Visualisation - Why Does it Work?
Throughout the Remembering Birth HypnoBirthing course, you will be taught powerful visualisation techniques to create the birthing experience that you desire.
But what is visualisation? And how does it work?
Visualisation involves going into a deeply relaxed state of being, and then bringing to mind images as vividly as possible, of something that you want to create or bring into your life.
Did you know that the brain cannot tell the difference between reality and imagination? Visualising something in your mind is the same to the brain as having an experience in real life!
As you intentionally bring these images into your conscious mind, it is very important to simultaneously allow our body to experience the feelings associated with them.
For instance, if you chose to visualise that you have had an amazing, natural homebirth, and that you are holding your newborn baby, smiling, happy and healthy - you might choose to practice feelings of gratitude, joy, relief and love that would naturally come with that experience.
This is important because thoughts get the mind activated, and feelings activate the body.
When you both think and feel in alignment with the future experience you wish to create, those thoughts and feelings will literally start to install new neurological pathways that can change your brain to look like the brain that has already had this wonderful future experience. You are also setting up your nervous system to get comfortable and familiar with feeling those feelings you have been practicing!
We know that most successful athletes have used visualisation as part of their strategy, imagining their success on the sports field before making their move.
Recent studies have even shown that people who simply imagine themselves flexing a muscle, achieve actual strength in that muscle from doing so! Why does this work? Because they are activating the same pathways in the brain that relate to the real-life movement of the muscle!
When it comes to birth, visualisation is an incredibly valuable tool.
There are two important factors to consider when using visualisation as a practice:
Consistency is key! Remember, we want to familiarise our body and mind with this experience and the feelings associated as much as possible, so daily practice is best.
Depth of emotion makes all the difference! The more we can embody the heightened emotions around the visualisations we are creating, the more real the experience will be to the brain - therefore those new neurological pathways will be created to support this reality!
Open yourself up to the highest possibility of your birth! How good could birth feel? How beautiful could it look?
We dive deep into visualisation practices throughout the Remembering Birth HypnoBirthing course - but here is a simple, yet powerful practice to get you started at home…
First, find yourself a journal to write in.
When you have some time and space in your day, sit down with this journal, close your eyes, place your hand on your heart, and take a few deep breaths to centre yourself.
When you feel ready, open your eyes.
Write down: What does my most ultimate, dream birth look like? And let yourself answer. Make sure you right down all the little details - where are you, who is in the room with you, are there candles, lights, blankets? How long is your labour? How do you move through all the sensations of labour? Is there a birthing pool, is it quiet, is there music? Do you see yourself holding your beautiful new baby, gazing into their eyes? Are you glowing, smiling?
And then, the next question: How does my ultimate, dream birth feel for me? And answer freely. Let yourself feel all the feelings as you write! Do you feel gratitude, relief, joy, love, bliss…. How does it feel to have accomplished your initiation into motherhood, and how does it feel to hold your beautiful baby? Describe it all in detail!
Now that you have written all of that down, take a few minutes to sit down with your eyes closed, and really truly, see and feel all that you have just created and designed for you birthing experience. Know that you are worthy and able to call all of that in and claim it as your reality.
Then take a few more deep breaths, and open your eyes.
Repeat daily!
With all my love,
Ella Keita xx