Hypnotist helped locals send habit up in smoke Former cigarette smokers swear by services of hypnotist IF YOU'RE a smoker, it's prob ably never hard to think of something for your New Year's resolutions list. It's a lot easier to resolve to quit smoking, though, than it is to quit. Participants can call anytime if they have a problem. THEY SWEAR, though, that they weren't hypnotized. Taylor said that he was very relaxed in the seminar. Soper said he didn't Many of the participants never think it was hypnotism so much get back to them, however, so it's as "positive suggestion entered hard for them to keep track of into your subconscious but any sort of success ratio. Ralph who cares, it works." was trained as a hypnotist and started with a company out of Fargo, ND, that arranged semi- nars on not smoking. He is now on his own and has been hypno- Weber said that hypnosis is But a couple of Kimball men, simply inducement of a relaxed confirmed smokers just two months age, are endorsing a method of quitting that might sound strange to some, but seems to help: hypnotism. "It sounds silly. I know, but it's a fact. I'm a staunch believer, said Jim Taylor of Kimball. He smoked cigarettes off and on for the last 30 years, averaging not quite a pack a day. He attended a seminar last November given in Kimball by hypnotist Ralph We ber of New York Mills, Minn. He said he hasn't smoked since... and hasn't had a hard time stay ing away from cigarettes. Nor has Ron Soper who also at tended the seminar. Soper was a heavy smoker, averaging around three packs a day. He smoked for some 37 years. Weber is coming to towns in your area. The seminar, on quit ting cigarettes and maintaining weight, will be open to the pub lic (for a $60 fee). Some 15 peo- ple or so have already indicated their interest. Weber said that the seminar would last about an hour. He also said that his success rate is better with groups than it is with individuals. Success, he said, was possible even with people who enjoy smoking but have a posi- tive attitude about quitting. Taylor and Soper think that wanting to quit is the key. "Wanting to quit is from 80 to 90 percent of it." Soper said. "But that isn't 100 percent." Soper said he tried many times to quit, has often wanted to quit. Weber's seminar seemed to give him that extra something that has enabled him to quit. Taylor and Soper aren't com pletely, 100 percent sure what that "something" is. Mainly pos- itive suggestions. state. Subjects do not lose con- sciousness. They know what is happening around them. When Weber was in Kimball in November only a few peo- ple, including Soper and Taylor, showed up. They said there was no preparation for the seminar. They were sitting around smok. ing cigarettes while waiting for Weber, as a matter of fact. They still had cigarettes on them. They still had cigarettes at home. In the seminar, Soper said, par ticipants are asked to sit up erect in their chairs, hands in their laps, palms up. Weber does some relaxation exercises, then just talks about not smoking in a positive way, Soper said. "He told us we wouldn't gain weight and we didn't... and that we would not experience withdrawal symptoms... and we didn't." Taylor and Soper both said they have not gained weight or suf- fered from nicotine withdrawal. And that was it, they said. "I'll tell you, right after the sem- inar, I came out and thought "by gosh, I just shot 60 bucks," Tay- lor said. But it worked. "I got my money back on this deal a long time ago," he said, figuring out how much he'd saved from not buying cigarettes since the sem- inar. Well, that wasn't quite all. Weber also told them, Soper said, that whenever they did feel the urge to smoke a cigarette, or feel un- easy, they would rub their fin- gertips together. Rubbing their fingertips takes the place of smoking, in a way. "AS SILLY as it sounds, it works," Soper said. He's had the urge a few times, and found himself rubbing his fingertips and then just forgets about it. Same with Taylor. tizing people for some 20 years. Taylor and Soper aren't sure ex- actly how it worked, but they're sure it worked. "The guy (Weber) is legitimate" Soper said. "It works great." Taylor and Soper both said they aren't even bothered when other people smoke around them. "You know those guys that quit and then give you hell if you smoke. I don't know what's bugging them, Soper said. "It doesn't bother me one bit. UPCOMING SEMINARS: March 11, 7:00 p.m. Mahnomen Fire Hall Monday March 18, 7:00 p.m. Perham Community Center Monday March 25, 7:00 p.m. Wadena Community Center Monday April 1, 7:00p.m. Park Rapids Event Room Registration 15 minutes before. The fee is only $60.00, and we accept cash. No credit cards, no checks please. If you cannot at- tend call 218-583-1056. DCI President Ralph Weber is a certified Hypnotherapist, author, consultant to physicians, dentists, churches, educational institutions and industry. Mr. Weber is a popular guest on radio and television. Hypnotist helped locals send habit up in smoke Former cigarette smokers swear by