As the days grow longer and the sun graces us with its warmth, I find myself reflecting on the joy of laughter and the fun of Laughter Yoga.
As a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, I led laughter yoga sessions during the stay at home phase of COVID-19. Laughter Yoga combines laughter exercises with the benefits of yoga breathing. It’s a wonderful way to reconnect with our inner child and experience laughter’s many health benefits.
Current research shows that as we age, many of us tend to laugh less frequently than we did in our younger years. Laughter is not only good for the soul; it’s excellent for our physical and mental well-being.
That’s why I’m thrilled to offer free weekly laughter yoga Zoom sessions lasting 20-30 minutes to anyone who wishes to join. Feel free to share this invitation with friends, family, or anyone you believe could benefit from a laughter-filled session. See below for more details.
What is Laughter Yoga?
Laughter Yoga combines laughter exercises with yogic breathing techniques. It doesn’t require special skills, just a willingness to laugh and let go of inhibitions. Through a series of laughing and deep breathing, Laughter Yoga helps to induce laughter, leading to numerous health benefits. It’s a safe space where we let go of stress, connect with others through shared laughter, and embrace the moment with childlike joy. Each session concludes with a relaxing laughter meditation, leaving you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to start the day with a smile on your face!
Health Benefits of Laughter Yoga:
- Stress Relief: Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels.
- Boosts Immunity: Laughing strengthens the immune system by increasing antibody production and enhancing immune cells’ effectiveness.
- Improves Mood: Regular laughter sessions can uplift mood, combat depression, and increase happiness.
- Enhances Cardiovascular Health: Laughter improves blood circulation, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart disease.
- Connects People: Laughter Yoga fosters social connection and builds strong bonds among participants, promoting a sense of community and belonging.
- Also! Many research articles note that simulated (fake) laughter has many of the same health benefits as spontaneous (real) laughter. (And usually, fake laughter turns into real laughter pretty quickly!!)
Join Our Zoom Laughter Yoga Sessions (Starting in June!):
I invite you to join our laughter-filled Zoom sessions every Tuesday morning at 8:00 am. Let’s kick-start our day with joy, positivity, and lots of laughter!
To join, simply send me a message if you’d like to participate, and I’ll provide you with the Zoom link and further details. My contact info is revitalize.massage.karen@
Let’s spread laughter and positivity together! Hope to see you on Tuesdays!
In health,
Karen
References and Resources:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/
healthy-lifestyle/stress- management/in-depth/stress- relief/art-20044456 - https://journals.physiology.
org/doi/full/10.1152/advan. 00030.2017 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/
science/article/pii/ S266594412100016X - https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/
laughter_can_benefit_your_ physical_and_mental_health - Free videos from Robert Rivest (the person who trained me). https://www.youtube.com/
playlist?list=PL70_ FYn4KGkBGvuGUs28qfkQYEQl0snUY