or calm or insulting. The subject participants had their calls monitored by independent ‘coders’ who provided a more objective rating of the customer traits and also rated how well the participants handled the calls. In addition, the amount of time spent on the phone or on breaks, and the satisfactory completion of the question answering was tracked.

Results showed that those who started the day in a good mood rated customers more positively, felt more positive about themselves, did more and better work, and ended the day feeling better than those who started the day already in a bad mood.

This is not, perhaps, earth shaking news, but it is a further confirmation of what we at A Transformative Touch harp on all the time: Namely that you can greatly effect your quality of life by simply being positive. Whether dealing with customers, your family, or your friends, it pays to take stock of how you feel before interacting if you want the best results!

Here are some simple suggestions for feeling your best:

Get enough sleep
Eat right
Excercise
Avoid and/or control stress
Be positive in thought and speech

Easier said than done, perhaps, but worth the effort! It is best to tackle these issues one at a time and to give each one 6 weeks to become a habit before moving on to the next. Keep track of how much better you feel!




March 2011 Newsletter

 

Most people’s understanding of hypnosis stems from Hollywood or stage hypnosis: either someone from the audience is brought up to the stage and hypnotized to quack like a duck, or someone is made to assassinate some political figure. Fun to watch maybe, but it is not reality.

In reality, hypnosis has been used in one form or another for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used hypnosis as a healing tool in their sleep temples, and the ancient Greeks in the Temple of Aesculapius also used hypnosis. The deep meditations of Buddhism are a state of hypnosis.


In more recent times, an Australian physician named Franz Mesmer began using hypnosis on his patients in the 1700’s, hence the phrase “mesmerism”. Although modern hypnosis has roots that go thousands of years deep, it has grown tremendously through the years. Given the advancements in our understanding of how the mind works, and the relationships between mind and body, modern hypnosis is a truly remarkable tool.


As a modern tool of healing, the British Medical Association approved hypnosis in 1955, and the American Medical Association gave its approval in 1958. Today almost every major hospital in the U.S. makes use of hypnosis for certain types of treatment. Professional athletes (and some weekend warriors!) make use of hypnosis to enhance their performances. There are literally thousands of studies that indicate various levels of therapeutic effectiveness from hypnosis for a wide variety of problems. In example:

 

Breastcancer.org says:

“In research studies, hypnosis has been shown to help reduce:

  • pain
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • stress
  • anxiety

 

Much of the more serious study on hypnosis is happening in Europe. You can make your own guess at to why this is so. One recent University of Wales study presented at the BA Festival of science in Exeter, showed children cancer patients suffer less pain from both the cancer and the procedures when placed under hypnosis.

 

So, what exactly is hypnosis? Hypnosis is not sleep! You can’t be made to quack like a duck, unless you want to quack like a duck! You can’t be made to do something you don’t want to do, and you will remember your hypnosis sessions as well as you remember your daydreams. In fact, hypnosis would not be nearly as powerful if you couldn’t remember the insights gained while in your session!


There really is nothing mysterious about hypnosis. In fact, hypnosis is a natural state that you experience on a regular basis. When you are reading a really interesting book and don’t notice someone else entering the room, you are in a state of hypnosis. When you lose track of time while focusing on a project, you are in hypnosis. When you are driving down the road “in a daze” and miss your turn, you are in hypnosis. All of us go in and out of hypnosis every day. Hypnosis is simply a state of consciousness in which your mind is fully focused.

Hypnosis is very safe. In more than 200 years of well-recorded use, no one has ever been hurt by the simple process of being hypnotized, nor has anyone ever been “stuck” in a hypnotized state. The 5-PATH process we use at A Transformative Touch is the cutting edge of modern hypnosis knowledge.

Some people worry that they cannot be hypnotized, but this is not correct. Anyone of average or higher intelligence can be hypnotized, and many who do not fall into this category as well. It is now generally accepted that all hypnosis is actually self-hypnosis. This being the case, only two things are needed if you are to be hypnotized: you must be “Ok” with being hypnotized (not fearful or unwilling), and you must be able to follow simple instructions.

