Laughter Hour

With Pegi-Joy

 

"We don't laugh because we're happy,
we're happy because we laugh."

                                                  William James, Psychologist     

Become Laughter Independent
 Patterned after the Laugh Clubs sweeping India
Improve Health, Boost Immunity, Relieve
Stress, Lift Depression, Release Joy and Creativity,
and Just Have FUN!

This Playshop is not about humor or jokes, but laughing for the Health of it and the Joy of it!

Available for all ages

Located in Sedona, Arizona

Reach me at: joyful@joy4u.org

Pegi-Joy is a Certified Laughter Leader with the World Laughter Tours
 


 
WANT MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE?

TRY LAUGHTER CLUBS

Pegi Joy Jenkins, Ph.D. LCL (Laughter Club Leader)


Laughter Clubs are spreading around the world. It surely is an idea whose time has come. 

The benefits are immense. Laughter offers healing -- physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  Here are some examples:

A. Physically

Laughter increases the oxygen levels in the body, stimulates the immune system, helps control blood pressure, kills pain, and increases stamina and breathing capacity. Laughter is beneficial for heart disease, insomnia, anxiety, depression, allergic disorders, asthma, bronchitis, tension, migraine headaches, as well as the aches and pains due to arthritis, cervical spondylitis and backaches. This is a partial list only.

     "Laughter is the body's own morphine."   Norman Cousins

B. Emotionally

Laughter stimulates joy and joy disperses, worries, anxieties, grief, greed, irritation, and other negative emotions.

     "We don't laugh because we're happy -- we're happy because we laugh."    
William James

C. Mentally

Because laughter triggers joy, we get the mental benefits of joy -- a clear mind, sharper intellect, strengthened memory.

     "At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities."   Jean Houston

D. Spiritually

The soul is nourished by the joy of laughter.

The energy of joy lifts us into the higher vibration planes.  Fifteen minutes of laughter can wipe out six hours of meditation, say the Buddhists. 

      "The greatest prayer you could ever pray would be to laugh every day"     Ramtha

 

The origin of Laughter Clubs

Dr. Madan Kartaria of Mumbai, India is the founder of the Laughter Club concept. There are hundreds of clubs in India and they have expanded into many other countries, In India it is usually a first thing in the morning exercise---The first 20 minutes at the factory or office, on the beach or in the park. You may visit his website at www.laughteryoga.org  to get the larger picture or read his wonderful book “Laugh for No Reason.” 

The head of the Laughter Club movement in the United States is Steve Wilson, MA, Author and Psychologist. He would have us "Think Globally and Laugh Locally." Steve has trained numerous Certified Laughter Leaders around the country and they have penetrated nursing homes, retirement villages, hospitals, schools, clubs, libraries, and so forth. He maintains an inventory of laughter related books, videos and laughter accessories, such as a laugh squeeze bag. Information can be found at this website:  www.worldlaughtertour.com

Dr. Kartari discovered early on that the Laughter Clubs should not be based on jokes. Such humor has limited appeal and depends upon culture, taste, age and life experience. The Laughter Club exercises put the emphasis on pure laughter. 

The number of popular "laughs" expands each day and is limited only by our imagination.  Some of the "laughs" I enjoy are titled: Swoop and Spray, Ice Cube Down the Back, Party Handshake, Tickle Self, Cell Phone, Silent Laughter, Bow and Arrow, Lion Laugh, Electric Shock, Appreciation Laugh and the Laugh at Yourself Laugh. 

There are a number of guidelines for Laughter Leaders such as warming up exercises, standing in a circle with leader in middle, maintaining eye contact, all laughing at the same time and so forth. One of the most important guidelines is the Daily Practice to Prevent Hardening of the Attitudes.  The Laughter Clubs, Internationally and nationally, have a suggested practice for each day of the week. Mondays are for Compliments -- Tuesdays are for Flexibility -- Wednesdays are for Gratitude -- Thursdays are for Kindness -- Fridays are for Forgiveness (of self and others) -- Weekends are for Chocolate -- a word used to mean a favorite food, leisure or pleasure.

The World Laughter Tour held it's first International Symposium May 2003 in Florida and it was exciting to meet Laughter Leaders from several other countries. 

Consider taking Laughter Leader Training or connecting with the Laughter Group in your area.
  

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter"
-- e.e. cummings

 

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