Laughter Yoga in New Lenox, IL!

Have you ever laughed so hard that your belly muscles were tired, your cheeks hurt from smiling so much, and you were slightly out of breath?  You were getting a great workout, and didn’t realize it because you were having so much fun!   

Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise routine, which combines laughter with yogic breathing (Pranayama).  Anyone can laugh without relying on humor, jokes or comedy.  Laughter is initially

simulated as a physical exercise, while maintaining eye contact with others in the group and promoting childlike playfulness.  In most cases this soon leads to real and contagious laughter.  Science has proven that the body cannot differentiate between simulated and real laughter.  Laughter Yoga is the only technique that allows adults to achieve sustained, hearty laughter without involving cognitive thought.  It bypasses the intellectual systems that normally act as a brake on natural laughter.

Laughter Yoga was created by Dr. Madan Kataria in 1995.  He is a medical doctor in Mumbai, India, who wanted to harness the health benefits of laughter which had been documented by science.  It started with five people meeting in a park telling jokes to each other, and has grown to more than 6,000 clubs in 60 countries. 

What is a Laughter Yoga Session Like?

Laughter Yoga sessions start with gentle warm-up techniques which include stretching, chanting, clapping and body movement.  Breathing exercises are used to prepare the lungs for laughter, followed by a series of “laughter exercises” that combine visualization techniques with playfulness.  These exercises, when combined with the strong social dynamics of group behavior, lead to prolonged and hearty unconditional laughter.  A session may finish with a “laughter meditation:” participants sit or lie down and allow natural laughter to flow from within, like a fountain.  This is a powerful experience that often leads to a healthy emotional catharsis, as well as a feeling of release and joyfulness that can last for days.  A session is often completed with guided relaxation exercises.  No special clothing or equipment is required, although comfortable clothes that allow free movement are recommended.  Sessions typically last about 30-45 minutes.

Connecting People

Unconditional laughter connects people from different cultures, no matter what language they speak or how they live.  Laughter Yoga promotes a strong union between those who laugh together, resulting in family-like bonds, providing social interaction – essential for happiness.  The goal of Laughter Yoga is to connect people with one another at heart level without judgment – that is the true meaning of Yoga.

 

Heidi was trained by Lynda Tourloukis, who was personally trained by Dr. Madan Kataria.  

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 The last session of New Lenox Laughter Club was 5/13/2010.

Watch here for details on summer happenings, and plans for the fall!

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Ten Reasons to Laugh, and Why It's GOOD FOR YOU!

Photos of a Laughter Yoga session that Heidi shared with Dr. Kataria!

Laughter Yoga demonstrated on "The Dr. Oz Show" on 4/14/2009*

 

*Click to play the video.  After discussing migraines, Dr. Oz will talk about laughter, it's health and social benefits, and demonstrate a breathing exercise used in Laughter Yoga.

 

A Laughter Yoga session can be a fun-filled opening activity, or an after lunch or mid-conference energizer, which helps co-workers bond together, celebrate each other, and build a firm foundation for working together.