Laughter Yoga with Zenovia 2nd & 4th Sundays

24 New Derby Street,Salem MA 01970

11 September, 2022

Description

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 movement and breathing (no difficult yoga poses) along with a variety of laughter exercises to open up and stimulate the mind, physical body, the breath, the energy, and the voice into laughter, bringing more Oxygen to the body and brain. Laughing inspires beneficial shifts in mood and physical tension. About Laughter Yoga... 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". My journey to Laughter Yoga 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. Fast forward to a family gathering where a cousin announced that she was a Certified Laughter Yoga leader, which prompted us all into a fit of laughter, which 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 not appropriate, LOL!). One of my favorite quotes from a Joni Mitchell song, People's Parties: "Laughing and crying, you know it's the same release".