Chesterfield dream architect takes This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on virtual holiday to Portugal

With holidays abroad looking unlikely this summer due to coronavirus restrictions, Martin Rothery was invited onto popular ITV show This Morning to take presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on a holiday in their mind.

Introducing the segment today, March 29, Phillip said: “We are about to take you on a mini vacation, Martin Rothery says he can take you overseas from the comfort of your own home using a process he calls Sanomentology.”

Chesterfield-based Martin said: “Sanomentology is a therapeutic process that uses the power of dreams.

“As well as resolving issues and problems, we can give an entertainment factor of taking a holiday and having other experiences.

“The unconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between fantasy and reality, so if you’re experiencing a holiday within your dream, then your body will respond physiologically and find the relaxation, the entire comfort of having that break.”

Freeing the unconscious mind

Martin, who initially trained as hypnotist and hypnotherapist before developing Sanomentology, said the aim was to “instigate a natural dream state and give the unconscious mind that freedom to resolve or enjoy itself as it likes”.

Adding that sessions normally last 20-30 minutes, he then took Phillip and Holly on a two-minute ‘trip’ to Portugal, calmly guiding their minds through a door, onto a beach in Portugal, describing the sights, sounds and feelings, such as the warm sun, a gentle breeze, people talking and “sunbeds with their brightly coloured parasols”.

He said: “You really feel calm and relaxed as you allow this to become your reality.

“This is your time, your place. You are free to do whatever you wish right now, you can talk with anybody you choose, walk anywhere you wish or just sit and soak up that glorious sun.”

Afterwards, Phillip said: “It was lovely, although, admittedly when I'm on holiday, I don't have a producer in my ear. That was a little distracting.

Holly said: “I could feel it it was nice, just to sit still and think of holidays.”

Martin said: “A 20-minute session like that can feel like hours”.

A message from Phil Bramley, Derbyshire Times Editor…

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper.