My Laughter Yoga Kids Group

What am I going to write about today? I just printed a handout booklet for a laughter yoga group that I am facilitating with kids. I put one together for a humor group I co-facilitated with a friend last year, or maybe it was the year before last.

It is jokes. Laughter yoga doesn't have to have jokes. You don't even have to be funny. Thank goodness, or it wouldn't be for me. I can't remember a joke, even the ones that I really enjoy. And I am not funny. I laugh a lot, but it took me years to get here. And years of laughter yoga to keep me out of depression.

Yes. It keeps me out of depression. Something I have struggled with for a long time. I went to a medicine man once as I was having trouble getting out of bed. I didn't want to do anything. I cried a lot. I probably could have been diagnosed with clinical depression.

When I went to the medicine man, I was already in recovery and had already tried three different antidepressants. He gave me some medicine and told me that I wouldn't ever be that depressed again. I don't know how he could say that. But it worked. I have not been that depressed since then.

It didn't mean I haven't dipped into depression. Just never that serious again. After my mother died, then my sister got cancer, and died one year after my mother, I found myself diving into depression. I already knew about laughter and healing and tears and healing. From our culture.

That is why I would let the tears flow. And why when I would laugh, I would feel better. It was difficult to do as sometimes as I found no one wants to laugh with you when your mother and your sister just died or encourage tears.

Most everyone I know had heard that "You are a big girl/boy now," or "I'll give you something to cry about," or something similar.

So, I am looking forward to the class I am taking this weekend. I will love having the credentials to teach people about laughter yoga. And I will love the practice and the benefit I know I will get personally from laughing.

Then there is the group at the end of the month. Below is the handout booklet cover. With a smaller heading than what is on the booklet.

Healing Together with Laughter Yoga (handouts)

 Authored by Denise Estey Lindquist, Brynn & Paxton Frisby, information from Dr. Madan Kataria the Founder of Laughter Yoga Clubs Movement, and others.

Art is by the various jokesters and whomever artists that they follow.

Then a few Secrets of Laughter Yoga, from Madan Kataria
1. We don’t need a sense of humor to laugh.
2. Motion creates emotion
3. You can laugh even if you are not happy.
4. Cultivate childlike playfulness
5. You can train your body and mind to laugh
What happens in a laughter session:
1. Clapping
2. Deep breathing
3. Childlike playfulness
4. Laughter exercises
Major benefits of laughter yoga:
1. Good mood and more spontaneous laughter
2. Healthy exercise to beat stress
3. Health benefits
4. Quality of life
5. Positive attitude in challenging times

Laughter yoga
I want to go yaa
No need to be funny
No need to be as sweet as honey
~
Our brain doesn't care
if it is fake laughter, and it is rare
for anyone to not participate
Everyone benefits, all eight
~
My group could be thirty-eight
My class will be closer to eight
It isn't long before my laughter is real
And I have been known to squeal
~
Not really but it fit
You don't have to move you can sit
Anyone can do laughter yoga Sis
Anyone can do this
~
So try it out when you can
Smile ups and laughter breaths man
Can make your day better
No regrets for trying and a letter
of appreciation for your efforts
Well, I will be paid which supports
those efforts. Laugh and smile more
It will get you many benefits and many adore
you more than you ever expected,
and be called "The lady who laughs" and respected.
~~~~