Laughter Yoga Blog
Federation Square Laughter Club on 1st January 2012
It was my turn to facilitate the Laughter Yoga club in Melbourne, which is held on the first Sunday of the month at 11am. This time it turned out to be on New Years Day and it was hot, about 35 degrees Celsius. My husband John, Pete from our Ferntree Gully Laughter Club and myself caught the train into the city bright and early.
Not many people were about and quite a few appeared to actually be coming home from a night out on the town and so we did not know what to expect, being the first day of a bright and shining new year.
So few people around, the occasional security guard and not even the usual supervisor for Federation Square. The show must go on. No matter what. I committed to being there, not knowing whether people would realise it was still on. It felt like common sense to leave it till the next week, but then that would not be the first week of the month.
What a lovely surprise. Right on 11am four regulars came to share in the joy of Laughter Yoga. I was not the only leader; two of the ladies were club leaders. Marian from the Eltham Club shared a fabulous laugh, getting close to each other we squeezed our thumb and index finger together ‘I have that much limitation’ and then opening our arms widely to ‘I have that much potential’. It was so much fun, especially getting in really close and opening our hearts as we opened to the New Year.
Sharon who recently was the leader of the South Yarra Club shared some laughs and what I loved about her style was how she also, like me, let the laughs flow from one into another as I heard Dr Kataria share that way a few years ago. I love that, being spontaneous, in the moment, which leads to inspiration and flow.
John shared his usual one, the Archer and he did the Milkshake laugh with lots of sound effects, as learned by Phillipa Challis in November. It is a great thing coming together and no one does a laugh the same, we can learn so much from each other when we are willing to be open, receptive and giving.
Afterwards we took our time and had tea and coffee under some shade sails at a cafe, chatting away for ages and feeling really, really uplifted from making the effort to go into the city early and share our laughter and joy.
The day was made better by us all being adaptable and committed to what we said we would do and it really was a fantastic way to start the New Year off.
Luckily we had a bag minder, as since there was nobody on duty, there was no table, nor book to sign or a sign for the passers by explaining about the laughter club. Luckily also there were a couple of small gum trees and so we chose to do the session next to them on the steps, rather than out in the open in the hottish sun. Just enough shade for the six of us to squeeze into together.
It was altogether surprising really, as previously I have been quite inhibited before taking up Laughter Yoga and did not join the others for a cuppa afterwards. However this was different and I was reminded again about the power of love and community spirit, especially when laughter lovers come together in good fun and laugh for no reason.
So thanks to all who were there making it such a great time.
And a reminder to those Melbourne-ites who are reading this right now – the Australia Day Celebrations are just around the corner and you too will have the time of your life if you get out there, despite the weather and join in. We will be joining in the Australia Day March to the Kings Domain Gardens and doing a Laughter Yoga session on the main stage for the public to join into and perhaps experience Laughter Yoga for the first time in their lives.
Hope to see you there.
Love and Laughter.
Lynette Mitchell xx oo
Laughter Yoga Events
Melbourne Girls' Grammar School was a highly successful opportunity to share a Laughter Yoga session with 85 Year 8 girls and some of their form teachers. At first the teachers were observing and obviously reluctant to join in, thinking it was just for the young ladies. However very quickly they let themselves go and were as uplifted as the girls. A credit to the teachers for giving something new like laughing for no reason a go. Thanks for the fun and chance to be there. Here is the link to Lynette's blog posting at the Laughter Yoga website. http://laughteryoga.org/lyblogs/lynette-mitchell/645-laughter-yoga-for-year-8-girls-at-melbourne-girls-grammar-school
Methodist Ladies' College invited Lynette and John along to facilitate Laughter Yoga for the end of term fun club, which was mainly for Year 10 girls. There were about 45 young ladies who were extremely eager and noisy. Young people seem to have unbounded energy, that is for sure. Here is the link to the blog for you to check out if you have a penchant to do so. http://laughteryoga.org/lyblogs/lynette-mitchell/639-laughter-yoga-at-a-melbourne-girls-school-equals-lough-laughter
Rylands of Kew and Hawthorn booked Laughter Yoga sessions, which was quite a different experience, opposite yet the same, to sharing laughter and joy with teenagers. The retirement village had equally open minded seniors who led very active lives, interested in many things and it was such a joy and privilege to lead these adorable people. Thank you for the invitation to share laughter yoga.
