Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2008
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Mind Over Matter
Q & A with Marcus Evans, hypnotherapist at the Clinic of Total Relaxation in Bridgeton and Good 4 Life Wellness Center in Hammonton
What is hypnotherapy and how does it work?
Hypnosis is a state of altered consciousness where the brain is functioning below 14 electromagnetic impulses per second. In this state, the mind is highly suggestible.
You say you’ve used hypnotherapy to help boost the win record for Vineland High School’s swim team. Did you hypnotize the swimmers en masse, give them individual tapes to listen to?
I worked with the swim team as a group once a week during the swim season. The form used is called Cybernetics. I taught them to work with themselves every day. The team was undefeated during the 10 years I worked with them.
Must one believe in the benefits of hypnotherapy for it to be effective? In other words, will skepticism get in the way of results?
All of us are skeptical to a point. That’s fine. To totally disbelieve can cause it not to work.
Why do most people see a hypnotherapist—to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, all of the above?
All of the above and more. I’ve worked with panic attacks, bed wetting, better grades, chronic pain… My area of expertise is behavior modification.
How long a commitment must one make to achieve lasting results?
It depends on the client. Normally, smoking is a four-session program. After the initial four sessions, I gradually move the client to a once-a-month program.
Explain the mind-body connection from your perspective.
I took the swimmers, for example, through a swim event in their minds. Afterward, their muscles were tested. The muscle test showed their muscles had been used. If you can ‘see’ it in your mind, you can make it happen.
What kind of credentialing is necessary for hypnotherapy, and how can people find a good practitioner?
The state of New Jersey has no regulations. My suggestion is to call around. Interview the therapist. Make sure you are comfortable with the person before you commit to sessions.
Marcus Evans can be reached at the Clinic of Total Relaxation at 856-453-1808 or through Good 4 Life Wellness Center at 609-704-0082.
SKIN QUESTIONS
They say beauty’s only skin-deep, but the look, tone and texture of your skin is a vital part of looking (and feeling) your best. Here are some popular skincare remedies and what they can do for you.
FACIALS
Facials feel good, and they’re a great way to relax before preparing for your close-up.In the hands of an experienced esthetician, the regular facial takes about an hour and involves cleansing, massage to stimulate circulation and mild exfoliation. Facials can also be customized for your skin type.
For example, dry skin type might get an extra-hydrating mask, and a facial for acne-prone skin would consist of more extraction than massage (massage may over-stimulate oil production). With every season, facials are a good idea, as they help the skin prepare for dramatic changes in weather.
PHOTOFACIAL
Photofacials do not work with lasers but instead use an intense pulse light, or IPL, to treat redness and discoloration in the skin caused by broken capillaries and hyper-pigmentation. The pulse light breaks apart melanin in the skin and brings it to the surface, where it sloughs off like dead skin. Photofacials require several treatments and are usually followed with microdermabrasion for maximum benefit.
MICRODERMABRASION
Be advised: This ultra-exfoliating procedure feels like a cat has licked your face for 20 minutes! But the benefits outweigh the slight discomfort of the process. A diamond-encrusted tip passes over your face, shearing off dead skin cells and pulling out impurities, leaving your face thoroughly exfoliated. It’s a great maintenance treatment, and can be repeated every 4-6 weeks.
CHEMICAL PEELS
Chemicals peels use acids—mainly derived from fruits—to remove layers of skin from the face, bringing healthy cells to the surface and minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The procedure takes about an hour, and depending on the strength of the peel, up to one week of downtime may be required. It’s always wise to avoid direct exposure to the sun after any skin treatment, but for chemical peels this is especially true.
YOU OLD SMOOTHIE!
Aveda’s island-inspired Caribbean Therapy body scrub transforms skin by exfoliating it with salt and Caribbean cane sugar. Then it softens, smoothes and conditions with coconut, avocado and passionfruit oils. 16 oz. jar, $38
Aveda’s Sun Source self-tanner for face and body contains vitamins, antioxidants and natural moisturizers to make you look sun-kissed in just 2-3 hours. Natural softeners include aloe, avocado, almond and sesame oil extracts. $16.50 per tube
