MANILA, Philippines - Laughter is like a giant happiness magnet.” It was a night of sheer joy and laughter! Of complete relaxation and de-stressing for the maritime lawyers who, according to Atty. Thess Gonzales, are so stressed out and tense as they go about their daily meetings with clients, making representations for them in the courts, not to mention preparing various voluminous legal documents for submission to the courts.
Last February 18, the maritime lawyers held a reunion to bond and catch up on the latest in each other’s personal and business lives. To enliven the occasion and make it a night like no other, Atty. Gonzales requested for a LYoga session at the Makati Sports Club. Hazel Dy, a Laughter Yoga leader, who was attending my LYoga session for the first time, anxiously asked how I would handle it as lawyers are known to be always serious and stiff. I told her I have yet to meet a person who will not laugh in my LYoga sessions. Laughter, after all, is like a giant happiness magnet. One need not be a comedian. Simply invite people to experience the joy of laughter without jokes and unleash themselves to laugh freely. Ha ha ha!
Atty. Roberto Mallari, who warmly met me at the entrance, touched and inspired me no end when he told me that he is an avid Laughter Yoga follower and even regularly clips the articles I write about the sessions I conduct.
As what always happens during LYoga sessions, after the warm-up exercises to help the lawyers loosen up and drop their inhibitions, everybody gamely, happily, and actively participated. Like children, they laughed boisterously that night — without anything or anyone to laugh at. They tremendously enjoyed the chanting with clapping of “I feel good, very good, yey,” “I am healthy, very healthy, yey,” etc. that Laughter Yoga Club, Phils. developed and enhanced even more. This can now be viewed in the pay zone of International Laughter Yoga. Dr. Madan Kataria videotaped it, as the certified Laughter Yoga leaders chanted all the positive things we could think of — to stimulate us into turning into reality what we consistently aspire, work, and hope for. Remember, we are what we think and say we are!
That night, after having been completely de-stressed — with the toxins and negatives from our bodies released — I had a heavenly, deep, soooo relaxing sleep, which became very evident in my aura and looks the next day — another reward I reap from LYoga sessions, on top of the health benefits derived from it. The Rated K team headed by Marc and Lynn, told me that they, too, had a long sound sleep and a very relaxing time that carried them through the next day.
The inspiring comments of the other participants:
• Atty. Bert Palacios: I was very tense and stressed on my way here, but after just a few minutes of Laughter Yoga, I now feel so relaxed and happy.”
• Atty. Roberto Mallari: Amazingly good, very relaxing.”
• Lawyers Precy Branzuela, Celia Tecson, Marie Vic Sarmiento: Very relaxing, enjoyable, feels so good, and real fun.
• Atty. Regina Castillo: It was like I had seat-up exercises that stretched my abdomen.”
• Atty. Milagros M. Leyson: I feel very happy, healthy, and my stress is gone. Moreover, I feel that even my condition has improved. I have liver cancer that has metastasized and is now in stage 4. However, I felt very good after joining this LYoga session, as it was very enjoyable. I am doing the LYoga exercises Ms. Elvie taught us. I do them every day — morning and evening. My health condition has improved and I am hopeful that with God’s help, I will be healthy and well again. I continue to recite morning and evening Ms. Elvie’s healing mantra, “God helps, God heals.”
• Atty. Leonide P. Severio: I feel light, bubbly, and healthier.
• Atty. Precy Mañago: I was stressed and had stomach pains. After the LYoga exercises and heart laughter, the pains vanished.”
• Atty. Adelaida Dob: Laughter Yoga lessened my shoulder blade pain and osteoporosis.
• Atty Thess Gonzales: I’m a certified fan of Laughter Yoga! It was another very stressful day for me, but after our LYoga session, I felt so invigorated, as if a great weight was lifted from my shoulder. At first, I felt a bit foolish and silly trying to laugh for no reason at all, but it got easier and more natural as we progressed during the session. Elvie’s laughter was very infectious! I hope to join more Laughter Yoga sessions in the future.”
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It is heartening to know that the inmates in Calamba jail still do what they learned during our Laughter Yoga session there sometime ago. Knowing that the different kinds of LYoga laughter, topped by yoga breathing and stretching exercises, help them cope with the pitiful situation in our mostly overcrowded jails, and help toss to the wind the negative and sometimes despairing thoughts that visit them every so often goads me to reach out to teach and share with the multitudes of our kababayans the many health benefits that LYoga dishes out. Mga kaibigan keep going on, stay positive and hopeful! Ho, ho, ha, ha, ha!
The next session of the pioneer Laughter Yoga Club in the Philippines will be held on March 20 at Makati Medical Center. For those who want to register, log on to: www.laughteryogaclubphils.com, visit www.youtube.com, search for “lycphohohahaha.”
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E-mail me at mega_abundant_lv@yahoo.com.