It might seem counterproductive for students to bring pillows and blankets to class.
In Ruth Erickson's psychology class, it proved hypnotizing.
In line with her Canyon Del Oro curriculum to study a person's state of consciousness, Erickson asked kids to bring in blankets and pillows as certified clinical hypnotherapist Joan Urry came to her classroom.
"It is really easy to hypnotize people," Urry said to the class before it entered a darkened lecture hall. "But some people are scared they won't come out of the trance."
Urry told the students she is certified by the state of Arizona, has had her own private practice for about six years, and has used self-hypnosis since the mid-'70s for self-medication and to help fall asleep.
In the lecture hall, students spread out across the floor. They lay down with their pillows, sleeping bags, and blankets as a couple of lighted candles were set on top of the front table.
Erickson, who is in her 21st year teaching at CDO, has been teaching psychology for eight years. She watched the students go deeper and deeper into a state of relaxation as Urry talked to them from the front table.
When she first brought Urry into her class, the plan was for her to talk to the students about an altered state of mind.
"It didn't cross my mind for her to demonstrate hypnosis," Erickson said. Without permission slips from the students' parents, Erickson was hypnotized in front of her classroom full of students years back.
Now, for the students put under the trance, they are told they are protected from stress and obtain the power to block stress. They are able to subdue their anxiety when it comes time to take a test, and they are also given the suggestion to drink lots of water to help them stay healthy.
Whether they're free from stress for the rest of the school year, Erickson hears students say that they had a great day and felt good.
"I like to show students what they can do with their mind," Urry said. "And explain how your mind can trick you. It is a real eye-opener to kids and try really enjoy it."
As the students woke up, Urry asked them if they felt more relaxed or less stressed. Classmates Claire Weoman, 16, and Kelly Davis, 17, said they were a little anxious leading up to the hypnosis.
Davis was curious if she was going to be able to be hypnotized, because some people can't be put under either due to being strong-minded, or because of medications.
"Kids like it, even if they can't be hypnotized," Erickson said. "The kids who do go under say they had 'such a great day'."