Mecwacare - Laughter at Gembrook for Mecwacare, who provide community support for the Cardinia Shire. Two groups came together and even though most were unable to walk freely, staying seated, they all got heavily involved and loved the laughter exercises and meditation at the end. Lynette was asked to come back in a month and facilitate Laughter Yoga for three groups.
Maroondah Festival
Thank you for coming along to the Maroondah Festival and running a most enjoyable Laughter Yoga session. Your laughter workshop was great fun to observers and participants alike. The time that you gave, as well as your effort and talents were much appreciated. Thank you for sharing them with us. Thank you also to your lovely husband for the fun he brought. Thank you once again. Gail McDaniel Community Services Maroondah City Council.
New Clients Summit
Paul McCarthy & Brad Tonnini put on a fabulous business and networking event on the 27th & 28th May. Lynette attended, meeting many keen business people. After this one of them, Vlad, turned up at the Ferntree Gully Laughter Club. Here is the blog posted regarding this posted on Dr Kataria's Laughter Yoga International website.
Sunday 3rd April - 11am at Federation Square. Lynette led the monthly Federation Square Laughter Yoga Club for half an hour. It was a fantastic session, with sixteen people laughing together. Husband John came along and led a couple of laughs, his favourite one is the Bow and Arrow laugh. Then Maria from Coburg who had just completed her Laughter Leader Training she led a few laughs also. This is a monthly club, which is free for all people, the more the merrier, so pop along on the 1st Sunday of the month at 11am for a jolly good laugh. Next month is World Laughter Day, which is celebrated all around the world on the first Sunday of May.
World Laughter Day on 1 May - Laughter and many fun activities.
See the Laughter Yoga organisation's information page about World Laughter Day, which helps bring people together in peace, laughter, fun and harmony.
Celebrations are at Federation Square at 11am. People all around the globe will be gathering together doing laughter exercises and having load of fun!
All are welcome. Please contact Lynette for more information.
Kookaburra Laugh Video on YouTube -
Lynette leading the Kookaburra Laugh at the Mind Body Spirit Festival, Melbourne, June, 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVv9gbVh-58
Knox City Festival
The City of Knox holds a huge two day community festival in March and Lynette was thrilled to be offered a marquis for the Ferntree Gully Laughter Club to be able to promote itself. Around two thousand people pass into the festival grounds each day and it was beautifully sunny. It was a real pleasure to be there meeting the residents of Knox and surrounds. Here are a couple of photos of laughter club members.
Laughter Yoga Clients in Dandenong and Ringwood
Wellsprings For Women in Dandenong shared "Made me feel happy for the whole day.” The ladies threw themselves into the Laughter Yoga exercises, loved the short meditation at the end of it.
Time Out in Ringwood asked for a laughter session and were such an open and wonderful lot of ladies and gentlemen, throwing themselves into the laughter exercises with great gusto. It sure is a huge pleasure to be laughing together with such beautiful people.
At the Melbourne Mind Body Spirit Festival Lynette led the laughter session.
There was lots of fun filled laughter up on the stage and in the audience as Lynette threw herself into the role of leader. Three other laughter club members joined her demonstrating the laughter exercises and four people came up from the audience to experience the joy for laughing for no reason!
Federation Square.
It was a fun filled hour with Lynette facilitating the Federation Square Laughter Yoga Club. The 1st Sunday of the month at 11a,m, a different leader from various Victorian clubs lead the laughter group session. Today 36 people joined in, it was such a hoot, many young men who came last month on World Laughter Day returning with their friends, girlfriends and mothers.
The Boronia Branch of the CWA asked Lynette to come along and share the experiences of laughter, not knowing what on earth it was about. The ladies had their general meeting, then rearranged the chairs in a circle to join in the fun exercises. What a hoot! The ladies were wonderful in participating fully, pretending to bake cakes with hearty laughter and distributing them to each other with lots of joy and merriment. The session was well received and followed with a short meditation. Ladies felt most relaxed, one saying that she could go to sleep. Here are some words about it.
Testimonial "Lyn was the guest speaker at the Boronia Branch of the Country Women's Association of Victoria Inc. in May, 2010. Members present enjoyed Lyn's presentation on different ways to encourage laughter. Despite feeling a little 'silly' walking around the room doing actions and laughing at the same time, one felt invigorated after 30 minutes of this therapy. As a group we would strongly recommend that people participate in this type of therapy on a regular basis" Lorraine Zimmerman, President, Boronia CWA Branch.
