Frequently Asked Questions

What is hypnotism?

Most people have the impression hypnotism is the dancing around on stage like a chicken at some master hypnotists show.

It is simply creating and embedding an Internal Reference or 'IR', a thought/belief that appears when a stimulus occurs to help us react how we would 'like' to react rather than how we 'usually' react.

For example: someone offers you a cigarette (stimulus) and rather than simply taking it as you usually do, a new embedded subconscious 'thought' occurs prompting a valid reason not to take it (IR) which for example may be a feeling of dread of loss of quality of life with loved ones or life attached to an oxygen bottle from poor lung function etc, this is subtle and on a subconscious level but strong enough to make you resist taking the cigarette .

What is the difference between hypnosis, meditation and mindfulness?

Big picture? Honestly not much . . . for wellbeing all look to bring you to a clarity or focus of thought, a focus on your minds control mechanism your sub conscious. Meditation has you focus by either the single or wandering mind methods and mindfulness has you learn to live in the moment not allowing fear and doubt to effect you.

All allow your positive desires to be embed so you don't overreact to the negative 'stimulus' of life. Hypnosis leads you to that focus on a level of sub conscious thought. The end result can really be the same and the practices can be used in combination to enhance the results.

Note: from Buddhist meditation the “single mind,” practice associated with the Mahayana tradition is more akin to hypnosis and “wandering mind” of the Theravada practices is more akin to mindfulness.

What is the 'Ninja' connection to all this about?

Nin (as in ninja - person of . . . ) translates to patience, forbearance & perseverance while Ninpo is the internal development of an individuals character and spiritual being.
The refinement of the spirit is known as Seishin Teki Kyoyo and focuses on attaining the correct ‘heart’, building internal resilience, self awareness and fudoshin or the immovable spirit. So, this can be attained through all the practices we offer from meditation to hypnosis.
In our dojo we teach the Roku Daijin 6 great characters – Sanshin (3 Hearts) balanced body, mind and spirit plus the Sanhimitsu (3 secrets) being of good thought, word and deed.

Note: Sanshin also relates to the 3 processes of learning or attaining enlightenment within Ninpo study . . .

Shoshin Gokei (初心五型) “Beginners Mind Five Types”
Gogyo no Kata (五行の型 ) “Five Element Examples”
Goshin no Kata (悟心の型) “Enlightened Mind Example”

What is Shoshin

'Beginner's mind' is a word from Zen Buddhism, it refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, just as a beginner or child would even when studying at an advanced level. For meditation, mindfulness and hypnosis (or any endeavour) this open minded attitude will always assist the practices.

What is Gogyo

'applying the Five elements' often referred to as the Godai (五大) or '5 Great' elements of Japanese Buddhism and Hinduism -

Earth is associated with stubbornness, collectiveness, stability and physicality... the doing.

Water associated with emotion, defensiveness, adaptability, flexibility, suppleness, and magnetism... the flexible practice.

Fire is associated with security, motivation, desire, intention, and an outgoing spirit... the enthusiasm.

Wind is associated with will, elusiveness, evasiveness, benevolence, compassion and wisdom, an "open-minded" attitude and carefree feeling... the effortless application

Void is associated with power, creativity, spontaneity, and inventiveness, represents spirit, thought, and creative energy... the gaining of deeper knowledge.

What is Goshin

'Wisdom mind' is the last level. Here, whatever is learned is performed as a method of meditation to obtain enlightenment. While the first two levels require conscientious focus to develop and adapt correct movement or methods, this stage almost requires the absence of conscience thought, the movements or practice are done continuously, with spontaneity, until a moment of “enlightenment” is obtained.

Almost universally, meditation or mindfulness involves some aspect of obtaining this "enlightenment", the Sanshin is used to achieve that.

this gives the ability to act/respond unconsciously and secondly allow observation in an abstract and detached way known as in martial arts as Mushin.

What is Mushin

'No Mind' is when a person's mind is free from thoughts of worry, anger, fear, or ego during everyday life. There is an absence of discursive thought and judgement, so the person is totally free to act and react towards any situations without hesitation and without disturbance from such distracting thoughts. At this point, a person relies not on what they think should be the next move, but what is their instinct (or in martial arts their embedded training) or what is felt intuitively. It is not a state of relaxed, near-sleepfulness, however. The mind could be said to be alert, aware and possibly working at a very high speed, but with no intention, plan, assumption or direction, instead adopting the 'correct' path as needed.

