Answer to Question 1
The benefits of hypnosis are expanding and being better recognized. In itself hypnosis is not a form of therapy, but it can be used in therapeutic ways. Because hypnotized individuals are more suggestible, they are more receptive to breaking bad habits, such as smoking and overeating. Mental health professionals use hypnosis to treat various problems, including phobias, and it is remarkably effective in relieving pain from burns, arthritis, and other chronic conditions. Hypnosis also has proven useful in helping trauma victims work through upsetting memories of what happened to them.
Answer to Question 2
Transcendental meditation (TM) was introduced as a technique in the mid-20th century by Marharishi Mahesh Yogi, a physicist who spent years developing a simple form of meditation that could be easily taught and learned. His global educational campaign helped popularize meditation in Western cultures. TM generally consists of a standardized program with regular classes over the course of several weeks or months. Students are expected to practice daily. TM uses a mantra, not solely as a focus for concentration but as a vehicle to automatic self-transcending, a process in which one attempts to reach a higher state of being through meditation.