services of hypnotist IF YOU'RE a smoker , it's prob ably never hard to think of something for your New Year's resolutions list . It's a lot easier to resolve to quit smoking , though , than it is to quit . Participants can call anytime if they have a problem . THEY SWEAR , though , that they weren't hypnotized . Taylor said that he was very relaxed in the seminar . Soper said he didn't Many of the participants never think it was hypnotism so much get back to them , however , so it's as " positive suggestion entered hard for them to keep track of into your subconscious but any sort of success ratio . Ralph who cares , it works . " was trained as a hypnotist and started with a company out of Fargo , ND , that arranged semi- nars on not smoking . He is now on his own and has been hypno- Weber said that hypnosis is But a couple of Kimball men , simply inducement of a relaxed confirmed smokers just two months age , are endorsing a method of quitting that might sound strange to some , but seems to help : hypnotism . " It sounds silly . I know , but it's a fact . I'm a staunch believer , said Jim Taylor of Kimball . He smoked cigarettes off and on for the last 30 years , averaging not quite a pack a day . He attended a seminar last November given in Kimball by hypnotist Ralph We ber of New York Mills , Minn . He said he hasn't smoked since ... and hasn't had a hard time stay ing away from cigarettes . Nor has Ron Soper who also at tended the seminar . Soper was a heavy smoker , averaging around three packs a day . He smoked for some 37 years . Weber is coming to towns in your area . The seminar , on quit ting cigarettes and maintaining weight , will be open to the pub lic ( for a $ 60 fee ) . Some 15 peo- ple or so have already indicated their interest . Weber said that the seminar would last about an hour . He also said that his success rate is better with groups than it is with individuals . Success , he said , was possible even with people who enjoy smoking but have a posi- tive attitude about quitting . Taylor and Soper think that wanting to quit is the key . " Wanting to quit is from 80 to 90 percent of it . " Soper said . " But that isn't 100 percent . " Soper said he tried many times to quit , has often wanted to quit . Weber's seminar seemed to give him that extra something that has enabled him to quit . Taylor and Soper aren't com pletely , 100 percent sure what that " something " is . Mainly pos- itive suggestions . state . Subjects do not lose con- sciousness . They know what is happening around them . When Weber was in Kimball in November only a few peo- ple , including Soper and Taylor , showed up . They said there was no preparation for the seminar . They were sitting around smok . ing cigarettes while waiting for Weber , as a matter of fact . They still had cigarettes on them . They still had cigarettes at home . In the seminar , Soper said , par ticipants are asked to sit up erect in their chairs , hands in their laps , palms up . Weber does some relaxation exercises , then just talks about not smoking in a positive way , Soper said . " He told us we wouldn't gain weight and we didn't ... and that we would not experience withdrawal symptoms ... and we didn't . " Taylor and Soper both said they have not gained weight or suf- fered from nicotine withdrawal . And that was it , they said . " I'll tell you , right after the sem- inar , I came out and thought " by gosh , I just shot 60 bucks , " Tay- lor said . But it worked . " I got my money back on this deal a long time ago , " he said , figuring out how much he'd saved from not buying cigarettes since the sem- inar . Well , that wasn't quite all . Weber also told them , Soper said , that whenever they did feel the urge to smoke a cigarette , or feel un- easy , they would rub their fin- gertips together . Rubbing their fingertips takes the place of smoking , in a way . " AS SILLY as it sounds , it works , " Soper said . He's had the urge a few times , and found himself rubbing his fingertips and then just forgets about it . Same with Taylor . tizing people for some 20 years . Taylor and Soper aren't sure ex- actly how it worked , but they're sure it worked . " The guy ( Weber ) is legitimate " Soper said . " It works great . " Taylor and Soper both said they aren't even bothered when other people smoke around them . " You know those guys that quit and then give you hell if you smoke . I don't know what's bugging them , Soper said . " It doesn't bother me one bit . UPCOMING SEMINARS : March 11 , 7:00 p.m. Mahnomen Fire Hall Monday March 18 , 7:00 p.m. Perham Community Center Monday March 25 , 7:00 p.m. Wadena Community Center Monday April 1 , 7:00 p.m . Park Rapids Event Room Registration 15 minutes before . The fee is only $ 60.00 , and we accept cash . No credit cards , no checks please . If you cannot at- tend call 218-583-1056 . DCI President Ralph Weber is a certified Hypnotherapist , author , consultant to physicians , dentists , churches , educational institutions and industry . Mr. Weber is a popular guest on radio and television .