Elman Instant Induction

(Two-Finger Technique)

Spoken to the subject:

“Rest your arms limply on your thighs, feet flat on floor. I want you to look at my hand. In a moment I’m going to bring my hand up in front of your eyes.” (Demonstrate bringing index and middle finger of right hand, in a pointing V position, to a position just above their eyebrows.) “When I do, I’ll pass my hand down in front of your eyes. Keep your eyes fixed on my fingers. As I pass my hand down, let your eyelids close.” (Bring hand straight down, one finger moving down over each eye.) “Close your eyelids down.”

“Now your eyelids are closed. I want you to relax every tiny muscle and nerve in and around your eyelids. I want you to relax them so much that they wouldn’t work even if you wanted them to.”

“When you know that you’ve relaxed them so much they wouldn’t work even if you wanted them to test them.” (7f they open their eyes, tell them to relax them again, this time more completely and test again. If they don ‘t open their eyes, pause three seconds and continue.)

“All right, that’s fine. Stop trying and just relax and go deeper. Now I’m going to raise your right hand. I will do it by grasping your thumb in my fingers.” (Grasp thumb between thumb and index finger.) “As I lift your hand, let it hang limply in my fingers, (Slightly rock arm back and forth) then, when I drop it, let it drop like a wet, limp rag. When your hand touches your body, send a wave or relaxation from the top of your head down to the tips of your toes. That will double your present level of relaxation.”

(Lift hand, rocking it) “Let it hang loose and limp. When drop it. Let it drop like a wet, limp rag. And as it touches your body, send a wave of relaxation from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.” (Drop hand) “Double your current level of relaxation.”

“Now, I’m going to pick up your left hand. As I take your thumb, just let it hang limply.” (Slightly rock arm back and forth) “When I drop it, let it drop like a wet, limp rag. When it touches your body, send another wave of relaxation from the top of your head to the tips of your toes and double your present level of relaxation.” (Drop hand)

“Now, your body is relaxed and I’m going to show you how to relax your mind. The next time I touch your forehead, I want you to begin counting backward, slowly, from one hundred. With each number you say, double your mental relaxation. After you have counted just a few numbers your mind becomes so relaxed, you find the rest of them relaxing out of your mind.”

“All right, get ready.” (Tap subject on forehead) “Begin counting.” (As they count down make appropriate comments… “Slowly now” “Wonderful” “Double that relaxation” “Now let them grow dim and distant.” “Let them relax right out of your mind.” When they pause say… “All gone?” not “Are the numbers gone?” this could call the numbers back into focus. If they are still counting but are lethargic say, “Let them all fade completely away.”

(After subject has stopped counting, continue with a deepening technique and test.)