Your hypnotist is there as a trained guide, someone who has knowledge of the depth of hypnosis needed for the results you seek, the techniques to get you to that depth, and the experience to lead you through the steps you need to take in order to reach your goal. Once the major obstacles are removed through hypnotherapy, self-hypnosis is a great tool for continued improvement. At A Transformative Touch we offer training in the most advanced form of self-hypnosis; 7th Path™. 7th Path™ is a radical new approach to the age-old practice of self-hypnosis, and can be learned by anyone in just a few hours of instruction. We have classes several times a year in 7th Path™ and training is also available by private appointment.

 

 

Hypnosis can help you with the following (and more):

  • Public Speaking
    Pain Management
  • Stop Smoking
    Weight Loss
  • Anxiety Stress
  • Remove Fears
    Relationships
  • Remove Habits
    Alcohol Abuse
  • Drug Abuse
    Childbirth
  • Motivation
    Stage Fright
    Anger Issues
    Sexual Issues
  • Abuse Issues
    Self-Esteem
  • Concentration
    Self-Confidence
  • Test Anxiety
    Shyness
  • Procrastination
    Improve Mood
  • Improve Sports
    Children’s Issues

 

If you have any questions about hypnosis, or about any of the services we offer, please contact us. We enjoy talking about our profession!



Top 10 Stress Busters in a Down Economy


Ok, we are all hurting to some extent. Some have lost homes or jobs, and some are just plain depressed and stressed out by the continual stream of bad news. Here are our picks for the 10 best ways to take some of the load off your mind and body.


 

1. Take a walk. It is simple, it is easy, and it costs nothing. Study after study has shown that a few minutes spent exercising every day will result in a reduction of stress chemicals in your body, reduced blood pressure, and a boost in mood through the release of natural endorphins. You don’t have to spend a lot of time or effort to reap benefits. Walk, bicycle, swim, trampoline, skate, any form of exercise at any intensity level and in virtually any quantity will help.


 

2. Rest your mind. I am going to lump self-hypnosis, meditation, guided imagery, and visualization all under this heading because all are forms of restful mind focus. Self-hypnosis combines the processes of meditation, guided imagery, and visualization, and is the more powerful tool for solving complex problems, but any of these practices will help you deal with the stresses and anxieties life throws at you. If you are not familiar with self-hypnosis, or would like to learn the latest techniques, A Transformative Touch offers classes and/or individual training in 7thPath Self Hypnosis.


 

3. Go green. Take your walk in a park or desert area where nature rules. Or, if you can’t walk, simply sit and enjoy the outdoors for a few minutes. This is another activity that costs nothing but gives big results in stress reduction. Once again you don’t have to spend a great deal of time or go a long way to get benefits. Maybe your neighborhood has a little park, or the place where you work has a courtyard with a fountain, or you can green-up your own spaces at home or your office; just spend a few minutes a day in as natural a setting as you can handily find…you’ll feel better!


 

4. Get a massage. Nothing is quite as relaxing as a good massage. You don’t need to have sore muscles or aching joints to benefit from a massage. A massage combines the social connection with your therapist along with touch and muscle manipulation that increases blood flow, reduces blood pressure and leaves you relaxed and feeling great. Often we are good at taking care of ourselves when times are good but then let it go when things get rough, when we need the support and relaxation the most. If you are able, massage should become a regular part of your life for prevention and overall wellness. A Transformative Touch has therapist trained in many types of massage.


 

5. Laugh. Laughter really is a great medicine; so keep your sense of humor no matter what happens. Laugh at yourself, laugh at the antics of your pet, laugh with your children, read a few jokes or watch a funny YouTube. If you are feeling stressed, skip the latest summer blockbuster action movie or fright fest and go to a comedy instead. Laughter reduces stress and elevates mood.


 

6. Connect. Social isolation is an added source of stress, so connect with friends, family, even strangers! It is amazing what a mood elevation you can get by simply smiling and waving to people you meet, and you make their day a little better too! Don’t forget touch. Give a hug to your mate, your kids, your parents, or anybody who will hold still for it. Pet your dog or cat. Remember that gentle touch (as long as it is mutually accepted) in itself is a stress releaser.


 

7. Don’t give up sex! Sex is a great stress reliever, and often people who are going through stressful times have a tendency to push sex into the background or give up on it entirely. Don’t let that happen. Sex can be spontaneous or planned. If it isn’t happening spontaneously, then make a date. And be sure to include some of the foreplay your mate appreciates. Make time for romance and it will pay off in your relationship as well as in lowering your personal stress level. A win-win situation!


