INTRODUCTION
Although our model has four distinct phases (Life Map Work, Shame Work, Darkroom Work and other experiential ways of working and Lifestyle), it is entirely person-specific. This means we always adapt the work to the individual and not the other way around – so, the person is always at the centre of the process. Therefore, no two people have the same experience, even when they pass through all four phases. For those who prefer not to work completely adhering to our approach, we simply use aspects of our model and resources to meet their needs in other ways.
Deep relaxation work belongs to the third stage in our process, in the category of ‘other experiential work’ and for some individuals, where darkroom work isn’t relevant or appropriate, this option is a powerful alternative. Other options include emotional freedom work (EFW), the therapeutic use of trance, and emotional breath work, alongside the other introspective resources we offer.
In common with darkroom work, deep relaxation work invites individuals to establish a conversation with the sub and unconscious minds, persuading change to take place at the deepest level of the psyche through the vehicle of trance. The sub and unconscious minds are the driving forces behind our self-limiting habits, patterns and ways of being… and so when working at this level, change within our emotional reality becomes possible. These sessions are recorded live and the individual is encouraged to listen to them regularly, which is a powerful way to turn the tide of outdated beliefs and the resulting thought and behaviour patterns.
DEEP RELAXATION WORK 1
Deep relaxation work is a creative process which enables you, to access parts of your being that would not normally be accessible. For most people, the lack of pause and stillness means that life is little more than a blur, as clarity and perspective drain away. This is why you are unable to access the deepest parts of your being. During deep relaxation you are eased, by the practitioner, into a state which is calm and peaceful, free from anxiety, tension, concerns, and fears. The whole process takes about 30 to 40 minutes. It works by lowering the defence mechanisms and the conditioned responses that have built up around the self, creating a fortress-like construction. These defences are very difficult to penetrate especially when you are operating from the conscious aspects of your nature.
In a state of deep relaxation, we are more child-like, open, and accessible and as a result, positive change can be skilfully engineered quickly and easily. Under the effects of deep relaxation, you will experience a lowering of these defences and therefore your conditioned responses will not be so readily triggered, enabling unwanted tendencies and traits to be more easily removed. At the same time, those things you would want to be a part of your nature and personality are more readily accepted and absorbed in the mind, so that over time, they become permanent fixtures.
Whilst being in a state of deep relaxation you may find yourself drifting in and out of consciousness and awareness and you should not be concerned by this as it is part of the process. As a result of this ebbing and flowing of consciousness, those things that you are seeking to remove are more easily extracted and those things you want to imbibe are more readily embraced. It is important to remember that this is not a normal dialogue between two people. It is an interaction at a much deeper level. What is needed is that you let go of any expectations, fears, and concerns and to be willing to go where the process takes you.
The consequences of this way of working are very powerful and long-lasting. In fact, if the process is seen through and honoured over a significant period (3-6 months) you will find that the changes you have been seeking to make will have taken root.
At Reach, the way we use deep relaxation in our work is to record at least 4 live sessions which revolve around particular themes, such as ‘self-respect’, ‘the seat of your potential’, ‘the path of least resistance’, ‘the advocate’ and ‘valuing the inside’. The learning and experience which has come out of the first two stages (Life Map Work and The Hall of Shame) will determine the themes to be focused upon. Each recording will be person specific, which means it will be particularly tailored to the individual.
Every live recording will be a unique event capturing the essence of what you particularly need. You will then be encouraged to listen to it at least every other day, until the time of the next recording. Of course, if you listen to it daily, the impact and the benefit is even greater. You will then be encouraged to listen to the recordings for at least 3 months to gain maximum benefit.
Experience has taught us that marked change will be noted about every 3 months with gradual and significant change coming much sooner than that. The changes that will be experienced first are subtle, relating to how you think, react, or behave in a variety of situations. As the process unfolds, your subtle changes will become apparent to others too. The least you can expect to gain from deep relaxation is a sense of stillness, clarity, and perspective and so it is well worth pursuing.
DEEP RELAXATION 2
Relaxation is one of our most powerful tools for self transformation. It enables us to get behind the sophisticated network of defences which prevent us from accessing our potential. Deep relaxation takes the individual into a trance-like state. The beauty and power of trance is that our normal intellectual responses are temporarily suspended, during which time the defensive mind is not interfering… and it becomes possible to peel away negative attitudes, belief systems and enslaving tendencies that mummify us, denying us the freedom and movement upon which mental health depends. Trance is not some mystical state only achieved by a selected few, it is a natural aspect of the human condition. In fact, you are probably in something akin to a trance-like state whilst reading this.
Trance is merely where consciousness focuses on something to the exclusion of everything else. In that moment other faculties and tendencies are temporarily unconscious and are unable to interfere. This is why trance can help us to transform deep seated problems because it removes us from our self-limiting habits, inclinations, and moods. Deep relaxation could also be described as trance work or clinical hypnosis. Both these activities help the individual to use relaxation creatively and constructively to address specific issues and encourage positive change.
As previously stated, the way we make use of the ‘relaxed state’ is by recording live sessions; the individual can then repeatedly revisit these personalised themes. In doing so, the brain and the mind can be re-wired (which means laying down new ways of thinking and relating to the world). We know through behavioural psychology and neurobiological research that the process of learning depends on repetition. Synaptogenesis has helped us to understand ‘when neurons fire together, they wire together’. In other words, the repeated exposure to positive or negative events, shapes how we turn up in the world. We can either be a nervous wreck, completely at the mercy of our old, unwanted patterns and habits, or a calm, stable being, with the courage of our own convictions. However, without repeated exposure to positive messages, the whole fabric of learning, growth and transformation would fall apart at the seams. This is why we encourage those who take the journey with us to listen to the recordings regularly, for optimal results.
This frequency of use needs a minimum of 3 months to start delivering lasting benefits. In fact, a period of 12 months is the ideal timeline for our approach because it takes about 3 months for habits to be formed. After a further 3 months these habits become part of one’s personality. After approximately 9 months your endeavours become enshrined within your character and after 12 months of consistent application it is now your nature. In other words, you have become what you have repeatedly absorbed. That which has become your nature is very hard to renounce. This is why so many of your unwanted tendencies have proved so difficult to remove because they have been deeply embedded over time.
Deep relaxation is a pain-free and very effective intervention which brings about personal transformation relatively quickly. It is important to understand that you are what you absorb and with regular and sustained use of your personalised recordings the blocks to your internal pathways are removed. This makes rehabilitation and recovery automatic and natural, leading to a clear, free-flowing mind. Once the simple practice of finding 30 minutes to listen to your recording on a regular basis is adhered to, then magical outcomes are possible which will far exceed your initial endeavours. So, make every effort to afford yourself time when your energy and attention for that short period will be exclusively focused on yourself and your needs. Then you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Listening to your recordings with a two or three-weekly rhythm offers best results because it gives sufficient time for each theme to leave its mark before listening to the next one. Each recording opens the door to a deeper level of self-transformation. This process of repeated exposure will give you the ultimate gift… the gift of yourself.
Also see: Trance-formation and The Power of Introspective Practices