"When you laugh, shift happens."
Frequently Asked QUESTIONS
What is Laughter Yoga?
Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, Dr. William Fry, has said, "Laughter is like jogging on the inside." It combines clapping, intentional laughter (no jokes needed), stretching, and breathing with eye contact, playfulness, and no judgment for great exercise. It taps your imagination and stretches your pretending muscles. Leave your inhibitions behind and bring a willingness to let go and have fun!
Other related questions:
Is this really yoga? Not really. No poses or stretches are required, except for your smile muscles and belly muscles when you do a deep belly laugh.
Why haven't I heard of it? You should have! Laughter Yoga is in over 120 countries; there are 20,000 clubs worldwide and over 200 clubs in the US.
Do I need a yoga mat? No mat, special clothes, or positions are necessary.
Seriously, you want me to just start laughing?
You bet I do! In fact, I’d be really excited if you adopt a daily laughter practice. The goal: 15 minutes of belly laughs every day! But don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to laugh on purpose, no jokes necessary.
Read what cardiologist Michael Miller has to say about laughter in his book, Heal Your Heart.
What do you mean there are no jokes?
Believe me, you don’t want me to tell jokes! POP QUIZ: – what percentage of laughter comes from having a sense of humor or thinking something is funny? Only 20%! Seriously.
Since your body doesn’t know the difference between laughing on purpose (intentional laughter) and laughing when something is funny, you can reap all the benefits of laughter without relying on a comedian (which can cost a pretty penny) or the next funny movie.
I’ll teach you how to generate not just a simple chuckle or two, but how to go from hesitant, awkward laughter to rolling-on-the-floor belly laughs. Say the word, and we’ll get started!
Other related questions:
Do you tell jokes? I try not to!
Why haven't I seen you on a comedy show? Because I am not a comedian.
Are there really significant benefits to laughing out loud?
They aren’t just whistling Dixie when they say ‘laughter is the best medicine.’ There are tons of health benefits, ranging from decreasing stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and inflammation in the body, not to mention increasing focus, creativity, oxygen, and blood flow. Never forget, laughter feels amazing and is FUN!
Other related questions:
Does laughter really help with stress? Absolutely!
Is there research to back this stuff up?
Yes! There is a lot of research about laughter and its benefits.
I'm writing a book based on all the research of laughter.
Email to pre-order your copy today!
What can I expect from one of your laughter sessions?
We’ll be playful and silly as we weave our way through Smile-Ups, Laughter Breaths, and a series of laughter exercises or games designed
to give you and your creativity a workout.
We’ll remember to breathe deeply and oxygenate our cells to boost the immune system in between chuckles and guffaws. We’ll throw in the history of Laughter Yoga, describe all the amazing health benefits, and end with a laughter meditation to get your giggles on.
Each session is customized. I promise you’ll be telling everyone you know about your experience - if you can stop laughing long enough to talk.
Other related questions:
Is this good for a team? Definitely!
How does laughter boost morale? By loosening barriers and shifting the energy in our bodies and the room.
What do you say to the "Debby Downers" of the world?
I sometimes hear, "My life isn’t going well right now." "Why would I want to laugh?" "I have nothing to laugh about and there’s nothing funny."
But the truth is, when we feel the least like laughing is when we need it the most. Just smiling sends endorphins to your brain and sends stress on its way.
By the time I get you laughing, you’ll be changing your brain chemistry and shifting your perspective. The laughter can’t take your problems away, but it can help you manage them better. You’ll experience it for yourself in real time, and you’ll walk away knowing how to do it again on your own.
What do people say after laughing with you?
Even people who are shy, felt a bit inhibited at first,
or indicated they were uncomfortable in a way, report feeling:
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Energized
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Lighter
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Calmer
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Happy
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Uplifted
They say, “Why have I never heard of this before? How can I do this again or share it with someone else?”
But don’t take my word for it. Check out this video and read the testimonials for yourself. Then try it and see what you think.
Other related questions:
What if I'm uncomfortable about laughing in front of others? You'll quickly realize that it doesn't matter.
What if I do it wrong? There is no wrong way to laugh.
How can I laugh with you again? Join my weekly laughter call!
Will I be able to do this on my own at home or at work?
Yes! One mom's 9-year old son joined her during one of our laughter sessions on Zoom. This is what she shared:
“I saw my son using the skills that he learned. We had a minor argument at dinner one night not long after, and he left the table. After a few minutes, I went to go find him and he was doing “Smile-Ups” in the hall mirror as a way to calm down and cheer up. It was pretty powerful to see. I’m so grateful that we could take the class together.”
Other related questions:
How can I practice on my own? Ask me about the Smile-Up Buddy or Laughter Drill Challenges. Intrigued? Email me to learn more.
Do you have a book or other products I can buy? Yes! Just click here.
What makes you qualified to teach this to me?
I am a certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Teacher from the Founder of Laughter Yoga — Dr. Madan Kataria’s LaughterYoga University.
I’ve been practicing Laughter Yoga for nearly 20 years and have literally laughed with over 10,000 people around the world since discovering the magic of this practice.
What is Chocolate Thursday all about?
ChocolateThursday is a weekly opportunity to indulge in the melt-in-your-mouth combination of laughter and chocolate. I love laughter and who doesn’t love chocolate?
You can register for one of my classes or contact me to customize something for your team at work or to help you celebrate a special occasion.
Do you have a great idea of a laughter/chocolate challenge? Bring it on! Let’s create something amazing together – it’s sure to be delicious and fun! Not to mention healthy. Click here to learn more!
Oh, you wanted the back story? Once, when I was working with college students, we were challenged to get more students in the door. No one said bribery was off the table, so we put chocolate on the table, literally. Every Thursday, some sort of chocolate was featured: a taste test, recipe sharing with samples of favorites, a candy swap. We offered it. They came and Chocolate Thursday was born. I’ve been celebrating it ever since. I bet it won’t be long before it’s your favorite holiday!
Do you work with a team?
I am blessed to work with some of the best people in the business. They are fabulous - so talented! I just love them – you will too.
Click here to meet them.
"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision." ~ Andrew Carnegie
Practicing healthy laughter helps us become more mindful and present.
I’m going to give you tools to use anywhere — easy to remember and easy to share . Laughter is 30% more likely to happen if you laugh with others — so share it!
The more, the merrier!