 

8. Breathe. This is so simple. Signage should be placed in every public space and in every office environment to remind people until it becomes part of their lifestyle. Slow down for a minute and take a breath! I mean really, mindfully breathe. Do it right now. Take several deep breaths, exhaling fully. Pay attention to the way you breathe. On one breath inhale with your chest, expanding your chest as much as possible, then exhale fully. On the next breath inhale using your stomach muscles, letting your stomach balloon out in front of you, then exhale completely. Now take a couple of deep breaths using both your chest and your stomach, and as you exhale let your body relax; let your shoulders sag, let your hands go limp. Do this several times a day. You can do it sitting at your desk or while having lunch, or even while waiting for the light to change.


 

9. Listen to music. I wouldn’t suggest heavy metal! Classical, with its mathematical precision, or any soothing repetitive melody will work wonders. Play music that inspires or sooths during your commute to work, softly in the background at your office, at home or before you go to sleep. Music has enough complexity to absorb the minds attention, but not enough to place stress on it. This leads to a nice focused relaxation and gives your mind and body a rest.


 

10. Practice your Yoga. Yoga is a one-stop-shop for stress reduction because yoga combines exercise, flexibility, breathing, meditation, and guided imagery, which are all good things for reducing stress. If you are a member of a yoga class you can add social connection to the list. Yoga is justly famous for its stress reducing attributes. Stretching is one of the best things you can do for your body as you age, reducing muscle pain and tension and maintaining joint health and mobility. A Transformative Touch has classes and individual yoga instruction available by appointment; give us a call to set something up.


 

Sleep almost made the list, since it is very important to your general health and ability to deal with stress. Too much sleep, however, can be a sign of depression, which is a companion of stress. The amount of sleep we need varies from person to person, but falls roughly between 7 and 9 hours per 24 hour period. If you feel you are getting too much or too little, it is best to visit a professional for evaluation and advice.


We are all busy, but if you take just a tiny fraction of your time to incorporate one or more of the above suggestions into your life you will help reduce your stress levels and give your mood a positive boost. By using one or more of the techniques above you will increase your productivity, and that will more than make up for the time spent! Whatever you decide to try, keep at it for a month. By that time it should have become a part of your routine and will continue to give you benefits for many months to come. Remember, no matter how important the events that are happening in life, your health – mentally, emotionally and physically – is priceless. Choose to invest in yourself.


 

Please feel free to contact us if you have questions, or if you would like more information on reducing stress in your life.

 

 

February 2011 Newsletter

Moderate Exercise in Elderly = Bigger Brain!

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that just 12 months of very moderate physical exercise can increase the size of the hippocampus in older adults. Read more...


Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, Rice University, Ohio State University, and University of Illinois conducted this study, considered the first of its kind to focus on older adults already into the age of decreasing hippocampus function. The hippocampus is the brain structure involved in memory formation, and it is a natural by-product of aging for it to decrease both in size and in functionality as we age.


For this study 120 sedentary older people (none yet suffering from dementia) were placed in one of two groups. The first group exercised for 40 minutes a day, three times a week. The second was the control group. MRI images were taken at the beginning of the study, after 6 months, and at the end of 12 months. The exercise group showed an increase in volume of both hemispheres of the hippocampus; 2.12% for the right hemisphere and 1.97% for the left. In the control group a decrease of 1.40% and 1.43% was recorded.


As a further check, spatial memory tests were also conducted at the three checkpoints and, as might be expected, the exercise group fared better than the control group and also bettered their own scores from the first test to the last. As also might be expected, researchers found and increase in the amount of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the exercise group. BDNF is a biomarker associated with good brain health.

 

So, while the gradual atrophy of our brains may be natural and even (at this point) inevitable, you can slow down and even reverse this loss to some degree just by exercising moderately three times a week. Yoga anyone?

Massage vs Grief

The Journal of Clinical Nursing published a study showing that soothing soft tissue massage after the death of a loved one can provide consolation. Read more...
Participants in this study ranged from 34 to 78 years old and were close relatives of people recently deceased due to cancer. The participants were offered a one 24-minute hand or foot massage per week for a period spanning eight weeks. After each massage the participants were encouraged to relax for an additional 30 minutes.

