Laughter Yoga

---

YES, IT'S A 'THING', LOL!

Anyone can laugh for no reason and scientific studies show that the body cannot differentiate between real laughter and voluntary laughter if done with willingness and one receives the same health benefits. In Laughter Yoga, simulated laughter soon turns to real laughter and you know, "laughter is the best medicine!".

Each session involves easy movements and breathing (no difficult yoga poses or special clothing  or equipment required)  along with laughter exercises to open up and stimulate the mind, body, breath, energy, and the voice into laughing, bringing in more oxygen and inspiring beneficial shifts in mood and physical tension as would other forms of exercise or dance movement.

Laughter Yoga was created in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria in India who was inspired by the story of Norman Cousins, an American man who healed himself of his painful symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis through laughing.

After starting a small group which grew over time and continues to today, Dr. Kataria eventually abandoned his unfulfilling medical practice to focus on leading laughter sessions full time, realizing the benefits he and others were experiencing in their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. He then created Laughter Yoga based on Hasya Yoga (Yogic Laughter).

There has been much study and research done on the physiological and other benefits of laughing and there are now thousands of Laughter Yoga Leaders around the world.

"Hearty laughter is a good way to jog internally without having to go outdoors."

Norman Cousins, American political journalist, author,  professor and peace activist.

See his book "Anatomy of an Illness".

After a series of abrupt changes upon the sudden death of a family member and other related experiences, I realized I'd lost my laugh.

Nothing seemed funny enough to create the free and sustained laughter of my youth.  Comedy, movies or interacting ceased to provide that prolonged, releasing laughter that left me feeling rejuvenated.

I respect the grieving process but inspiring the breath through laughing has magic in it.

At a family gathering a cousin announced that she was a Certified Laughter Yoga leader, which sparked us into a fit of laughter and ignited something in me.  I later decided to study Laughter Yoga to inspire and heal myself and get my laugh back, which got lost in the mix somewhere.

During the process, I realized that I am not alone in this dilemma and that because of our personal and global crises, we can all use to laugh more, keep our spirits buoyant, our frequencies higher, and put things into a different perspective by shifting our body chemistry and energy.

Laughing can be summoned much more spontaneously and often, and the contact laugh passes on wherever it is appropriate (or sometimes inappropriate, LOL!).

One of my favorite quotes from a Joni Mitchell song, People's Parties:

"Laughing and crying, you know it's the same release".

LAUGHTER YOGA CLASSES BY REQUEST

LAUGHTER YOGA BY PHONE OPEN CALL:

join in whether you feel like it or not, lol.

THURSDAYS 12-12:20pm EST

Laughingfor 20 minutes (not a formal class) to keep our immune systems and spirits up!

Call: 712-432-3900 at noon EST

Enter code: 545585 and Just Laugh Out Loud

Prepay: $10., ANY DONATION, OR FREE TO THOSE IN NEED to:

Paypal: zenovia@zenovia.org or Venmo: zenovia11 (Zenovia Jennifer Limberakis)

Keep checking back on the Events page for a list of current class offerings which are in the works, but in the meantime, go to the Contact page here on this site and request your name to be added for Laughter Yoga (and any other offerings on the site you may be interested in) to be notified or to request a class or private session.

If you  are private, shy, grieving, stuck,  aren't comfortable with group classes for any reason, or at a distance, you can arrange a private session to get your laugh up and running.

NOTE: Laugh at your own risk. Ask your doctor if Laughing Yoga is right for you!

Always check with your medical professional before starting a new regime.