Structured inductions

So far you have been learning "free form" or naturalistic inductions that use an experience to base suggestions around. Structured inductions provide a framework which suggestions can be linked to. One common structured induction is the body scan. Here is an example of the body scan:

Body scan

So now, that you are listening or reading this .... either sitting or lying down .... Somewhere comfortable .... At a time when you know you can allow yourself relax without being disturbed .... you could, could you not, when you feel comfortable .... allow those eyes to close .... and as you listen to the words .... You could imagine with each syllable, becoming more and more at ease .... As though being wrapped in a blanket of tranquility .... and you could notice, could you not .... having an awareness of the space around you .... The room that you are in .... and the sounds in the room .... Perhaps noticing the sounds that are outside of the room .... noticing how relaxed you are at the moment .... Compared to how relaxed you were a moment a go .... And now noticing how relaxed a foot is .... Noticing how relaxed those toes are on that foot .... Wondering which toe is the most relaxed on that foot .... And you could imagine that relaxation in that foot as a colour…. And I don't know what colour that would be .... And you don't have to know either .... But simply have an awareness of that colour in that foot .... perhaps a cool pastel shade or some other colour that would allow that foot to bath in a peacefulness right now .... and right now you might like to imagine that colour spreading in and around those toes .... and that foot .... Perhaps swirling around the heel of that foot .... Drenching that foot in a delicious calmness .... and now letting your imagination imagine that in the other foot as well .... allowing yourself the time right now to imagine what that is like .... To have both of those feet feel that comfort and tranquility .... and after a while .... At a time that is comfortable to you .... Just imagining what it would feel like to have that colour spread from those feet up to those ankles .... allowing those ankles to allow a stillness right now .... As though even the air around those ankles was calm and still right now….imaging that colour to spread up and around those calve muscles .... Brining a sense of warmth and soothing rest now .... washing through those knees .... allowing those knees to freely relax right now .... and I don't know if you have noticed yet .... If you have reached that time .... That time that you could have allowed yourself to start to go into hypnosis .... and I don't know if you could begin to go deeper as you notice yourself relaxing as deeply this time .... as you allow that colour to spread up and around and into those thighs .... allowing a pleasant sense of calmness now resting in and around them .... Gently soothing .... spreading .... Relaxing .... as if those muscles could remember a time when they were so relaxed .... having a curiosity about which parts of that body could benefit most from that colour which brings that comfort and calmness .... Allowing those organs to find a peace .... of that relaxation .... Allowing those lungs to breath in comfort .... and exhale any thoughts that are less comforting .... helping to allow that stomach to work more efficiently .... as that colour spreads and soothes .... perhaps for just a moment noticing how relaxed you feel compared to a moment ago .... and for a while longer noticing how easy it can be for a person to relax .... Drifting comfortably into a state of trance .... And allowing that body to bath in a gently soothing sense of delicious relaxation .... (long pause) .... and in you own time allowing that colour to spread around that neck .... Bringing a sense of calmness to those each and everyone of those muscles .... Allowing each muscle to breath in and appreciate .... in it's own time .... a sense of stillness .... And flowing down those arms like a waterfall of colour .... painting relaxation as it flows .... Past the elbows .... down to the wrists .... Reaching the finger tips .... Allowing each finger to be still .... And calm .... And as you allow yourself to bath in the calmness of trance .... allowing thoughts to come and go .... Perhaps having an appreciation of the true benefits that deep relaxation and calmness can bring to the mind and body when done regularly ....

(long pause)

and as I count back from 10 to 1 you can allow yourself to come back to a full awareness of the room that you are in .... so starting at 10 .... and 9 .... And 8 .... noticing the sounds in the room .... And outside the room .... 7 .... And 6 .... 5 .... 4 .... getting ready to open those eyes .... 3 .... And two .... And one .... and in your own time .. Opening your eyes and feeling refreshed.

Notice that the introduction sets the scene for a hypnotic trance in a natural way, and also the ending allows the person being hypnotised to come out comfortably