Guest of Mike the Chameleon

/0 Comments/in , /by

I was invited by Mike the Chameleon for lunch.

WOW! I had a great experience. And I learned a new trick.

Having the chance to be invited by a guy who has 10MILLION subscribers on TikTok, that’s something!!!

The scope of Mike the Chameleon’s teachings is impressive.

He records language vignettes to teach English, and even I, who am fairly bilingual, learn something! HAHA!

But the way he approaches the issues he raises in his videos is really different. He doesn’t take himself seriously! He’s having fun and playing. It’s obvious he’s having fun doing what he does. And it’s probably to his warm personality and playful manner that he owes his great success.

Always respectful. Never inappropriate, vulgar or offensive. He succeeds in imparting knowledge with good humor.

I love it!

A few days ago, he made a video saying he’d reached 10 million subscribers. It blew my mind! For me, who has 194,000 subscribers (my friends all tell me that’s HUGE!), the notion of reaching 10 million people just blows me away!

I think he’s terrific and wish him long life, happiness and inspiration to continue doing what he does so masterfully well.

You know, don’t you, that it’s easier to learn when you’re in a good mood? He certainly does!

Want to see our live feed? Click here

And keep smiling!

Linda (if you’re looking for me on Insta and TikTok, I’m lindahahasister)

 

Do you have a healthy lifestyle?

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Big question. Is a healthy lifestyle important to you?

Is your answer yes?

  • You brush your teeth after every meal (or at least twice a day!).
  • You eat well.
  • You drink water.
  • You wash yourself.
  • You sleep 7 hours a night (when everything’s going well!).
  • You exercise a few times a week (even if it’s walking, it counts).
  • You take some time off.
  • You see friends.
  • You’re taking a vacation.
  • You laugh heartily for several minutes a day.

Did you say YES to all of these? Did you say NO to one or more? Then there’s something seriously missing from your healthy lifestyle. And I’m willing to bet that what’s missing is LAUGHTER!

Am I wrong?

When you know all the benefits of a good, energetic laugh (the kind that makes your belly move and sounds good), you wonder why we don’t allow ourselves to do it assiduously and daily!

Why aren’t we laughing more?

Because we adults are in our heads! And our heads are full of worries, responsibilities, performance ideas and so on. And when the head is full of “serious, important things”, there’s no room for a sense of humor.

That’s why I love laughter yoga so much. Because it allows me to maintain a healthy lifestyle and laugh at will even when my grown-up brain is busy dealing with grown-up problems!!! HAHAHA!

An experience

Would you like to experiment with me?

I suggest you do the exercise in this one-minute video with me. Just one minute of your time.

And let me know if you succeed – but to succeed, you have to WANT to laugh!

Let me know how you feel AFTERwards.

Come on. Just a minute. Here we go!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

 

My cat teaches me a lot about life

/0 Comments/in , , /by

My cat teaches me a lot about life and that’s great.

Anyone who has a pet will probably know what I’m talking about. And if you don’t, just imagine!

My cat is what we call “clingy”! I’ve always heard that cats, unlike dogs, are independent and come to see us when THEY decide to.

Well, well, well. Not mine!

He stays close to us most of the time. And if visitors arrive, he gives them a warm welcome and purrs lovingly.

The big show of love! Operation Charm 201!

What he’s taught me so far.
  • Eating at fixed times can be cool (He eats at 6am and 6pm and you should see him run down the stairs when he hears his tray of food spinning).
  • A full belly means you can relax (as proof, he always settles down for a little post-meal nap).
  • You need everything in the day: play, affection, food, observation and rest. If anything is missing from this list, it won’t do! (really not).
  • Even if we often eat the same thing (in his case, kibble), the important thing is to eat. And what’s more, if we’re HAPPY with the food that’s put in front of us, then (as they used to say) the deal’s “ketchup”!
  • Routine can be reassuring
  • Happiness can be really simple
  • When you have to isolate yourself to keep the peace, you can do it without offending anyone.
  • Staying close to loved ones is good for them too
  • We can express our needs to signal something (that we want to play, for example!).
  • When our loved ones come home, it’s important to express our joy at seeing them again.
  • Purring calms and soothes (my mistress)
  • Staring intently at the birds outside won’t scare them away
  • When the litter box is too full, it’s far from inviting
  • There’s nothing like the space right on your master’s feet for sleeping at night!

