Laughter for health, healing, and joy! 

By Aileen Borruel

Can you think of a great way to start your Monday morning? How about the idea of doing a fun, interactive activity that allows you to connect with others through laughter? If you have not heard of Laughter Yoga, now is your chance to try something new and exciting that benefits your overall health and well-being!

What is Laughter Yoga and what can you expect in a 1-hour session?

Laughter Yoga is a unique activity where anyone can laugh voluntarily without relying on any jokes, humor, or comedy. It was developed in India back in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria, combining laughter and breathing exercises. We all know how good laughter feels and the incredible benefits it has to offer. Laughter brings more oxygen to the brain, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and muscle tension and it improves blood circulation. It also allows us to feel more connected to others and helps to boost our energy, creativity, and happiness! Research has shown that adults laugh on average 10-15 times a day and children laugh 300 times a day, meaning we need to bring more laughter into our life!

As your laughter yoga instructor, I ensure a safe space that allows all the participants to feel comfortable and free from any judgement. During the session you will be guided through warm-up exercises and will alternate between laughter exercises, rhythmic clapping, and deep breathing exercises both seated and standing. We give ourselves the permission to use this time to release any stress and tension, use our imagination, dance, play and be silly! Together we experience childlike playfulness that gives us that hearty, contagious, belly-laugh! Throughout the exercises, positive energy and feelings builds and endorphins (happy hormones) are released!

It has been such a wonderful journey and experience offering Laughter Yoga online to ASM as part of the What Connects Us research study for one year now. All l I can say is that Mondays have never felt better! My experience in working with both caregivers and persons with Dementia and neurocognitive disorders has been truly incredible. The moment I open up Zoom and see everyone’s beautiful smiles and faces, it’s an instant feeling of joy that comes over me! I love their enthusiasm, positive energy and openness as the participants are always so willing to immerse themselves into the whole experience of Laughter Yoga.

Laughter Yoga also allows you to be fully present in the moment. One of the most memorable moments I can recall was witnessing 2 couples dance to the song “La Vie En Rose” by Edith Piaf and just catching a glimpse of the way the couples looked at one another and laughed together was so heart-warming! In our sessions, it’s not only about the laughter, but the importance of human connection and how we are all in this together.

We invite you to come and join us for our Laughter Yoga online program for the fall season every Monday morning starting Monday, September 20^th 10:30-11:30am and experience this very fun and interactive program in a safe space that allows you to feel more joy, love and connection and of course to bring in more laughter into your daily life!

BIO

Aileen Borruel is the Founder & Owner of Joyful Connections, workshop facilitator, mother of 4 and has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and DEC in Special Care Counselling.

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