The Northern Light

Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: A & E

Media Credit: Nicolette Sauro [Click to enlarge]

It's not very often that the party begins after everyone goes to sleep. But this was the case on Feb. 8 when students flocked to the UAA Student Union cafeteria to be dazzled by world-renowned hypnotist Sailesh.

The comedic performer, with 17 years of experience in countries including Canada, Sweden, Iceland, England and Finland, gave a group of 20 student volunteers the opportunity to be the stars of the show.

After taking their seats on stage, the group, with both cynicism and curiosity, signed their lives away for two hours with only three rules: No one could get naked, all secrets must remain undisclosed and everything else would be fair game.

"Once you are relaxed, the most important thing for you to do is for you to use your mind. Visualize everything I ask you to visualize, picture everything I ask you to picture, feel everything I ask you to feel, and you will be hypnotized," Sailesh said to his guinea pigs.

The audience silenced for three minutes while he continued to lure any willing person into a state of reverie, speaking in a calm, low voice.

"You will not know when you go into that state of mind. It just happens to you," Sailesh said. "You will always hear my voice … and you will remember everything you do up here."

After following instructions to close their eyes, breathe deeply and subject themselves to complete relaxation, the students on stage slumped into their chairs with their heads rested in their laps and arms dangling - the show had begun.

And without hesitation, Sailesh convinced the group that they were undergoing a drastic subzero temperature change. The audience laughed as each student cuddled up to the person beside them on the hypnotist's command.

"I did totally feel the breeze he was talking about," said UAA psychology major Erin Bailey, who was one of the students hypnotized. "My hairs were standing up on my arms even though I have a sweater on."

The night continued as the students also became astronauts, homosexuals, mind readers, performers in Riverdance and show dogs. They fell in love with the person next to them, watched themselves in a pornographic film, spoke fluent Chinese and even battled it out on Jerry Springer.

Continued...

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