Need a good laugh? You don't need a punchline.
"Laughter yoga combines laughter with yogic breathing exercises. It is a perfect way to laugh and get exercise at the same time. It approaches laughter as a body exercise, so it is easy to laugh even if you are depressed or in a bad mood. Last year I highlighted laughter yoga on my TV program. I have tried it, and it works."—
Oprah Winfrey in The Courier Mail (Jan. 14, 2008, Australia)
what is laughter yoga?
Laughter Yoga is not "traditional" Hatha-style yoga. There are no strenuous postures to master. You don't need to be in great shape to practice laughter yoga. If you can laugh, you'll be able to participate!
Laughter (Haysa) Yoga is an ancient, new concept -- giving you the ability to
laugh yourself to health. Through
Yogic Laughter sessions,
Yoga Nidra (guided deep relaxation),
pranayama (yogic breathing practices) and meditation we can reach profound levels of renewed energy and relaxation.
why laugh? more oomph
By practicing the intentional breathing in yogic laughter, we
- increase our lung capacity
- boost mental clarity
- promote healthy digestion
- and yes - even tone our abs
According to a report in the
Wall Street Journal, laughter opens up the breathing, builds self-confidence, and helps alleviate high blood pressure and arthritis.
Laughter Yoga is Keeping People Healthy
virbrant and expressive
When we consciously laugh, within 30 seconds our brains begin producing natural mood boosters and painkillers. We get:
- increased serotonin - soothes anxiety and helps us feel happier
- increased endorphins - the natural confidence and "high" that many athletes experience
- decreased stress response hormones, inlcuding epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone.
Oprah Winfrey Show Reggie Wells: Laughter Yoga
deny the dull
“If you’re laughing with a group of other people, fake laughter
very quickly becomes real. It’s part of the social phenomenon.” -- Jeffery Briar, MSNBC
Finding humor in circumstances can help us to:
- develop control over situations that disturb us
- relax in social situations
- release our inhibitions
- become more playful and child-like
Laughter Yoga CNN Report
immunity powerhouse
Extended laughter builds the immune system by increasing the blood’s supply of T-cells, our body’s natural illness fighters.
Laughter Yoga Is Serious Medicine For Cancer Patients
worldwide acclaim
53 Countries (and counting) and 5,000 laughter Clubs have discovered that laughter is still the best medicine - no matter the circumstance or illness. Laughter is part of the universal human vocabulary. All of us understand it!
- Non-Political
- Non-Religious
- Non-Exploitive
- Non-Competitive
- Non-Perfectionistic
- Non-Threatening
Laughter Yoga Crosses Cultural Barriers in Hawaii
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