Some martial arts masters believe that mushin is the state where a person finally understands the uselessness of techniques and becomes truly free to move. In fact, those people will no longer even consider themselves as "fighters" but merely living beings moving through space

What is Sanshin

Sanshin (3 Hearts) as well as referring to the above learning process also refers to the balance of body, mind and spirit in relation to wellbeing:

Body = balancing inner health and outer fitness

Mind = balancing technical knowledge and worldly knowledge

Spirit = balancing courage and compassion

E-program FAQ'S

Q: What if I fall asleep during a hypnosis session, should this happen?

A: Hypnosis can sometimes feel like sleep, as you get used to the hypnosis process you can (should) go into a deeper state each time. If you fall asleep your mind is choosing to do so, which is perfectly normal, the subconscious mind should still benefit from the session.

Q: I sometimes feel more emotional after a session

A: You can have an emotional reaction to the change you are embedding, including intense or heighten emotions. This emotional reaction may last from a day up to a week after a session. It's perfectly normal as sometimes the thing you are dealing with or trying to correct has deeply buried emotions connected to it so peeling back the layers in the process may reveal those positive or negative emotions.

Allow your mind and body to process these emotions and release them. This is the process that you sometimes NEED to go through, it won’t last long and it won’t hurt you (be sure to hydrate before and after sessions, dehydration clouds the mind which can intensify negative emotions). You can even use some mindfulness practice to process or analyse this, then let it pass.

Q: Some sessions make me feel tired

A: There can be a physical reaction to emotional change on occasion. It may last a few days. Mostly just a mild feeling of tiredness or lethargy.

It's called a 'shift', this may occur as you have experienced a change in your emotional state. As a whole being the mind and body can affect each other in a positive and/or negative way.

If you experience this physical reaction to a session it is a good sign that what you are doing is working.

NINJAFIT ® - SHINOBI JUNAN TAISO

What is NINJAFIT ®

The ultimate fitness, health and wellbeing system based on centuries of martial/budo conditioning honed over 35 years of sports and exercise science applying the way of the GODAI (5 GREAT) - 5 Elements

EARTH = Solid, grounded, muscle, bone, physical connection - self massage.

WATER = Fluidity, blood, circulation, nerve connection - exercise/movement.

FIRE = Energy, metabolism, body heat, intention - power/strength.

WIND = Freedom of movement, respiratory, open mindedness - stretch/flexibility.

VOID = Spirit, thought, emotion, life force, creative energy - mindskill/internal belief.

The Ninja Mindskill & our Shinobi Junan Taiso are structured around the GODAI, 5 elements of training the SANSHIN body, mind and spirit.

Forging a TRULY balanced BEING.

DISCLAIMER / LEGAL

DISCLAIMER

Yes, we gotta have one of these. … for your protection and understanding as much as ours.

We, Ninjutsu International P/L, Ninja Mind Skill, Gary Hoffman or associated entities, in the provision of Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy does not and cannot guarantee the effectiveness of treatment in any individual cases.

It is important to understand that meditation, mindfulness or hypnosis/hypnotherapy is not a ‘silver bullet’ or 'fix all' therapy.

It does require that the client be committed to making the change, have social support and be prepared to make the sometimes physical effort to make that change a reality.

E.g. Weight loss hypnosis may be of a psychological benefit to a ‘diet’ and exercise program but if you make no effort or you fight changes to your current lifestyle it will be ineffective.

As there are considerable variations in the degree of a client’s condition/s the expected result may vary from no change to the fully expected change.

Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy is not or may not be effective where a client has either diagnosed or un-diagnosed mental/psychological conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, acquired brain injury or other psychological, psychosomatic or mental health conditions. With the exceptions of some forms of depression, anxiety and mild behavioural or psychological conditions.

Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy may not effective where a client has a physical disability that makes it physically impossible to attain performance or proficiency in a desired physical activity.

In relation to physical or mental health/psychological conditions/disabilities help should be sort from suitably qualified registered medical/health professionals.