Most people know that experiencing hypnotism is highly relaxing. Now the BBC has told us why this matters.

“By reducing stress it allows even more… [neuro]plasticity to take place,” says the BBC.

Neuroplasticity occurs when the brain adapts to make something easier for us, especially when we take up a new activity, make a switch to a new job or profession, or make a meaningful lifestyle change. What we initially find difficult and time-consuming we find easier and can do much quicker with practice—thanks to neuroplasticity.

However, practice isn’t the only thing to aid “neuroplasticity” or the rewiring of our brains for better results. Using regular brain scans on BBC journalist Melissa Hogenboom, who was practicing “mindfulness” techniques over a few weeks, the media company found that the more we relax the more neuroplasticity occurs.

The brain is constantly changing, of course, for better or worse. For example, if we experience sadness for a while, the amygdala (used for processing emotions) will expand.

With mindfulness practice, the BBC presenter’s amygdala reduced in size, consistent with stress reduction.

Another positive effect was the increase in the posterior cingulate cortex indicating that she had developed greater control over “mind wandering,” or an increased ability to stay focused.

The old saying is “Practice makes perfect.” In reality, the formula is:

Practice + Relaxation = Progress.

This formula describes hypnotism. Why?

Of course, there are other aspects of hypnotism (such as the use of hypnotic suggestions) but… in hypnosis, I guide you to mentally practice the task that you want to be successful in.

And, of course, in hypnosis, you will be in a relaxed state, while you mentally rehearse your future ability and achievement.

According to Neuroscience News, “the brain encodes the vividness of perceived and real stimuli in a similar manner.” In other words, the more vivid your imagination, the more the brain treats it as a real experience. And, in hypnosis, people experience mental rehearsal as “more real” than typical visualizations.

In other words, we can reverse engineer the above formula to:

Hypnosis = [mental] Practice + Relaxation.

As the BBC has shown, this combination of practice and relaxation is the key to real neuroplasticity for the long-term, positive changes you want. Hypnosis speeds up that natural process.

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