Mesmerized

Master hypnotist performs at Sunspree “Hypnosis is the state of suggestibility,” states Master Hypnotist D. J. Nelson at his first ‘Hypnosis in Concert’ held at the Gatlinburg Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort. The performance was a combination of comedy, learning and fun. Volunteers from the audience assisted Nelson, as he explained that hypnosis is a means of “showing people the power of their own imagination.” The dozen volunteers and several members of the audience were lead through an initial ‘induction’ using relaxation exercises and visualization. As the deep resonance of his voice guided the volunteers through muscle relaxation and stress relievers, the audience also became quiet and tranquil. With closed eyes, it was obvious many of the volunteers had reached a state of total relaxation. Nelson’s commands to the individuals were amusing but not embarrassing. They petted imaginary pet birds, laughed at a funny movie they saw in their minds and forgot to include the number six as they counted their fingers. Nelson commented that people would not do anything under hypnosis that they would not do ordinarily. Josh Coons, a sophomore from Pigeon Forge High School, bowled an imaginary game and reacted to his strike. With Nelson’s power of suggestion to Josh, his bowling average will no doubt improve. Josh also performed a good Elvis impersonation, complete with gyrating legs and a slow throaty, ‘Thank-you-very-much.” Josh and a classmate, Santina Ellinwood, performed a skit for the audience in Japanese…or in some language other than English. Nelson suggested the focus of the skit and the two teens took it from there. Nelson stressed not embarrassing the volunteers and making them feel comfortable and secure. He emphasized to the audience that hypnosis is the ability to use self-hypnosis to control or enhance aspects of a person’s life. “With self-hypnosis, you can visualize the person you want to be with your God-given talents and abilities and you can become that person, feeling good about yourself,” asserted Nelson. Nelson will be presenting ‘Hypnosis in Concert’ at the Gatlinburg Holiday Inn on Tuesday and Friday nights at 8 p.m. and on Friday night at 10:30 p.m. On June 7, he will conduct a smoking cessation and weight loss clinic. Nelson became fascinated with hypnosis when he played the role of a hypnotist on the stage in the play “Web of Murder.” He worked with several motivational speakers, including Art Linkletter, Earl Nitengale and Robert Schuler, before graduating from The American Institute of Hypnotherapy in Santa Ana, California. His belief in using hypnosis as a healing tool with behavioral disorders lead him to Carlsbad, California, as Director of Individual Development Center, an outpatient clinic specializes in alcoholism and other addictive disorders. He helped patients with addictions, alcoholism, phobias, eating disorders and stress-related disorders. His dreams eventually took him back to school to study stage hypnosis under several master hypnotists. Currently, Nelson is a Certificated Master Stage Hypnotist and has performed to sold out performances through Southern California, Las Vegas and Nashville. His act is very popular with many of the cruise lines. Last year Nelson managed the 50’s Rock and Roll Show at the old Gatlinburg Theatre and, after falling in love with the area, decided to settle in Sevier County permanently. Realizing hypnosis as his first love, he developed an entertainment show using audience volunteers as the ‘stars of the show.’ Using hypnosis as entertainment, Nelson is educating people to the untapped potential of their minds. The curious, the cautious and the candid came out last weekend to watch and participate in the first ‘Hypnosis in Concert.’ It was an entertaining show with lots of humor and interesting audience participation. No one was embarrassed, all the participants seemed to enjoy themselves, and lots of the myths of hypnosis were dispelled. Nelson is also available to do fund-raisers for schools and service organizations. In addition, he can be scheduled for group or individual sessions pertaining to weight loss, smoking cessation, stress or pain management, self-esteem, or artistic, academic and athletic excellence. Dennis Nelson can be reached at 436-3882. Faye Greenwood is retired from the UT Extension Service and her features have been published in Sevier County for more than 30 years. She and her husband, ‘Moe’ operate MoeFaye Travel Inc.