wˈɛðɚ pɹəvˈaɪdᵻd ɪn pˈɜːsən, ɔːɹ dᵻlˈɪvɚd vˈaɪə mˈiːdiːə, ðə vˈɜːbəl ɪnstɹˈʌkʃən kənsˈɪsts ʌv wˈɜːdz, ˈɔfən pɹˈiːskɹˈɪptᵻd, ɪntˈɛndᵻd tə dᵻɹˈɛkt ðə pɑːɹtˈɪsɪpənts ɐtˈɛnʃən tʊ ɪntˈɛnʃənəli dʒˈɛnɚɹˌeɪɾᵻd vˈɪʒuːəl mˈɛntəl ˈɪmɪdʒᵻz ðæt pɹɪsˈɪpᵻtˌeɪt ɐ pˈɑːzᵻtˌɪv saɪkəlˈɑːdʒɪk ænd fˌɪzɪəlˈɑːdʒɪk ɹᵻspˈɑːns, ɪŋkˈoːɹpɚɹˌeɪɾɪŋ ɪŋkɹˈiːst mˈɛntəl ænd fˈɪzɪkəl ɹᵻlɐksˈeɪʃən ænd dˈiːkɹiːst mˈɛntəl ænd fˈɪzɪkəl stɹˈɛs.
Whether provided in person, or delivered via media, the verbal instruction consists of words, often pre-scripted, intended to direct the participant's attention to intentionally generated visual mental images that precipitate a positive psychologic and physiologic response, incorporating increased mental and physical relaxation and decreased mental and physical stress.