Hypnosis doubles as medical treatment and XXX
Kristen De Palma
Issue date: 11/8/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
What was once considered to be merely a sideshow gimmick is now used as a treatment for everything from chronic pain to poor study habits, and now and then, some harmless X-rated fun.
While hypnosis is scientifically unexplainable and its effects remain an issue of research to date, XXX hypnotist Tony Lee, a regular performer at Brock University, explains that the act is not quite as mysterious or extraordinary as most people think.
"What hypnotists don't tell people is that they actually induce themselves," said Lee. "It's not a magical thing in any way. But over the years, your typical hypnotist wants to make people believe that they have some kind of special power. That's a real crock of shit."
Hypnosis is often vastly misunderstood, and contrary to popular belief, those who become hypnotized are actually very alert throughout the process. In fact, activities like watching movies, reading or driving can all be considered forms of everyday hypnosis since they are characterized by a somewhat trance-like state.
It does not take a specific type of person to be hypnotized; in most cases, anyone without an attention deficit disorder can fall under. However, those being hypnotized do possess a certain amount of control in the situation.
"You can't be hypnotized unless you want to be, in most cases," said Lee. "Basically anyone can be hypnotized. [To tell if someone has been hypnotized] I'll take a look at their eyes, which will usually flutter, or their pupils which will move back and forth. Their eyes will close, their breathing patterns will change, and there's often a twitching in their hands - there's a few things that we look out for."
While under hypnosis, one becomes highly suggestible, and therefore willing to do almost anything that the hypnotist demands. In Lee's XXX show, volunteers will find themselves performing often embarrassing and ridiculous stunts.
"We didn't have anybody to follow, so we just did the kinds of things that made me laugh. I don't think it's the hypnotist part that makes people come and see the shows, I think it's the demented stuff that comes out of my twisted mind that I make people do," said Lee.
While hypnosis is scientifically unexplainable and its effects remain an issue of research to date, XXX hypnotist Tony Lee, a regular performer at Brock University, explains that the act is not quite as mysterious or extraordinary as most people think.
"What hypnotists don't tell people is that they actually induce themselves," said Lee. "It's not a magical thing in any way. But over the years, your typical hypnotist wants to make people believe that they have some kind of special power. That's a real crock of shit."
Hypnosis is often vastly misunderstood, and contrary to popular belief, those who become hypnotized are actually very alert throughout the process. In fact, activities like watching movies, reading or driving can all be considered forms of everyday hypnosis since they are characterized by a somewhat trance-like state.
It does not take a specific type of person to be hypnotized; in most cases, anyone without an attention deficit disorder can fall under. However, those being hypnotized do possess a certain amount of control in the situation.
"You can't be hypnotized unless you want to be, in most cases," said Lee. "Basically anyone can be hypnotized. [To tell if someone has been hypnotized] I'll take a look at their eyes, which will usually flutter, or their pupils which will move back and forth. Their eyes will close, their breathing patterns will change, and there's often a twitching in their hands - there's a few things that we look out for."
While under hypnosis, one becomes highly suggestible, and therefore willing to do almost anything that the hypnotist demands. In Lee's XXX show, volunteers will find themselves performing often embarrassing and ridiculous stunts.
"We didn't have anybody to follow, so we just did the kinds of things that made me laugh. I don't think it's the hypnotist part that makes people come and see the shows, I think it's the demented stuff that comes out of my twisted mind that I make people do," said Lee.
