|
|
Laughing Yoga Laughing yoga was started in Mumbai in 1995. The man that started it, Dr Madan Kataria, learned of the benefits of laughter after studying Norman Cousins, who wrote Anatomy of an Illness.” In this book Norman describes how he laughed his way back from Ankylosing Spondylitis (an incurable disease of the spine. Dr Madan also read the research by Dr Less S Berk at Loma Linda University in California. Berk shows how laughter reduces the stress levels in the body. From here he came up with the laughing yoga class idea. He soon found jokes wouldn’t work so he came up with the class as we know it today. What is a laughing yoga class like? Usually you have at least 20 people stand around in a circle and a center person (the teacher) stands in the middle. There are no jokes just a lot of really silly stuff we do. Once people start to laugh they just can’t stop. The philosophy is fake it till you make it…even fake laughter is good for you. In the classes I teach I like to do a combination of 20 minutes of laughter, 20 minutes of easy gentle yoga and 20 minutes of long relax. I have found that after laughing and stretching a bit people are more gentle on themselves why doing yoga poses and they get into a much deeper sense of relaxation during the long relax. Benefits of Laughing Yoga: - Releasing good endorphins - Boosting your immune system - Increasing your circulatory system - Improving oxygen intake and carbon dioxide release improving your PH balances - Improving moral-great for conditions like depression, stress, anxiety, grieving find more stuff - Relaxes shoulder and neck the neck is a bridge between the brain the rest of your body so it helps maintain spinal cord and nerve communication - Works out your heart, lungs, facial muscles throat - Great for physical conditions like body aches, back pain, fibro myalgia, - Improves abdominal muscles without sit ups - Gives internal massage to digestive tract enhancing blood supply to liver, spleen, pancreas Kidneys, adrenal glands as well as improves bladder control - Centers you body mind and spirit giving you a deep sense of relaxation increasing your ability to cope with stress. (Gives you the same benefits as an hour of Yoga) - Really improves your out look on life, giving you back the child-like perspective on life. Fact: Children laugh, on average 300 times a day….adults 10-15 times. That’s why adults feel "older" and often burdened with responsibility. WE NEED TO LAUGH!!! Laughing is contagious… and is very good for you! Who shouldn’t take a laughing Yoga class? If you have any of the following conditions you should probably abstain: Hernia, Heart disease with chest pain, Epilepsy, Severe backache (disc troubles), recent surgery, Uterovaginal Prolapse, Pregnancy, Cold or Flu, Tuberculosis, Eye complications. How and where do you sign up for a Laughing Yoga Class? At the moment the class that I am offering is through the Essex Parks and Rec Department. I am in the process of finding a good space to teach out of privately. I am also working with businesses so if you would like me to do a class at your office give me a call and we can work out the details. Why should I take this class? Stress is the number one cause of all diseases. No matter where you go these days there is something to worry about. We are in highly stressful times with seemingly no release. Can we really afford not to find the time to laugh? I believe that those that take this class will get through these times with a lot better outlook on life and will have a tool to take a breath and say “it’s going to be ok”. If you have any questions on your own personal conditions you should consult your physician. If your physician has any questions I would be happy to speak with him/her. Buy an online gift certificate of a laughing yoga class today for someone you know!!  |
|
