While for many of us the notion of hypnotism involves a swinging pendulum or conjures up images of participants forced on a stage to face humiliation, others see hypnotherapy as a tool for self-fulfillment, something to help navigate the stresses and strains of life.
I met with Beryl Comar, a US-trained hypnotherapist and life-management coach, to discuss the deeper meaning behind the art of suggestion and the positive and stabilising impact it can have on people's day to day lives and well-being.
ChangeMakers, in Dubai's Knowledge Village, is where all the "magic happens", enthuses Ms Comar. She uses a combination of tools and techniques to achieve the results that her clients expect, ranging from NeuroLinguistic Psychology (NLP), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Hypnotherapy.
"The strong connection between the mind and body should be harnessed and maximised in order to achieve personal change and growth," explains Ms Comar.
"The use of hypnotherapy can be traced back to the age of the pharaohs, when it was highly valued as complementary medicine and remains so to date."
Hypnotherapy is suitable for both children and adults, providing that the subject is a willing participant and free of any misconceptions about hypnosis and how it works.
"It is a 100 per cent consent state," Ms Comar highlights. "Hypnosis is an approved form of therapy, and it can only be used in a positive way. No one can keep you in hypnosis against your will."
The therapy has been used successfully to treat a range of problems, including anxiety, addictive behaviours, insomnia, grief, weight control and many other concerns.
"One of our most popular forms of hypnosis is past-life regression, which is a fun way to delve into your past; by drawing parallels to your current life you can often learn some valuable lessons," she says.
Many celebrities have gone down this path. Shirley MacLaine, in her book The Camino: A Journey of a Spirit, documents her past-life experiences in a fascinating and captivating manner, encouraging all of us to take a closer look at who we are.
Ms Comar says hypnosis is far from a frightening experience. Rather, it's a deep state of relaxation that allows the mind to be more alert than when we are in a normal state of consciousness. As well as enabling you to help yourself overcome your problems or achieve desired changes, hypnotherapy equips you with the tools necessary for self-realisation and focus, rather than merely treating symptoms, she says. Ms Comar also teaches self-hypnosis, a useful tool for those who don't have the time for personal sessions.
"By far the most useful self-hypnosis technique I teach is the 'Executive Power Nap', which I truly believe will revolutionise your life," says Ms Comar. "Each breath taken while under the power nap will have the equivalent benefit of 10 minutes of regular sleep, resulting in a deep sense of vitalisation after only a few minutes of self-hypnosis."
This may well be an answer for busy executives working 15-hour days or for those mums who would really benefit from a few minutes of peace and quiet from the daily grind. A selection of self-help disks is available for purchase at Ms Comar's office for Dh60 a piece.
Your first session starts with an informal evaluation, during which your goals will be established and a recommended course of action set.
"I spend a significant time with the client during the first session alleviating any fears and answering any questions, and providing they are completely comfortable with the idea of hypnosis the actual session begins by being guided into a deep state of physical and mental relaxation," Ms Comar explains. "You will feel very relaxed, yet extremely alert mentally. You will be aware of everything around you and you will remember everything that happens during the session."
Suggestions for the changes you desire will be given to your subconscious. The way your mind was previously programmed, which was holding you back and preventing you from achieving your goals, will be rewired, allowing you to eliminate problems, Ms Comar stresses.
She advises that the duration of the treatment programme varies depending on the severity of the problem, but adds that the vast majority of clients receive the desired outcome within four to six sessions or fewer. The consultancy fee for a one and a half-hour session is Dh750.
"Adults require more than an hour per session, as it allows them to relax and settle into the session without clock-watching," says Ms Comar. "That also cuts down on the number of overall sessions required."
The consultations are completely confidential and come with a satisfaction guarantee.
"If both the client and I are in agreement that I will not be able to help them or the treatment has failed because of an agreed reason, then they have a right for up to a 100 per cent refund," Ms Comar says.
Ready for a session? Phone 050 655 4523.
THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
Adam Lewis
Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
F1 2020 calendar
March 15 - Australia, Melbourne; March 22 - Bahrain, Sakhir; April 5 - Vietnam, Hanoi; April 19 - China, Shanghai; May 3 - Netherlands, Zandvoort; May 20 - Spain, Barcelona; May 24 - Monaco, Monaco; June 7 - Azerbaijan, Baku; June 14 - Canada, Montreal; June 28 - France, Le Castellet; July 5 - Austria, Spielberg; July 19 - Great Britain, Silverstone; August 2 - Hungary, Budapest; August 30 - Belgium, Spa; September 6 - Italy, Monza; September 20 - Singapore, Singapore; September 27 - Russia, Sochi; October 11 - Japan, Suzuka; October 25 - United States, Austin; November 1 - Mexico City, Mexico City; November 15 - Brazil, Sao Paulo; November 29 - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
Soldier F
“I was in complete disgust at the fact that only one person was to be charged for Bloody Sunday.
“Somebody later said to me, 'you just watch - they'll drop the charge against him'. And sure enough, the charges against Soldier F would go on to be dropped.
“It's pretty hard to think that 50 years on, the State is still covering up for what happened on Bloody Sunday.”
Jimmy Duddy, nephew of John Johnson
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