Unity in a Changing Professional Landscape” was the timely and relevant theme on the occasion of the 30th founding anniversary of the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice (ACPAPP) held in Cagayan de Oro City last September 22-23. The organizers headed by Christy Bellosillo added a new flavor and relaxing twists to their convention the much-talked-about-and-always-excitingly-anticipated Laughter Yoga!
Though the LYoga session was scheduled on Friday, September 23, we arrived in Cagayan de Oro the day before. I had a terrible upset stomach that I had to visit the loo six to seven times. I was already feeling weak, but as they say, “the show must go on,” so I kept eating bananas and resorted to LYoga clapping as often as I could to energize and boost my immune system.
On the appointed day and time of the LYoga session, I only ate plain rice and five egg whites for breakfast, and spiced it up with as many LYoga clapping as I could do. Before my number came, I spent sometime in the ladies’ room, and did some LYoga exercises to boost my energy level. Surprise, surprise! Though the LYoga session lasted one-and-a-half hours, it left me feeling really strong and super good. The natural pain killers released through laughing really did wonders for me and, of course, for the participants.
Up until we went back home to Makati, my diarrhea completely disappeared. The prolonged laughter must have jogged my internal organs and put things in order. Ho ho, ha ha ha!
There were 370 participants from all over the country, who graced ACPAPP’S 11th annual national convention. Their guest speakers were SEC Commissioner Atty. Tess Herbosa and BIR Deputy Undersecretary Nelson Aspi.
To give space to the participants to converge in the center of the auditorium, tables and chairs were cleared for them. As always, many of them shied away from the center. However, as they began to loosen up, felt relaxed, and set aside their shyness, voluntarily they swarmed to the middle. They began enjoying and savoring every moment of the LY session. Cheerfully and lightheartedly, they clapped, swayed, and laughed like children without any cares.
As the health trivia were being dished out to them, their interest was very evident … they listened so attentively. Then I announced some bonuses such as tips to take care of their eyes amid the modern gadgets that preoccupy us such as the computer, iPad, cell phones (especially texting), etc. and they kept nodding in approval. When asked if there was anyone among them who takes time to care for his eyes, they looked at each other puzzled and bewildered. I proceeded to explain that our eyes are the most abused organs of our bodies, considering that they are the first and the last we use in our daily lives. We took some precious minutes to do a few eye exercises to ease the stress and tension that our eyes also suffer from. Their eyes widened when I mentioned I used to have two pairs of eyeglasses and that last September marked the seventh year of my liberation from using eyeglasses. Wow!
Also given as bonuses were some “health through fingers” that help cure rheumatism, arthritis, gout, cervical spondylitis; sharpen the brain; increase memory power; and prevent insomnia. Further, use of fingers can also help reduce cholesterol level, reduce weight and anxiety. Last August, when I got back from our US vacation, my cholesterol level was quite high at 225. After two months of taking flaxseed, taking care of my food intake, and doing the finger tip exercise to help reduce cholesterol, my cholesterol level has gone down to 175, which is very much within the normal limit.
Here are some happy comments from the participants of LYoga:
• Warlea C. Velez: I felt weird at first to be laughing for no reason at all, but I realized it is the way it should be. It is the Laughter Yoga way to be happy. I mean we should be happy, no matter what the situation in our lives is.
• Maria Corazon D. Cerdeña: Funny and stress-free. I like the eye exercises Elvie taught us, my first time to learn about them.
• Cherry M. Centino: Laughter Yoga was a big help to stressed-out people. We learned simple techniques that would help reduce aches and pains through the use of the fingers, and really appreciated them.
• Grace Morfe: It was real fun and de-stressing. In my personal life, Laughter Yoga has always kept me healthy, happy, and positive. As I go through life’s challenges, my infinite faith in the Almighty God, along with laughter, helps me immeasurably in coping with any situation, during challenges and stormy days.
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Register now for the 2nd LYoga leadership training seminar on April 14-15, 2012 in Tagaytay City. Limited slots are available for this life-changing experience. For more info on past LYoga sessions and for this seminar, visit www.laughteryogaphils.com. E-mail me at laughteryogaclub.phils@gmail.com Want to laugh and relax? Visit youtube: lycphohohahaha!