Manual - Zengar

PERSONAL
Manual
NeurOptimal® v.2.0 / W8/3
Copyright © 2014 Zengar Institute Inc. All rights reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Manual is composed of four parts:
PERSONAL MANUAL
PAGE
2
PART 1
Connecting your Equipment
3
PART 2
3
Hooking Yourself Up
7
Hooking Up Another Person
10
10
Running a Session
13
Tracking Your Progress
15
15
EXPLORING FURTHER
19
Frequently Asked Questions PART 3
PART 4
PART 1
2
connecting your equipment
This first section guides you through the process of correctly
setting up your zAmp, the sensors and your earbuds.
PART 1 CONNECTING YOUR EQUIPMENT
HOOKING YOURSELF UP
This section is in two parts. The first shows you how to hook yourself up, and the next how
to hook up another person (see page 7). Videos are also available at www.neuroptimal.com.
PART 2
HOOKING YOURSELF UP PART 2A
3
4
PART 2A HOOKING YOURSELF UP
HOOKING YOURSELF UP PART 2A
5
6
PART 2A HOOKING YOURSELF UP
hooking up another person
PART 2
7
8
PART 2B HOOKING UP ANOTHER PERSON
HOOKING UP ANOTHER PERSON PART 2B
9
PART 3
RUNNING A SESSION
A Running a Session
B Tracking Your Progress
for now you are
learning how to:
u Select your session
v Select your media
w Click Go
CLIENT INFORMED CONSENT
DON’T FORGET!
Ask those you run to sign the
Consent Form (found on disk 2
of the DVD set included with your
bundle or on the Documents page
located in the Personal Assistant
section found at www.neuroptimal.
com) before you start their session.
I
understand that NeurOptimal® is not a medical treatment, device or methodology. It is
not used to diagnose medical disorders nor is it used as a medical treatment for disorders and has not been approved for any
medical purpose by the FDA, Health Canada or any other governing agency. While Zengar users may or may not be licensed
health care practitioners, their use of NeurOptimal® is solely as a tool for brain training and optimization and not as a means of
diagnosis or as a medical intervention.
I am satisfied with the information I have been provided (verbal, written or otherwise) by my trainer on the effects I can
expect during my NeurOptimal® training and my questions have been answered to my satisfaction. I understand that it is not
possible to predict what my central nervous system will do with the information it is offered and consequently there can be no
guarantee as to the results of my training.
I agree to cease training if I am less than happy with the results I am getting. I understand NeurOptimal® is purely a source
of information and does not direct the response of the central nervous system. Consequently I agree to not hold Zengar
Institute Inc or any of its users and trainers responsible for a less than desired outcome or any outcome that may be considered
negative.
Your Signature
Today’s Date
Your Printed Name
www.neuroptimal.com
PART 3
NOTE: Before beginning this section, make sure you have connected your equipment and completed your
hookup as described earlier. Take a moment to check that the zAmp and cable are not touching the laptop or its
power cord.
STEP 1:
Open the computer and press the power switch. Allow
your system to boot up. Enter your password, if necessary.
STEP 2:
Launch NeurOptimal® by
double-clicking its icon on the
desktop. Give it time to open fully.
STEP 3:
NeurOptimal® has two windows — a smaller zMedia window and a larger zView
window. You can navigate between them by clicking on the NeurOptimal®
icon on the task bar (found by moving your cursor all the way to the left of the
screen) and moving your cursor over to the window you want.
10
PART 3A RUNNING A SESSION
STEP 4:
This is where you can select session length. We recommend using the default
“Regular” session at all times. Should you wish to experience a longer session, you
may select “Extended”. We no longer recommend the use of “Initial”, “Second” or
“Third” sessions.
STEP 5:
This is where you select your media. For now, we will use the default Zengar
music. Should you wish to explore using different media (CDs, playlists or
movie files), you can download a “media cheat sheet” from the documents
section of the private Personal Assistant area found at www.neuroptimal.com.
We recommend you get the hang of doing sessions using the default music
prior to attempting to use other media.
hint: Escaping Full Screen Mode
Should the visuals start playing in full screen mode upon opening NeurOptimal®, press the “stop” button. If you
suddenly lose the small window and cannot bring up the task bar on the left, you are probably seeing the zView
window in full screen mode. Windows has 3 ways to get out of full screen:
1. Click at the bottom right of the full screen where a tool tip appears that says “Exit Full Screen”
2. Hold down Alt and then press tab repeatedly which will shift you among the open windows (release the keys when
you see the small window highlighted)
3. Right click on the zView window and select Exit full screen at the bottom.
STEP 6:
STEP 7:
Because we are using the Zengar music which is
Click on the green “Run” button to start your session. It will
already loaded by default, simply allow the media
turn orange, images will move in the (larger) zView window
menu to close. You know the music has loaded
and soon you will hear music.
correctly because you see the title listed in the
zMedia window. Put in your earbuds.
