By definition eye catalepsy means physical persistence of trying to open your eyelids while keeping them closed.  Eye catalepsy is an exercise that can help you relax your eyelids while transcending this physical relaxation further down throughout your facial muscles and ultimately – the mind. You have to try it to experience it.

Eye catalepsy is part of the larger hypnotic induction, called Dave Elman Induction, invented by hypnotherapist Dave Elman in the 1960’s. This induction is widely used by hypnotherapists today and it is very popular in inducing a light state of hypnosis. Our AlphaMind application utilizes the modified version of Dave Elman Induction as one of our ten relaxation techniques.

For self-hypnosis purposes you don’t need to use the entire Dave Elman induction. I suggest you only use eye catalepsy part.  Besides, you would need someone else to guide you if you wanted to experience a full induction.

If you are out and about and need a moment of relaxation or stress reduction, simply use an eye catalepsy exercise, which can take only 1 or 2 minutes.

Here are the simple steps:

1. Close your eyes and take a deep Breath.
2.  Try to open your eyelids while keeping them closes. Try really hard, and imagine as if they are sealing shut, almost glued together. Imagine, as if the harder you try to open them, the more they stick together. Simply pretend you can not open them and begin to notice the relaxing sensations in your eyelids and around your eyes, while you practice this exercise.
3. Relax your eyes completely, stop trying to open them. Keep them closed. Let them rest for a few seconds. Feel and enjoy the relaxation that is setting in your eyelids and your facial muscles.

Do the same steps two more times.  When you are done, enjoy a deep mental relaxation, a natural state of light hypnosis. You can open your eyes and go about your day feeling more calm and present, or you can stay in the state of hypnosis and begin to program yourself with positive affirmations. These affirmations will settle right into your unconscious mind with no obstruction of the conscious mind and mental chatter.