Notes of Growth
![](https://wholenesshealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Notes-of-Growthsmaller.jpg)
The Effects of Hypnosis on my Exercise
When my friend first talked me into running a 10 k, I was pretty excited. I have always wanted to be a runner. I was the only thing standing in my way. When I started my training, I was walking on a treadmill, watching television. The thought of running outside made me anxious. My friend and I joined a group with her personal trainer to help motivate us. The plan was to get together one or two times a week and run together to help support each other. So I started running outside to get used to it. A block seemed like a mile; I was so anxious I couldn’t breathe. I convinced myself that I had exercise-induced asthma. I just couldn’t breathe. I told myself all sorts of crazy things, such as I wasn’t good enough or fast enough or that I would never finish six miles; it was just too far. In a two mile run, I had to stop a lot to catch my breath even though I wasn’t running fast. I just couldn’t relax and breathe. I started to feel defeated. I had built myself up to three miles when I heard about a group of runners going to try hypnosis. I wanted to try anything so I signed up.
We met in Deb’s office and we all got comfortable. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest, then time seemed to fly by.
She mentioned something about running and before I knew it, we were done. My heart beating normally, I felt energized. This began a whole new mindset for me. All of a sudden I was going to do this race and do it well. The next few weeks I listened to my hypnosis CD every night at least once, sometimes more. I began to get centered, calm and relaxed, even during the day when things got stressful. I started looking forward to my runs and stopped the negative messages I was telling myself. Deb also gave us a list of affirmations. Soon I was hearing them in my head when I ran, and all day long. I was determined to let no negative messages in my head. My breathing became controlled; I found that I could run farther, and it wasn’t my breathing holding me back.
On race day I was nervous but very mentally prepared. I repeated to myself “calm and relaxed” automatically over and over. When the race started, I took a deep breath and went. As my playlist on my iPod played, I continued one step at a time “calm and relaxed”. I would hear in my head phrases such as, “You can do this,” “Rest when it’s over.” Those positive affirmations were just there; I didn’t have to think of them. I was just calm and relaxed. I finished the 10 k in one hour. That was great
for my first one. But more important was that I had fun. I experienced no problems with breathing or negative thinking. My head was clear and I was “calm and relaxed.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deb England
Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner
Licensed Professional Counselor
Advanced Clinical HypnoTherapist- Deb England began working part-time for Wholeness Healing Center in September 2004 and began full-time in May 2005. Deb practices primarily in the Broken Bow office and one day a week in the Grand Island office. Previously she had completed her practicum and internship at Morning Star Alliance, working in the Broken Bow and Grand Island offices.
LATEST ARTICLES BY Deb England
Subscribe today
Sign up to receive the latest mental health tips and inspiration