Laughter is a stretch away
After coming out with a story on the first Laughter-Yoga Club in our country, we received an avalanche of positive response and inquiries. For laughing out loud, the response was overwhelming!
During an LYoga session in San Lorenzo Village Park, Makati, Malu, a regular LYoga enthusiast, informed me she has breast cancer and that LYoga has immensely helped ease the painful effects of chemotherapy on her. Laughter releases the endorphins in our bodies, relieving us of pain.
Other participants shared the improved changes in their outlook and attitude in life, as influenced by LYoga. Some participants said they had never laughed that way in their whole lives, were surprised they could, and were glad LYoga helped them become relaxed. Yes, because LYoga helps puts us in the “now.” When we laugh, the countless things and thoughts in our minds dissipate. We cannot laugh and at the same time be thinking or worried. Moreover, regular practice of LYoga rids our system of the toxic, stale air, which most of us are not even aware of are trapped in our bodies.
Last August 15, we conducted a Laugher-Yoga session in Makati Shangri-La for its employees, and had a wonderful, relaxing, laughing time. A call center in Makati also wanted LYoga for its employees, three times a day to help de-stress its highly-stressed employees.
At the Vital Source Wellness Program that I attended last Sept. 20-21 at Discovery Center, one of the organizers, after knowing I founded Laughter-Yoga, requested me to conduct a mini-session for the participants, as it was not in their schedule. The participants were all agog over it, having experienced LYoga for the first time in their lives. The following day, I was asked to do it again to help energize and add flavor and zest to the program.
For the 80th Foundation Day celebration of the National Teachers College last Sept. 26, Dean Del Rosario contacted me to conduct a session, intrigued by what LYoga is all about. After a brief informative talk about LYoga, I, together with 18 young volunteer NTC teachers, conducted LYoga, much to the delight of the audience. It was a truly hilarious, enjoyable session! As we headed out of the auditorium, the guests continued laughing. In the hallway and the elevator when some guests saw me, they burst into laughter. Hahaha! To be associated with laughter and make people laugh just at the sight of me gives me a high. In the ladies’ room, two ladies told me they never imagined laughter had many variations that could be so relaxingly funny. A profusely thankful wife said she would do it to her-always-brooding-and-serious husband.
Requests for Laughter-Yoga sessions had been sent by individuals, who e-mailed they were so stressed and wanted to know where to enroll and attend LYoga sessions. Various groups likewise expressed their desire for LYoga sessions: a convent for nuns in Lipa City, a group of doctors, and some schools to help de-clog busy-and-disturbed minds, and de-stress people — mentally, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. That the fourth cause of death among our kababayans, even among the young ones, is depression I learned from a guidance counselor, who asked that LYoga be conducted in their university.
Though LYoga is not a cure to whatever afflicts us, It is hoped that it can help ease the burdens that most people find or think are too heavy to carry.
In response, we are happy to announce that a Laughter-Yoga leadership training seminar is being organized for potential LYoga leaders all over the country on February 20-21, 2009. Call us for details. Part of our objectives is to train as many LYoga leaders as possible, to introduce and conduct LYoga sessions all over the country — to let our laughter flow into the horizon and reverberate in all the corners of our archipelago. It is LYoga’s mission to help promote peace through laughter. As a person laughs, aided by breathing and stretching exercises that are yoga-based, his overall well-being is relaxed. Thus, his mind becomes more open, peaceful, and positive. He’s more receptive to suggestions, even to criticisms, and is able to make more rational and positive decisions.
As the world goes through its darkest and most painful financial meltdown never seen and experienced since the 1930s’ depression, Laughter-Yoga comes in very handy. It can be done anytime, anywhere, under any circumstances and situations to help diffuse, lessen, enlighten, energize, and reinvigorate our daily lives ... as we work out solutions to tide us over this mind-boggling economic situation confronting the whole world.
Laughter-Yoga’s immense benefits include: lifting depression, boosting the immune system, bringing down blood pressure, reducing stress, and deep-cleansing our air passages by bringing in oxyen to our lungs.
It is zealously hoped that through Laughter-Yoga, we could help spread sunshine and joy, bring happiness, and improve people’s overall well-being to carry us through in our daily struggles. In the meantime, our profuse appreciation and gratitude for the overwhelming positive reactions, feedback, and interest in LYoga … they keep motivating, inspiring, and goading us. Hohoho! Hahaha! Let’s all laugh. Triuy, “a day without laughter is a wasted day.”
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For more laughs, visit www.laughteryogaphil.com.
