What is Guided Imagery? Guided Imagery opens a world of possibilities for relaxation, healing, intuition, performance, creativity, and wellness. Guided imagery is a gentle but powerful technique that focuses and directs the imagination. It can be just as simple as an athlete's 10-second reverie, just before leaping off the diving board, imagining how a perfect dive feels when slicing through the water. Or it can be as complex as imagining the busy, focused buzz of thousands of loyal immune cells, scooting out of the thymus gland on a search and destroy mission to wipe out unsuspecting cancer cells. Although it has been called "visualization" and "mental imagery", these terms are misleading. Guided Imagery involves far more than just the visual sense, and this is a good thing, given the fact that only about 55% of the population is strongly wired visually. Instead, imagery involves all of the senses, and almost anyone can do this.
Neither is it strictly a "mental" activity as it involves the whole body, the emotions and all the senses, and it is precisely this body-based focus that makes for its powerful impact.
Research shows Guided Imagery can help:
Relax, calm, and elevate mood
Lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol
Speed up healing from surgical wounds
Elevate immune functioning
Reduce pain and headache
Inspire and motivate
Improve performance at work and sports
Enhance intuition and creativity
Lower anxiety and depression
Reduce the craving for food and drugs
Did you know that:
Listening once or twice a day for several weeks makes a difference?
Imagery involves using all of your senses, not just visualizing?
The best times to listen are when waking up and falling asleep?
Even if you keep falling asleep while listening, you still benefit?
Imagery that evokes emotion and sensation has more impact?
You don’t have to believe in its impact for it to work?
The more you use imagery, the better at it you get?
Music increases the effects of imagery?
The more you listen, the less you need?
Guided Imagery works just as well in groups as it does alone?
Imagery doesn’t compete with other forms of treatment?
Imagery works for people who think they can’t ‘meditate’ or relax?
Kids are naturally great at this?
The healthjourneys Guided Imagery CD’s that we use during various sessions at HolEssence have been found effective in studies at UC Davis Medical Center; Memorial Sloane-Kettering; The Cleveland Clinic; Kaiser Permanente; Blue Shield of California; The National Veterans Administration Medical Center; and University Hospitals of Cleveland. Empowering and confidence-building, the Weight Loss audio doubled weight loss in a placebo-controlled pilot study at Canyon Ranch Health Spa.
These Guided Imagery CD’s are written and narrated by Belleruth Napartek – a world renowned psychotherapist known for her powerful guided imagery skills and outstanding ability to show people how to rediscover their body’s innate ability to heal.
‘Belleruth’s extraordinary gift for Guided Imagery unites the logic of the mind with the wisdom of the heart. Voice, words, music, and phrasing produce a profoundly nourishing experience that motivates and heals.’
— Joan Borysenko, PhD, Author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind; A Pocketful of Miracles; and Inner Peace for Busy People.
At HolEssence we carry the full line of the highly acclaimed Belleruth Naparstek’s Guided Imagery CD’s. They are research-proven and physician endorsed – combining healing imagery, powerful music, and affirmations. Here is a comprehensive list of titles in alphabetical order by topic:
Please stop by HolEssence and select the appropriate Guided Imagery CD for yourself, a friend, or family member. We are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm.
