Laughter Yoga, also known as Intentional Laughter
We all know laughter is good for us! But we sometimes get caught in “the craziness of life,” and may not find much to laugh at. So . . . come join us as we explore Intentional Laughter/Laughter Yoga, connect with each other, and just feel good! During a laughter yoga/intentional laughter session, we “laugh for no reason;” after all, a laugh is just an exhale with a Ha Ha Ha attached. No jokes . . . no judgements about how we sound or how we look . . . just a wonderful feeling of laughing and letting go! By the way, we’ve led laughter groups that included folks from 2 years old to 94 years old. It’s good for all of us, and multigenerational groups are great fun. (Don’t let the word yoga scare you. Crazy pretzel bodies not needed for intentional laughter; the yoga is about the attention we pay to the breath between activities.)
Laughter Yoga/Intentional Laughter Class Information
Typical Class: Welcome. Warm up with gentle movement and laughter “activities;” some people call them laughter exercises! The laughter may feel “awkward” and a bit fake at first, but pretty soon, you’ll notice the laughter is real . . . and you feel SO good! Get ready for transitional activities like “Very Good Very Good Yea” and “Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha!” and some clapping and chanting. We’ll remember to smile and connect with eye contact, too; yes, we can even have eye contact via Zoom! We will also take some deep, gentle, “yogic breath” breaks between laughter activities. We sit or we stand, whatever works best for our bodies. We can move a little or move a lot, and we’ll just feel good! If you’d like to just listen to the laughter, that’s great, too!
In Person Laughter: Check Events calendar for more information and to sign up.
Via Zoom or Phone: Dates to be determined. Nine minutes to one hour sessions. Feel free to arrive five minutes early to “say hello.”
“Laughter on the Move:” Contact Self Care Connections to coordinate a laughter gathering in person or via Zoom for kids to elders, or multigenerational groups, for your family, at your home, in your yard, for your community organization, or at your business. Your pets are invited, too!
Some of the places Self Care Connections has shared "The Laughter"
- P. J. Jacobs Junior High, Family and Consumer & English classes, Stevens Point, WI
- UW-Stevens Point: Wellness, Stress Management, Teacher Education, World Studies, and Peace Studies classes, Stevens Point, WI
- Roosevelt Elementary School, Stevens Point, WI
- Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) weekly Laughter Club for students and teachers, Stevens Point, WI
- Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) Student Council, Stevens Point, WI
- UW-Stevens Point Inclusive Teaching Conference via Zoom, Stevens Point, WI
- LIFE (Learning is For Ever), Stevens Point, WI
- Wisconsin Retired Education Association, State Conference, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
- McDill Elementary School, “Around the World” class, Grades 1-4, Stevens Point, WI
- Cardiac Rehab, Plover Medical Center, Plover, WI
- Care Centers: The Lodge, Brookdale, and Willow Brook, Stevens Point, WI
- Cancer Support Group, Stevens Point, WI
- Lincoln Center (ADRC), Stevens Point, WI
- Parkinson’s Support Group, Lincoln Center, Stevens Point, WI
- Multigenerational laughter group, Point Yoga, Stevens Point, WI
- Lunch n Learn, Adventure 212, Stevens Point, WI
- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), state conferences in LaCrosse and Appleton
- Kiwanis, Stevens Point, WI
- Home and Community Education (HCE), Rudolph, WI; Fond du Lac, WI; Hammond, WI
- Wisconsin Association of Home and Community Education (HCE), State Conference, Eau Claire, WI
- UW-Extension, State Conference, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
- Women’s Fund, Stevens Point, WI
- Madison School, Stevens Point, WI
- Sculpture Park, Laughing at the Labyrinth and Summer Celebration, Stevens Point, WI
- P.E.O, Women’s Philanthropic organization, In Person and via Zoom
- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), regional conference in Nekoosa
- St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Stevens Point, WI
- The Springs United Methodist Churches, Stevens Point, WI
- Middler/Senior Luncheon, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Stevens Point, WI
- Grandchildren of Pat, via Zoom
- Seniors, via phone
- Multigenerational family laughter group, via Zoom
What you may want to have available:
- Wear comfortable clothes; no need to change into your exercise clothes.
- Water to keep your body hydrated.
- Have a chair nearby.
Other Thoughts
A laughter yoga/intentional laughter session doesn’t fix “the crud of life,” but it can help bring a needed break to our minds, bodies, and spirits. Many people find that after intentional laughter, they just feel better and can observe the challenges of life with a fresh perspective. Taking that pause is important, and our “Self Care Connections” breaks help us all. Let’s care for ourselves.
Training and certifications:
Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, 2012. (Judi) Gratitude for instructor Billie Francis, Guiding Mindful Change
Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, 2020. (Judi) Gratitude for instructor Sarah Routman, Laugh Healthy
Arthur Hull and Village Music Circles Drum Circle Facilitator, 2019. (Judi) Yes, we can drum during laughter sessions, too!