What is Laughter Yoga?

Laughing for no reason and experience the multitude of benefits from laughter. And, of course, the fake laughter almost always evolves into real, contagious laughter. “Yoga” means breath and it also means connection. Laughter yoga exercises allow us to focus on our breath while laughing. In addition, we connect with ourselves and each other through laughter.

 

Laughter allows us to connect with our breath, which can lead to a type of meditation. (Yes, there is such a thing as laughter meditation.) Come ready to be open, laugh, and be silly while learning the expansive benefits of laughter...emotional, physical, and spiritual. You'll do your body and spirit good!

 

 

Session Length: One Hour

 

Who can participate in Laughter Yoga?

Everyone can participate including school-age children, teachers and administrators, corporate team members, and healthcare workers. People of all ages and physical abilities can participate. As an example, when laughter yoga sessions are conducted in assisted living communities and hospitals, it is perfectly acceptable for participants to laugh while sitting.

Attire: Regular street clothes are perfectly acceptable. No need for the typical yoga attire. Although the word, “yoga” is used, no yoga poses that we may be familiar with are used in a laughter yoga session. For example, we won’t be laughing in a downward dog position, unless by accident. Oh, and no yoga mats are necessary, either. Sounds easy, doesn’t it?

 

 

Benefits of Laughter:

• Laughter is a stress buster. It reduces the levels of stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol.

• Laughter strengthens the immune system and helps maintain good health.

• Laughter is anti-aging. It increases blood supply to the face, nourishing the skin and making it glow.

• Laughter is an aerobic exercise equivalent to any other standard aerobic exercise.

• Laughter increases the levels of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killer.

• Laughter helps control high blood pressure by reducing the release of stress related hormones.

• Laughter helps dump depression, anxiety and psychosomatic disorders.

• Laughter Yoga makes us more creative and imaginative. It improves our sense of humor.

• Laughter shrinks the hurts of everyday life to a smaller, if not inconsequential size. It interrupts the power struggle and diffuses anger by releasing it.

• Laughter helps individuals be more self-confident and self-expressive.

 

 

Laughter Yoga Results in:

• Improved efficiency

• Team building

• Innovation and creativity

• Increased attention span

• Motivation and increased communication

• Ideal exercise for busy people

 

 

Training

Because Julie is trained in improvisation at The Second City in Chicago, she utilizes her ability to adapt and flow with the needs of the laughter participants. She also uses her creativity and feeds off of the group and easily determines what the next best exercise is for the group. And! She just might create laughter exercises on the spot and in the moment!

Julie received her laughter yoga certification in 2008 through the American Laughter Yoga Institute of Los Angeles.