RUNNING A SESSION PART 3A
11
STEP 8:
You know your session has started if you see the time counting down in the session
countdown window. This timer lets you know how much time is remaining in your session.
This is different from the media countdown timer in the bottom right, which shows
how much time is left in the media that is playing.
During Your Session:
Some people like to watch the graphics during their session,
others like to lie back and close their eyes. Either is fine,
your central nervous system will receive the information it
STEP 10:
The session will end on its own. You can
also click the red stop button to be sure.
needs as long as the sound is coming through your earbuds.
Do not click Stop until you want the session
Some even like to use this time to nap, and that’s ok too!
to end though, because you will lose that
session.
STEP 9:
After you have confirmed your session has begun and you are ready
to sit back and relax, click on the “Fullscreen” button. This will bring
Hint: You have a few minutes
the zView window (containing the graphics) to the front of your
leeway to get organized. If you feel
screen. More information on this can be found on page 16 of this
your session has not started properly
manual.
(you do not see the timer counting
down or the correct media is not
playing) or you realize you have
hint: If the music
starts to play unexpectedly,
check to see if the session
countdown timer is counting
down. If it says 0, the session
has not started — Windows
MediaPlayer is just playing
your music. You can click on
the red Stop button to stop the
music. This will have no effect
on your sessions.
12
PART 3A RUNNING A SESSION
STEP 11:
selected the wrong session type, it
is fine to click stop, wait 10 seconds,
reselect your session and media and
To close down NeurOptimal®,
click on the Zengar logo at
the top right. Then you can
shut down your system by
closing the laptop lid.
Gently remove the sensors,
taking care to remove all the
paste with a tissue or baby
wipe. Clean the paste from
your head and ears. Any
remaining paste comes
off easily with water.
begin again. You will not lose the
session.
tracking your progress
PART 3
It is important to track changes as you train. As your brain shifts, it can
be difficult to accurately remember how you were before. This guide will
help you track your progress using the tools provided to you on disk 2 of
the DVD set included with your bundle.
CHECKLIST OF CLIENT CONCERNS
name:
DATE:
CHECKLIST OF CONCERNS
Pre/Ongoing/Post
date:
Below is a list of problems that clients frequently describe to us. Please check off any that match your current concerns. If you are
not sure whether to endorse an item, use the past week as a guide. Feel free to add any comments as necessary. Thank you.
Before you start training, complete the Checklist of Concerns. Put
a mark beside any item that currently sounds familiar. Add up the
items and write down the number. Fold the sheet up and put it in
an envelope. Every ten sessions, fill in a new one and compare your
totals. Don’t look at the earlier one(s) until you have
completed your new one.
Immune System
1. Allergies
2. Asthma
3. Frequent colds, infections
4. Yeast infections
5. Fatigue
Sleep
6. Difficulty falling asleep
7. Wakeful or restless during night
8. Waking up early
9. Difficulty waking up
10. Nightmares or night terrors
11. Snoring
12. Sleep walking
Skin/Hair/Nails
13. Problems with skin
14. Hair
15. Nails
Eyes
16. Double or blurred vision
17. Blind spots
18. Spots in your vision
Ear/Nose/Throat
19. Hearing loss
20. Ringing in ears
21. Earaches
22. Sense of smell changed or lost
23. Nose or sinuses blocked
24. Grinding your teeth
25. Sense of taste changed or lost
26. Hoarseness or sore throat
Heart/Lungs
27. Problems breathing
28. Heart problems
29. Hypertension
30. Palpitations
31. Dizziness
Intestines
32. Nausea or vomiting
33. Gastric pain
34. Gas or bloating
35. Irritable bowel
36. Diarrhea
37. Constipation
Hormonal/Blood
38. Appetite problems (e.g. wanting
to eat when not hungry, etc)
39. Diabetes
40. Desire for sweets or carbohydrates
41. Sensitivity to heat or cold
42. Thyroid problems
43. PMS symptoms
44. Hot flashes
45. Other menopausal symptoms
46. Low interest in sex
47. Excessive interest in sex
Bones/Joints/Muscles
48. Pain or stiffness in joints or muscles
49. Sore trigger points
50. Fibromyalgia
51. Bodily fatigue
Nervous System
52. Headaches or migraines
53. Fainting
54. Seizures
55. Memory loss
56. Blocking on words
57. Reading problems
58. Difficulty speaking
59. Tremor (shaking)
60. Weakness
61. Hyperactivity
62. Problems with balance
63. Motor or vocal tics
Attention and Organization
64. Difficulty focusing
65. Easily distracted
66. Make mistakes
67. Difficulty organizing activities
68. Not completing tasks
69. Lose train of thought
School/Learning
70. Difficulty completing schoolwork
71. Getting into trouble at school
72. Inverting letters/numbers
73. Spatial problems (e.g. difficulty
building things, understanding
how things should be put together)
