T o improve athletic performance, golfers, tennis players and other sports enthusiasts are turning to hypnosis. In hypnosis, words and motions are repeated to bring the mind into a focused state... goals for improving play are emphasized... a "trigger gesture," such as touching the ear or chin, is set up so players can focus themselves during a game. You can teach yourself hypnosis. One of the best books -- Self-Hypnosis and Other Mind-Expanding Techniques by Charles Tebbetts (Westwood). But -- it is best to be hypnotized at least once by a professional.

Reason: Many people expect a more altered state than actually occurs.

Cost: About $40 to $100 per session. Practitioners should be certified by a professional school or organization.