Laughter Yoga Exercises
In Laughter Yoga, we do not use props nor tell jokes. It is about coming together and having fun, which we do through using our imagination, breathing and doing Laughter Yoga Exercises. Initially when people laugh together, it can be so unusual to laugh for no apparent reason, which is called ‘faking it till you make it’. However what happens is that very quickly fake laughter becomes real, spontaneous belly laughter.
There are limitless laughter yoga exercises that can be done, as it is both a planned activity and also very much being in the moment, spontaneously laughing together in a group. It can also be done on your own as a regular daily beneficial exercise, like brushing your teeth.
A Laughter Yoga session commences with deep breathing, hence the name Laughter Yoga, as yogic breathing is important to join together the whole body, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Yoga means yoke, to join together. It is important to breathe deeply, expelling all the stale air out of the lungs. Generally after each laughter exercise, we clap three times saying the mantra ‘Ho Ho, Ha Ha Ha’ and then take two deep breaths.
A mantra is a commonly repeated sound, word or phrase used in meditation to cut through discriminating thoughts so the mind can become clear. In the context of Laughter Yoga, the mantra is an exercise which invites people to voice out loud something that is frustrating or painful in their life. This can be done alone or in a group. It is a powerful exercise because you cannot both laugh about something and hang on to feelings of depression and powerlessness about it at the same time. The ability to laugh about your aches and pains is a sign of maturity and brings great emotional freedom with it.
When done in a group, connect with as many people as possible, connecting with your eyes and heart. This helps too with openness and improved communication. Here are a few Laughter Yoga Exercises to give you an understanding of how they work.
Greeting Laughter: Begin the session by shaking each person’s hand, with a hearty laugh.
High 5 Laugher: Give each one a high five and laugh. Then you can change hands and do two high fives.
Cell Phone Laughter: Pretend to hold a mobile phone up to your ear and laugh.
The Lion Laughter: Fully extend tongue with wide open mouth and eyes, make like paws and roar like a lion in any direction roaring and laughing. Very good for thyroid gland.
Angelic Laughter: Smile like an angel or a baby, the most beautiful smile that you have ever seen. This gives you an angelic feeling and helps access our first memory of laughter stored in the deeper parts of our consciousness.
By now you have an idea of how it works. Then there is the Kookaburra laugh, making the noise of a Kookaburra and Father Christmas, ho ho ho, which can turn into Mother Christmas, with a higher laugh or Santa’s elves, mischievously laughing.
It really is about having fun, being light hearted and coming together for both social benefits as well as the scientifically proven health benefits of Laughter Yoga. There really is no end to the benefits and value of laughter, whether you do it alone, with another person or in a group. There is also no end to the size of the group, it is as unlimited as you are. Just think, you can do anything you put your mind to.
Anything you can conceive and believe you can achieve.
“What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve” is one of Napoleon Hill’s hallmark expressions. "In what do you truly believe?" According to Hill, 98% of people had few or no firm beliefs, and this alone puts true success firmly out of their reach.
Another inspiring quote by Dexter Yager: "A limit on what you will do, puts a limit on what you can do."
Lynette firmly believes that by doing Laughter Yoga Exercises you will reconnect and unite those parts within you that are playful, creative, inspired, giving you the joy of your own spirit, that is not dependant upon external forces. It is there all the time, deep within you and can be accessed through Laughter Yoga Exercises.