IF you had the ability to hypnotise yourself just imagine what life could be like. Problems like stopping smoking, losing weight or a lack of confidence could change completely.

Helping people to understand the facts and not the myths about hypnosis is Katherine Jenkins. The consulting hypnotherapist recently held her first one-day self-hypnosis workshop this month.

Katherine, who runs two practices, one from her home in Ide and the other at the Exeter Natural Health Centre in Queen Street, is hosting the workshops to enable people to learn the techniques of self-hypnosis.

It helps with basic needs such as relaxation, improved sleep, and memory enhancement.

At the beginning of the three-hour course Katherine explains what hypnosis is.

"Being hypnotised is actually fun and pleasurable," revealed Katherine. "There is nothing frightening about it.

"It is a natural ability we all have and experience most days in some form. For instance watching a film and being totally engrossed, or driving from A to B with little recollection of the journey.

"A person who decides they will not be hypnotised won't be at all as hypnosis is really self-hypnosis: We allow ourselves to go along with the ideas.

"It is not the same as sleep. There is awareness on some level at all times, and everyone has the power to return to a full state of wakefulness should they so desire.

"It is an incredibly peaceful and relaxing experience. It is the use of the senses to engage the creative imagination to allow access into another part of the brain which is extremely suggestible and willing to learn newer, better ways of being.

"You cannot be made to do anything you don't wish to do. Nor do you say things under hypnosis that you would rather keep private. There is no danger in being hypnotised."

Already putting into practice what she learnt is Karen Randall, from Lapford, who was on the first course.

The 36-year-old said: "It was quite an eye opener and was really fascinating. Katherine has got such a soothing voice you feel hypnotised just listening to her which helps. I have not had any hypnosis before. All I knew was what I had seen on television and it was nothing like that.

"It was really quite pleasant and I came out feeling quite relaxed and my children did not seem quite so bad!

"It's not very often you get an opportunity to relax and switch off. I will definitely try and use it to relax. I did ask Katherine about hypnotising children and she said they are easily open to suggestion!"

Also on the same course as Karen was 60-year-old Anne Drury, of Whimple. She also had no previous experience of hypnotherapy and went along with an open mind. Anne said: "It was interesting to hear from Katherine how people react to hypnotherapy. I found it quite informative because you do have preconceived ideas about it.

"We obviously had a taster where we had to relax ourselves. I went with an open mind and I was quite impressed by it.

"I found it easy to relax but I'm quite a relaxed person anyway and maybe it's because I don't have any underlying issues.

"People are unsure of hypnotherapy but it is so open and easy to go along with. If I needed it I would definitely use it."