FAQ

The Beyond Stress course is a unique process designed and refined by Eli Bay over 30 years to transfer the skill of inner control to others. Most other programs emphasize only one or two techniques but Beyond Stress teaches more than a dozen. It uses a range of techniques which include self-regulated breathing, muscle relaxation, awareness, self-hypnosis and meditation in a manner to deliver the direct experience of unusually deep relaxation. The profoundly effective relaxation gained after unwinding in sessions lasting more than three hours becomes transferred to the body, mind and emotions as a memory that can be re-accessed with greater and greater ease with the practice and perfection of techniques. The emphasis is upon getting out of our own way and letting the body-mind heal and restore by letting go of the chronic and often unconscious tensions. The variety of techniques are taught as triggers to initiate the release of stress and the comprehensiveness of the approach enable everyone to find some methods which work especially well for them.

Eli is neither. He offers himself as a skill trainer, not a therapist, although his approach has proven to be very therapeutic for those suffering from health and performance problems related to stress. He is an extremely well read researcher and a respected expert in his field who teaches his method to physicians and psychologists, among others. He believes that everyone benefits when they learn how to deeply release tension and stress, both those in need of therapeutic intervention and those wishing to prevent problems from emerging in the first place.

After many years it became evident that the five session Beyond Stress process clearly works for almost everyone. Over 95% gain a basic self-regulatory skill in a month and the satisfaction level is stellar (see Testimonials). We rely on the honour system for the practice and, if a good attempt is put into the process, we offer a guarantee of satisfaction or money will be refunded. Alternatively, one may attend additional sessions free of charge until the ability to unwind emerges. If you don't do the practice, we can't guarantee it. The course is structured to enable and support busy, time-pressured people to focus on doing the practice for periods each day for a few weeks. The results speak for themselves.

This is a very common issue and the Beyond Stress program directly addresses it. Since the body and mind are not just connected but actually one entity, it is possible to quiet the mind by relaxing the body and relax the body by calming the mind. We offer a range of techniques which have enabled even some of the most challenged clients to achieve exceptional mental quiet and physical relaxation.

The letting go process strikes at the Achilles heel of stress by measurably releasing the body and mind from many of the pernicious effects caused by years of on-going strain. Because stress hormones influence every cell, organ and system of the body, affecting us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, when the chronic strain is released, a cornucopia of benefits is usually felt. We emphasize doing the process like an experiment, with a critical "prove it to me" attitude. It does not require belief to work, only several hours of focused practice.

Alas, few physicians study or appreciate self-care approaches. The doctors who know about it have had to come to it on their own or have learned about it from patients. The traditional medical approach and culture is still essentially a "cut and drug" approach but there are signs that wholistic thinking is breaking through. A substantial number of our clients come to the program from referrals by their physician or healthcare professional. Eli Bay is now teaching this skill to physicians through the Ontario Medical Association and hopefully more physicians will come to soon understand the value of this approach. Volumes of respected research confirm the value of relaxation training but its advocates haven't the resources to compete with the pharmaceutical interests for the hearts and minds of the medical fraternity.

If you cannot attend the five session course, you can always gain greatly from Eli's popular CDs. They are extremely effective in delivering the healing and performance benefits of deep relaxation.

Although the course was designed for people inexperienced with other self-regulatory approaches, over the years we have had many experienced meditators and yoga practitioners (even teachers) who reported great personal gains from our process. It's unique flow and experience will enhance whatever discipline you practice.

Religious people find that our process enhances their spirituality but our approach is secular (non-religious). We focus on experientially letting go of physical and mental stress and our philosophy is wholistic and non-denominational. It should not conflict in any way with your religion unless your religion is anti-life. Call us if you are still concerned.

They are long for a reason. This is the time that it takes to deliver the experience of unusual relaxation which becomes transferred to you as muscle/emotional memory over a period of weeks. If you wish to get up, walk around, leave the room, you may, as long as you take care not to disturb others. Almost everyone finds that the variety of techniques that have you sitting, standing, moving, lying down, help to overcome short attention spans and enable even very restless people to stay focused. Interestingly, the relaxed state tends to distort time and most people report that the session just flew by. Most people report being more patient, calmer, less angry and more in control within weeks

This not group therapy. It is a program to deliver a first-class mind-body skill. Participants introduce themselves to the others in the first class and share from week to week what they are noticing. You may say as little as you wish without pressure placed upon you to talk. This is a relaxation course and we want you to be relaxed and comfortable. Most of our time is spent learning and practicing breathing, muscle relaxation and mind focusing techniques.

Our program is uniquely comprehensive and effective. Over 30 years, many people who have felt that they were unable to relax have reported success with our approach. Very few programs take people through long sessions designed to gently take you beyond your resistances into an unusually relaxed state. By following our daily program, the ability to relax on your own becomes transferred to you, guaranteed. You are also taught many different ways to trigger relaxation and everyone finds some that work really well for them.

You bet! Joggers, triathletes, golfers, racquet players, swimmers, black belt martial artists, combat challenge firefighters and others have found that our approach enables them to more effectively release unneeded muscle tension, regulate emotional states, focus their concentration, effectively self-talk and visualize and build stamina and endurance. Our process works very quickly and within weeks benefits are usually quite apparent. "I wield the relaxation like a sword", Peter Reid, Captain of the World Champion Brampton Firefighters Combat Challenge Team.

Stress is the culprit that blocks learning and when it is effectively released there are usually noticable improvements in concentration and memory. It's difficult to be at your mental best when the normal state of your body is an aroused "fight or flight" survival state. Read the book Superlearning 2000 by Ostrander and Schroeder and learn how letting go can produce dramatic mental rewards. The New York based authors recommend our Beyond Stress program as one of the most comprehensive and effective relaxation programs.

You may. Our training just focuses upon teaching a skill to enable you to gain a handle on the reactions in your body. Many long-term panic and anxiety sufferers, some with problems stretching over three and four decades, have reported that within weeks they were able to gain control over what used to be uncontrolled emotions and physical reactions. Some went onto therapy and others not.