74. Difficulty with particular subjects
Bowel/Bladder
75. Difficulty urinating
76. Difficulty holding your urine
77. Difficulty controlling your bowels
78. Frequent bladder infections
Habits
79. Sometimes drink too much
80. Smoke cigarettes
81. Concerns about your diet
82. Desire caffeine
83. Use marijuana
84. Other addictions
Behavior/Emotions
85. Mood swings
86. Feeling down, depressed or flat
87. Feeling sad
88. Feeling anxious
89. Panic attacks
90. Worry
91. Thoughts that won’t leave your mind
92. Need to repeat actions or words over and over.
93. Bingeing
94. Restricting your food intake
95. Making yourself vomit
96. Phobias- avoiding things
97. Feeling others are against you
98. Behaviors that get you into trouble,
or are not good for you
99. Feeling angry a lot
100. Impulsive
101. Feeling overwhelmed
www.neuroptimal.com
Setting your goals
Ask yourself how you will know if NeurOptimal® is
helping you. Now complete the following sentence:
I will know NeurOptimal® is working if...
Write down at least three responses. The more
detailed the better. (ie. I am sleeping seven straight
hours per night vs. “I am sleeping better”). You will be
tracking your progress based on these responses.
PRACTICE USING 0-10 SCALE
SETTING YOUR GOALS
Fill this out before you start your training with NeurOptimal®
I will know NeurOpmal® is working if….
1.
2.
3.
Put this in an envelope with your Checklist of Concerns and don’t look at it unl aer you have filled in your next set of forms!
www.neuroptimal.com
Identify any particular feelings you have. They can be
physical, body feelings like “head stuffy” or “tense”,
or they can be emotions like “blah” or “anxious”.
Of course, you can be feeling good, too!
Now rate that feeling 0-10, 0 being none at all and 10
being “as bad as it has ever been”, or “as good as it
has ever been”.
Do not be concerned — you can always go higher than 10
if you need to in the future! Go with the first number that
comes into your mind.
If you are running a session, it is always helpful to take
a quick check of how you are feeling, before and after.
TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS PART 3B
13
TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS
TRACKING YOUR progress
Now we’ll start actually tracking. From your goals, decide
on what you are going to track. If one of your goals is to
reduce your headaches, one of the items you will track is
your headaches. We will use headaches as an example
here. Do the following for each of your goals:
Frequency: Using the past week as a guide, ask
yourself “How many headaches did I have”? You
can write down how many times you experienced
something (3, for e.g.), but if you have a lot of something
it is easier to ask “How many days this week did I have a
headache”? So if you had a headache every day last week,
your number would be 7/7 (7 days out of 7).
Fill this out in combinaon with the checklist of concerns before you start training and then every ten sessions.
NAME:
DATE:
SESSION (CIRCLE)
1
10
20
30
40
Medicaon I am on (how much, how oen):
CONCERN
Pick the concerns you circled
that you would like to change
the most. Add any other concerns you want to track
FREQUENCY
How many mes did you feel
this way in the past week, or
how many days out of 7?
INTENSITY
How strong was it 0-10
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Put this in an envelope with your Checklist of Concerns and don’t look at it unl aer you have filled in your next one!
www.neuroptimal.com
Intensity: What was the average intensity, 0-10 of your head pain?
(See Practice Box on previous page for more on measuring Intensity).
Duration: When you do get a headache, how long does it last? Is it a few minutes? A few hours? Estimate this,
not counting when you are asleep, and write it down for each issue. (It doesn’t matter if you think you had your
headache while asleep. If we always exclude sleeping for measuring purposes, our scale will be consistent
across time).
Medication use: If you take medication for a problem, write down the medication and your dosage. Needing
less medication as you go through your training is an important sign of progress (Of course, your physician will
always supervise adjustments to prescribed medications. Please do not do this on your own). Assess these
measures (Frequency, Intensity and Duration) and medication for each of your issues, every week.
