He he healing laughter

Laughter is the sound of happiness.”

 “I had not laughed since my kidney ailment in 2003.  But I  laughed again only now because of Laughter Yoga. It made me feel positive about my family life and my life. I am happy and proud to experience Ms. Elvie’s Laughter Yoga. I will do it every day,” says Ineria Santos, a kidney transplant patient.

I was barely recovering from shingles, which caused the cancellation of my trip to the ADB annual meeting in Hanoi and the celebration of World Laughter Day with the Rotarians of Wack-Wack, when my secretary told me, “Ma’am, KITAP (Kidney Transplant Association of the Philippines) is begging you to conduct a Laughter Yoga session for them.”  

Deeply touched by their request, I gave my go signal to accept their invitation and coordinated with KITAP president Tessie Prima and Bing de Guzman.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the National Kidney Institute building and premises in tip-top condition. It was clean and the facilities modern. When we arrived, the transplant patients, their families, and friends numbering 120 had already congregated in the auditorium.

At the start, most of the participants positioned themselves at the back, hesitant to come to the center. After admonishing them to take advantage of the Laughter Yoga session that will unfold before them, shy and smiling they went to the center. To help them loosen up, we did some warm-up laughter exercises. Lo and behold! After a few minutes, they participated enthusiastically and energetically  roaring with laughter, swaying, dancing, and clapping  with almost everyone at the center of the room!

I added some bonuses, products of my own research, i.e., on how to sharpen the mind, increase memory power, enhance concentration, and prevent insomnia through the use of their finger tips. They were so elated! In addition, I shared some eye exercises which we did together to improve the eyesight. After some minutes, I asked them to open their eyes. Surprise, surprise! They claimed to have clearer vision!

“Live life to the fullest” is KITAP’s slogan, which I affirmed   Yes, they can!  For the best things are possible with God’s help as long as we keep our faith, work hard and, most importantly, help fellow pilgrims in our pilgrimage. What we give to life, life  gives  back to us!

Since laughter is not only the best medicine but the sound of happiness as well, I encouraged everyone to do Laughter Yoga daily to help them nurture positive thoughts and feel good always through the endorphins that laughter releases. I was informed that what they learned from the Laughter Yoga session that Thursday afternoon they repeated and shared with those who attended their extended celebrations till Sunday of that week. They promised to keep doing Laughter Yoga to improve their conditions.            

Inspiring feedback from some participants:

• Rene Atibagup: Laughter Yoga helped release all my negative emotions, worries, and fears. Very relaxing! I felt revitalized and young again.

• Fely Castañeda: Laughter releases our stress and is good for our health. Thank you very much, Ms. Elvie.

• Alice C. Basbas: It made me feel beautiful, young, relaxed and, most importantly, I forgot my sickness. It inspired and made me happy .

• Marivic Vergel-Roldan: Enjoyable stress management technique. What makes Laughter Yoga different from other workshops on stress management is that all the exercises are fun and doable.  It is a feel-good workshop.

• Edden Aquino: I really appreciate the Laughter Yoga session.  It greatly helped  me. 

• Gloria Vicerra: Laughter Yoga is very good, relaxing, and it releases sweat and anger. It helps remove wrinkles and makes you younger. It’s better than any exercise to lose weight as it also releases stress and helps with your heart ailment.

• Moje Ramos-Aquino: I enjoyed doing the Laughter Yoga exercises and will continue doing them at home.

Anyone who knows the dreaded shingles will tell you how painful it is. My daughter Bunny googled shingles and relayed to me its pins-and-needles pain, as the nerves are attacked. Oh my  God! Never had I experienced such throbbing, piercing, radiating pains every minute in my life!  The pain and itchiness were excruciating! I took antibiotics and when the pain became almost unbearable, I would laugh for about 20-30 minutes with tears streaming down my face.  And the pain subsided.  It was like crazy, but the laughter, the healing mantras, and my positive chanting  “I am healed, fully healed, yey,” several times daily did wonders! I was healed  in seven days, and felt great because I learned others suffer from it from one to two months.  Let’s laugh to a healthy, happy, positive us!

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LYoga sessions are scheduled as follows: June 2, Lopez Group Foundation;  June 3, Cocolife Insurance; June 18, Sisters of St. Paul; July 10, St. Luke’s Hospital. Visit www.laughteryogaphils.com; e-mail mega_abundant_lv@yahoo.com. To laugh and de-stress, visit youtube lycphohohahaha!