It is known that massage activates the receptors for touch, which in turn release oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone that provides positive relaxation and well-being effects. Each participant was given a baseline 60-minute interview prior to the start of the study and another interview one week after the conclusion of the 8-week term of massage. Among the benefits the participants listed were increased energy; rest; something to look forward to; and a calmer, more positive outlook. Almost every participant used the word "consolation" to describe the feeling massage gave them.

There is no need to wait for a time of extreme tension, emotion, or grief to benefit from a massage session; you can get the benefits any time.

January 2011 Newsletter

Old & New, Hypnosis Works

No matter which end of the age spectrum you occupy, hypnosis can help with a wide range of problems.

In a paper recently published in Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, a peer-reviewed journal, hypnosis has been found to have therapeutic value in children with respiratory problems. Hypnosis is used to mitigate habitual coughing and difficulty breathing, as well as increasing comfort during various procedures.

In his paper titled “Adding Hypnosis to the Therapeutic Toolbox of Pediatric Respiratory Care”, Dr. Ran Anbar, Professor of Pediatics at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, says that hypnosis should be added as a treatment option any time the symptoms may have a psychological component. Symptoms ranging from difficulty taking a breath, a habitual cough, noise on inspiration, hyperventilation, and difficulty swallowing may all respond to hypnosis, particularly if there is no underlying physical problem that can be ascertained.

Another tip is symptoms that are absent during sleep, or that are apparently linked to a particular activity or location. Hypnosis can lessen discomfort and anxiety to help patients deal with sensations of breathing difficulty in diseases such as cystic fibrosis and asthma.

On the other end of the age spectrum, hypnosis has been shown to slow down the progression of dementia and add positively to the quality of life for those suffering from the condition.

According to Dr. Dan Nightingale (head dementia consultant at Abacus Clinic in Newark) and Dr. Simon Duff (a forensic psychologist), people living with dementia who receive hypnosis therapy show an improvement in concentration, socialization, and memory compared to those coping through mainstream methods. Their research covered a period of 9 months, and “showed real improvement across all of the areas that we looked at.”

Research across a very broad range of symptoms have shown that hypnosis works for any psychological component of the problem, and may help even in those cases with no psychological component by helping to control stress and anxiety.

For the New Year: Exercise & Relax!


We review dozens of studies every month to winnow out information that you can use to have a healthier, happier life. For your New Year’s Resolution we would like to suggest two things that are common threads to almost every health study done: Exercise & Relaxation!

A recently released study from the Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis shows that consistent exercise is associated with a lower risk of death from colon cancer, as well as heart disease, diabetes, and a host of other types of cancers. This was a huge study (we like big studies!) that included more than 150,000 people and covered 20 years (we like long studies!). Exercise levels were compared between 1982 and 1997 and then tracked to the number of colon cancer diagnoses between 1998 and 2005. Those who exercised consistently had a significantly lower mortality rate. Although specifically targeted at colon cancer, the study also showed significant reductions in the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and many other cancers.

This is just one of hundreds of studies that show exercise is good for you, and that you don’t have to go crazy to reap the benefits. Just 30 minutes a day will significantly improve your health, reduce stress levels, increase productivity, and generally make you feel happier.

Going hand in hand with exercise is the need to reduce stress. Hundreds of studies point to the damage constant stress does to our health and happiness. Once again it is not necessary to go crazy. You don’t need to become a hermit philosopher on an isolated mountain peak to lead a reduced stress lifestyle. Just a few minutes of meditation a day, a relaxing massage, or a yoga session can show great results in both your short and long term health.

So make your New Year’s Resolution to be a happier, healthier person by getting a little exercise every day, and enjoying a little structured relaxation.


Enjoy these archived health articles...

What is Consciousness?
Yoga and Weight Loss
Will Power is Limited
Group Activities = More Gain
Green Spaces "Improve Health"
External Flexibility = Internal Flexibility
Time to Eat!
Don't Get Too Clean
Yoga = Healthy Heart
Touch is more than skin deep
Cytokine, Yoga and You
Thick Brain, No Pain!
Scleroderma?

And More...

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