RECORD OF SESSIONS
Every time you run a session, do a formal check of how you are feeling before the session and rate 0-10
(see Practice Box on previous page). Write this down on one side of a sheet of paper. Turn the paper over.
When you have finished your session and without looking at your “before” scores, ask yourself again “How
am I feeling?” and rate 0-10. Now compare your before and after.
There are other ways you can track your progress even more closely, if necessary. For further information
contact us via the NeurOptimal® Personal Forum (from within Personal click on Tools>Internet). You may
also access the forum via any other computer by visiting www.neuroptimal.com and logging in.
14
PART 3B TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS
DURATION
How long did it last?
Do not count when you
were sleeping
exploring further
PART 4
The Zen Modes-- What Are they?
During every session you are moving through four different kinds of training that we call the Zen Modes. You can think
of Zen 1 as the warm-up, with the two sides of the brain receiving its own separate information. In Zen 2 the two sides of
the brain have to work together as they gently but powerfully release old patterns and habits. During Zen 3 the brain is
evolving itself, forging new pathways and “Ways of Being”, and Zen 4 is Integration.
EXPLORING THE TOOLS MENU
Tools>Internet
Takes you to your Personal® Forum log-in page, where you will also find additional
resources and access to MouseCalls. Your private log-in information was sent to you
in your welcome package. Email [email protected] for additional help if you need it.
Tools>Runs or Days Remaining
This is where you find out how many sessions are on your system. A message will tell you
how many sessions remain. Click OK to close the message.
Tools>Configuration Options>Default Music
You can change the music that loads by default for your Regular and Extended
sessions. Follow the path indicated to either Extended or Regular and browse to
the music you want. The music needs to already be on your system and located in
the Zengar>Media folder. Also, make sure the music is long enough to support the
sessions (34 mins for Regular and 45 mins for Extended). If it is not, make sure the
Repeat button (below the volume slider) is highlighted purple so the music will
loop, otherwise your session will stop early when the music ends.
EXPLORING FURTHER PART 4A
15
Tools>Configuration Options>Mains Current
NeurOptimal® needs to know what your electrical current is to properly remove
electrical noise. Your system will have been set correctly for you, but if you travel
to a region that is different, you should change it while you are away to 50 or 60
Hz as appropriate. The Americas are 60 Hz, Europe and Australia 50Hz. You can
search Wikipedia “Mains Electricity” to find information for a specific country.
GETTING WHERE YOU NEED TO GO
Navigating Among Windows
If you have access to the task bar that pops up on the left, you can find the NeurOptimal® icon and then slide over to the
window you want. But sometimes the task bar is hidden (such as when you are in Full Screen mode). In these instances
you can press the alt key and then use the tab key to toggle through the various windows. When the one you want is
highlighted release the keys.
Full Screen Mode
Full screen mode is a way of looking at the zView window without the annoyance of seeing borders. It is particularly
useful when watching movies. It is different from a maximized screen, which fills the screen but has a border.
To get into Full
Screen Mode
To get into Full Screen mode you can
click on the button to the right of the
Repeat button on the zMedia window. You
can only access full screen when media is playing.
If your session is stopped, you can’t.
16
PART 4A EXPLORING FURTHER
To get out of
Full Screen
Mode
To get Out of Full Screen Mode click on the
“exit fullscreen” button at the bottom right of
the zView window. You can read about other
methods in the Hint Box on page 11.
MEDIA CONTROLS
Volume Control
You have two ways to control volume. One is your main system volume and the other is
with NeurOptimal®. As a general rule set your main system volume in the middle and then
fine tune from within NeurOptimal® using the volume slider control in the zMedia window.
If your volume is not high enough, raise the system volume and leave it there, then use
NeurOptimal®’s volume control.
Shuffle
Use the shuffle button when you wish to move in random order through a playlist of songs. The shuffle
control is particularly useful if you think your playlist might be shorter than the session time. It will shuffle
repeatedly until the session stops.
Repeat
This will repeat the same song (not playlist) over and over. This is important to use if a movie or one long
music track is shorter than the session time, otherwise the session will stop when the media finishes.
When it is active, it is purple.
Next and Previous
The down arrow will take you to the next item in the media list and the up arrow to the previous one.
