First, be sure that you will not be disturbed.
Second, remove your shoes or any apparel that will interfere with your physical comfort in any way.
Third, now stretch out on your back, with your legs separated, so that no part of your calves or thighs are touching. Keep feet separated at least 8 to 10 inches; arms extended loosely and limply alongside your body, palms facing downward and fingers limply outstretched.
Once we begin, you can help by remaining quiet and passive. Our first goal is for you to become unaware of your body. You can best achieve that goal by avoiding any movement. The first thing that I want you to do is to fix your eyes at a spot on the ceiling overhead. Pick out an imaginary spot, and stare at that spot without moving a muscle.
Now, take a deep breath and fill up your lungs. Exhale slowly. Sleep now. Now, take a second and even deeper breath. Take in all the air that your lungs can hold. Exhale slowly. Sleep now. Now, let your eyelids close down.
Now, your eyelids are closed down. Please leave them closed down until I ask you to open them again. You will always be able to open your eyes, unless I were to give you a direct command and tell you that your eyelids are locked closed. And I don’t intend to do that. Hypnosis is a state of mind, not a state of eyelids.
Now, I want you to mentally picture and imagine that you are looking at the muscles in the tips of the toes of your left foot. In your imagination, follow those muscles as they move back into the ball of the foot. In your imagination, follow those muscles as they move back into the ball of the foot. Back into the arch, and all the way back into the heel. Now, turn all those muscles loose. Let them grow limp and lazy, just like a handful of loose rubber bands.
Now, as the muscles begin to relax, just let your mind relax, too. Let your mind drift where it will. Let your mind drift off to pleasant scenes in you imagination. And now, let the relaxation move on up, into the ankle now. From the ankle, all the way up to the left knee. The calf muscles begin to grow loose and limp — heavy, and so relaxed. All of your tensions are fading away. You’re relaxing more with each easy breath that you take.
Begin breathing more deeply, now, just as you breathe each night, when you are deep and sound in slumber. Just imagine that you can see your breath as a white mist, coming from your nostrils. Each and every time that you exhale this white mist, you are freeing yourself of tension, and going deeper, deeper into drowsy relaxation.
Now, from the knee, all the way to the left hip, the long thigh muscles are turning loose, easing off, and just relaxing now. Now, as those muscles relax, just let go a little more, and gently, calmly, easily, drift on over, into a pleasant state of easy relaxation.
Now let the wave of relaxation that started from the toes of your left foot just a few seconds ago — let it move over now into the toes of the right foot, back into the arch, and all the way back to the heel. Turn all of those muscles loose, and go deeper and deeper into relaxation. Into the ankle, the muscles let go. From the ankle, all the way up to the right knee. The calf muscles are turning loose and letting go.
You’re relaxing more with each easy breath that you take. With each sound that you hear. Each sound carries you deeper, deeper and sounder in sleep. From the knee, all the way up to the right hip. The long thigh muscles grow limp and lazy. Now, as those muscles relax, just go all the way down, deeper and deeper in drowsy slumber. Turn them all loose and go deeper in sleep.
Now, the wave of relaxation moves on up, into the stomach now. Into the solar plexus, the center of nervous energy. Each muscle and nerve lets loose the tensions, relaxing. You’re drifting down, deeper and deeper in sleep. Down, deeper in slumber. Up through the ribs, the muscles relax. Into the broad muscles of the chest. The muscles of the chest grow limp and loose, and so relaxed. All of your tensions are fading away.
You’re relaxing now, more with each easy beat of your heart, and going deeper in drowsy slumber. Into the neck, the muscles let go. All around the neck, the muscles relax, just as they relax each night when you are deep and sound in sleep.
Turn them all loose, and go deeper and deeper in slumber. Now let the relaxation start down your back. From the base of the skull to the base of the spine. Each muscle and nerve along the spine lets loose the tension, relaxing, your drifting down. Deeper and deeper in sleep. down deeper in drowsy slumber. And the wave of relaxation spreads out into the broad muscles of the back.
Now all across the small of the back. All across the back of the shoulders. Turn loose every muscle and every nerve in the back, and go deeper and deeper in sleep. Into the shoulder, the muscles let go. From the shoulders, down to the elbows of both arms. The upper arm muscles are turning loose, easing off, and just relaxing now. From the elbows, down to the wrists on both arms, the forearm muscles grow limp and lazy.
From the wrists to the fingertips of both hands, each muscle and nerve lets loose the tensions, relaxing, you’re drifting down. Deeper and deeper in sleep. Into the jaws, the muscles relax. The jaws are parting slightly, teeth not quite touching. All around the mouth, the muscles let go. Up through the nose, each nerve gives way.
All around the eyes, the muscles are heavy, and so relaxed. Even your eyebrows are relaxing now. Across the forehead, the muscles smooth out. Across the top of the skull. Down the back of the neck. Down through the temples, back around the ears, all of the muscles are loose, and lazy — just like a handful of loose rubber bands.
And you may feel now, a pleasant tingling sensation in the tips of your toes, or in your fingertips — a pleasant tingling sensation, growing stronger and stronger now, as your entire body is being bathed in the pleasant glow of complete and utter relaxation.
Now you are completely relaxed. Each muscle and nerve in your body is loose and limp and relaxed, and you feel good.