Self-hypnosis and meditation are often confused as being the same thing. While they are separate practices, they work well together. You can combine them for even more relaxation and self-awareness. Here are some things to know about including self-hypnosis in your meditation sessions.

What is Self-Hypnosis?

You probably already know the basics of meditation, how it works, and its main benefits. But self-hypnosis is a little different. Self-hypnosis is a state of self-awareness where you guide your thoughts and feelings in one specific direction.

In self-hypnosis, you give yourself suggestions about how to feel or what to imagine in your mind. You are then able to immerse yourself in these visions. Self-hypnosis often includes getting into a highly relaxed state first. You may also use breathing techniques and other methods often used during meditation and mindfulness practices.

How to do it with meditation?

Now for combining self-hypnosis and meditation. Something important to remember is that you should learn these skills at different times. First, learn meditation. Once you have meditated for some time, you can start incorporating more self-hypnosis practices.

Luckily, both meditation and self-hypnosis begin in the same way. Here are some similarities:

• Find a good place that is quiet and free of distractions.
• Ensure you can dedicate at least 10-15 minutes to your practice.
• Then, begin relaxing with deep breathing exercises. Close your eyes, and focus only on your breath.

When you begin adding in self-hypnosis, there will be a few different stages, including the induction stage of meditating and the changing stage. This is where you guide your thoughts and feelings to a specific place, followed by the exit stage when you return to your surroundings.

More Tips for Self-Hypnosis with Meditation

Still trying to figure out how to practice both self-hypnosis and meditation? Here are some more tips:

• Don’t force what you feel or experience during self-hypnosis. You may have ideas about what you can experience in self-hypnosis or meditation that came from something you say in a movie or on television. While you might experience similar things, don’t force it. You encourage specific experiences during self-hypnosis, but you might see or feel something completely different from another person.
• Don’t replace meditation with hypnosis. Meditation is the core of what will help you find clarity and self-awareness. It will also improve your overall wellness. Continue your regular meditation practice without involving self-hypnosis sessions.