What is Open Focus™?

Dr. Les Fehmi, author of the book Open Focus Brain and creator of the Open Focus™ technique says, “Open Focus™ is a method of stress reduction, a way of broadening your awareness until you are simultaneously conscious of your whole body, all your senses and the space surrounding and permeating you.” In a session, a series of questions about space is asked that allows one to drop into an alpha brainwave state where greater amounts of peace, joy and well-being can be accessed and pain can be viewed from a new perspective.

The questions, starting with the words ‘Can you imagine…’, are designed to take an individual or group into a synchronized alpha state effortlessly. These specific introductory words are used to create effortless success, which allows the client(s) to let go of the tendency to try too hard or to get things ‘right’ .

The questions guide one to imagine feeling space in, around and through the body using a multi-sensory or kinesthetic perception. This brings a heightened awareness to the body itself. For example you might be asked, “Can you imagine feeling the presence of your thumbs?” or “Can you imagine the distance between the soles of your feet and the palms of your hands.”

An enhanced sense of body awareness then leads to more space awareness. “Can you imagine the space around your thumbs?” Gradually, more and more space awareness is cultivated until the vastness of Space can actually be experienced. The sense of smell, taste, hearing, seeing, thinking and a sense of timelessness are gradually added so that the Space is also experienced as profound Stillness and Silence, which in turn creates an increase in alpha brain waves that allow the body to deeply relax and rest and the mind to slow or be still. “Most people report a significant decrease in anxiety, pain and a greater sense of overall peace and well-being, while a few have said to have had transcendental experiences.”

“When you practice Open Focus attention you are encouraging the production of brain waves that reflect a normalized and balanced central nervous system. When we are normalized and balanced, we reduce fight or flight, emergency mode, functioning and encourage the appropriate parasympathetic activity, sometimes called the relaxation response. When the parasympathetic response occurs, muscles relax, blood flow returns to the peripheral vascular system, heart and pulse rate normalize, and adrenealin and cortesol and other stress hormones reduce. That is why your body feels so pleasurable.” Susan Shore Fehmi

In a private session, the questions are tailored to the individual, depending on specific needs or desires. The client’s physical and mental reaction or response will actually be the answer to the questions. Verbal responses are not always necessary for the session to result in absolute success. Both classes and private sessions yield benefits and are complimentary to each other.

“Open Focus™ techniques can help relieve symptoms that one may not recognize as being stress related and can be beneficial to relieve physical and emotional discomfort and pain, anxiety and other performance deficits providing many with a greater sense of overall well-being.” Dr. Les Fehmi