TROUBLESHOOTING
“I can’t hear pauses”
NeurOptimal® offers its information to the brain through micro-pauses in the media. They are so rapid that you cannot consciously hear most of them. This is totally fine, because NeurOptimal® is not working through the conscious
mind, which is way too slow for our purpose. Only when you get a “group” of pauses occurring at the same time
might you hear it as a pause. Pauses are even harder to hear when playing movies. DO NOT WORRY IF YOU
CANNOT HEAR THE PAUSES! The important thing is that the session is running. To check that, look at the session
timer at the top of the zMedia window. If you see it counting down, your session is running. If it is not, first make sure
the correct session and media you want are loaded, then click the green Run
button to start your session.
EXPLORING FURTHER PART 4A
17
“I started a session but no music played and the timer did not
count down”
Any time a session seems to not start properly for any reason, hit the red Stop button. If you are using a CD that
doesn’t load properly (ie. song titles aren’t listed in the small z-media window), take it out and reinsert it. Reload
the session you want, check you have the media you want and begin again. You will not lose a session. In any event,
you always have a few minutes to sort things out, like if you started with music by mistake when you wanted to play a
movie. As an added precaution, if you find something is behaving oddly it is always better to close down NeurOptimal® by clicking on the Zengar logo button and start it up again, giving it a chance to sort itself out.
hint: Every time you hit Stop, NeurOptimal
automatically loads a new
default session. If you had chosen a different session or media, you will need to
select those again before restarting.
®
Consent Form
Because NeurOptimal® only provides information, not
direction, to your brain, it is incredibly safe. However, the
process of change can be unfamiliar to many and some
may find it disorienting. For this reason, we feel every
person who runs on NeurOptimal® should be provided
full information on what they might expect ahead of
time. Please have every person you run read and sign
the Consent form. This provides them with important
information and you with written confirmation of their
willingness to be run. We like to keep our documents
for ten years (mainly because tax forms are kept for
seven and then we add some leeway), but if you have
legal counsel that suggests differently, that’s fine.
Current copies of the consent form are always
available through the forum.
CLIENT INFORMED CONSENT
I
understand that NeurOptimal® is not a medical treatment, device or methodology. It is
not used to diagnose medical disorders nor is it used as a medical treatment for disorders and has not been approved for any
medical purpose by the FDA, Health Canada or any other governing agency. While Zengar users may or may not be licensed
health care practitioners, their use of NeurOptimal® is solely as a tool for brain training and optimization and not as a means of
diagnosis or as a medical intervention.
I am satisfied with the information I have been provided (verbal, written or otherwise) by my trainer on the effects I can
expect during my NeurOptimal® training and my questions have been answered to my satisfaction. I understand that it is not
possible to predict what my central nervous system will do with the information it is offered and consequently there can be no
guarantee as to the results of my training.
I agree to cease training if I am less than happy with the results I am getting. I understand NeurOptimal® is purely a source
of information and does not direct the response of the central nervous system. Consequently I agree to not hold Zengar
Institute Inc or any of its users and trainers responsible for a less than desired outcome or any outcome that may be considered
negative.
Your Signature
Today’s Date
Your Printed Name
www.neuroptimal.com
18
PART 4A EXPLORING FURTHER
Frequently Asked Questions:
PART 4
How do I clean the sensors?
Wipe them gently but thoroughly with a tissue or baby wipe. Make sure there is no paste
remaining on the sensors in between sessions as lingering paste can lead to corrosion.
How often should I perform sessions
on myself?
The more often you run NeurOptimal® sessions the more quickly you will experience
results and retain the positive effects. We suggest a minimum of one session per week, with
two sessions per week being a very nice pace. You can run safely every day if you wish, but
we do not recommend running more than twice a day.
How do I purchase more sessions
for my NeurOptimal® Personal Trainer?
Sessions may be purchased via www.neuroptimal.com.
Where do I purchase more paste and sensors?
Sensors may be purchased via www.neuroptimal.com.
Please e-mail us at [email protected] for information about paste.
Can I run more than one family member?
Yes, you can run as many different people as you would like. Friends, family — they are all
great candidates! But do remember to get them to read and sign the consent form before
you begin.
How do I access Technical Support if I need to?
We provide remote technical support via our advanced MouseCalls service. MouseCalls are
accessed through the Personal Assistant area found at www.neuroptimal.com.
How do I use movies or other music with NeurOptimal®?
A step by step “cheat sheet” containing this information can be found in the Personal
Assistant > Documents section at www.neuroptimal.com or you may request this document
directly from anyone at Zengar.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PART 4B
19
zengar institute inc.
Founded 1996
We know that given the right information,
the brain can transform itself effortlessly.
With NeurOptimal® the expertise is in
the software, making powerful and safe
transformation accessible to everyone.
TOLL-FREE:
1.866.990.Optimal
(1-866-990-6784)
[email protected]
www.neuroptimal.com