"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
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