And what else?

Did you know that a cat can sleep up to 18 hours a day? It only has 6 hours of waking time left. The opposite of humans, in fact!

And as I’ve watched my cat live, I’ve realized that his life isn’t ideal. He has a routine that would drive me crazy, always eats the same thing (it’s actually better for his digestive system, but I’d hate it), sleeps a lot (ah, I’d like that!), always stays within the same walls (pity! space and new landscapes!!!), always sits in the same places (usually MY favourite chair!), always has the same haircut (eh!)… And yet, he seems really HAPPY!

Conclusion?

When you love and are loved, have food to eat and a place to curl up and sleep, everything else is perfect!

So what are we complaining about?

Laughter, joy and health

Linda and her cat

p.s. This post is not about changing the world! It’s more for fun that I wrote it 😉 And for YOUR amusement, here’s a video of him in loving action!

Happy birthday laughter yoga!

/0 Comments/in /by

Laughter yoga turns 27!

Today, March 13, 2022, is Laughter Yoga’s birthday.

Laughing for your health

According to the legend, Dr Madan Kataria, had the rather preposterous idea, on the morning of March 13, of inviting passers-by strolling through a public park in Mumbai to join him in laughing for a few minutes at the start of the day. He ended up laughing with 4 other people. Laughing mainly to relieve stress.

And what became the first laughter club began with people telling jokes to trigger beneficial laughter.

After a few weeks, they moved on to simulated, physical laughter. And that’s when the laughter yoga exercises began to be created.

27 years on, and still going strong

What is certain is that, what we practice as a method today, 27 years later, is something that took shape in a Mumbai park with a small group of people who CHOSE and DECIDED to laugh on a daily basis. Chosen and decided to laugh, breathe, socialize and take care of themselves.

Think about it. Start your day with a smile on your face and a lighter heart! How wonderful!

And it took someone who BELIEVED in it.

Laughter yoga turns 27!

27 years later, there are countless enthusiasts around the world. People of all races, nationalities, languages and cultures practice intentional laughter exercises to their heart’s content.

Of course, there are sometimes what I would call “additions” to the method itself. The session may have different “colors and flavors”. Depending on the facilitator, there may be games, dancing or singing.

Mine are more traditional and never involve the mind. Learning lyrics and choreographic movements requires memorization, which means using the mind, and I don’t do that.

It doesn’t matter, because the intention is always the same: to laugh for your physical, emotional, mental and, I would add, relational and spiritual health.

Happy 27th birthday to the method! And thanks to its founders, Madan and Madhuri Kataria!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

p.s. Would you like to try out some exercises? Come here

p.p.s. Did you know that we have several videos in the MEDIA section of our site?

 

 

 

 

When you’re proud of yourself…

/0 Comments/in , , /by

HA! Being proud of yourself. Does this happen to you often?

I closed one of my talks at the Good Mood Summit with a quote that basically said that we often spend weeks thinking about what’s difficult in our lives, but only celebrate what’s great for an hour.

It’s true. I too have a tendency to dwell on what’s not going so well.

I’ve just experienced something that makes me think about just that.

Today I was feeling tired and not particularly cheerful. It happens. I welcome and show kindness to myself when it does. I know it’s TEMPORARY.

My light space isn’t really about administration and web design. I usually leave that to those who have the talent. I’m meticulous. I have ideas. But what about detail and finishing? No patience for that. I was going to say I have no imagination either, but that’s not the case. I’m rather ignorant. And when you don’t know all the possibilities of something, you use it as little as possible, don’t you? Bingo!

Anyway, I was trying to solve a little technical problem with our newsletter subscriptions. For the past week, someone had been telling me that she was trying to subscribe without success. What’s more, she really wanted to receive the two gifts that come with the subscription (an infographic and an audio). I tried all sorts of ways, but nothing worked. I just couldn’t figure it out.

No need to panic.

So I called in Michael, my wonderful expert, who took the time to fix what seemed to be wrong. He also took the opportunity to activate the double option for entries. Safer, in his opinion.

Except that, in doing so, when I tried to add my address for testing, I received a welcome message in English. I really don’t like this kind of situation. So I searched for quite a while to find a place where I could modify this form! To no avail!

The beauty of all these online tools and programs is that when we pay to use them, they usually offer effective support. That’s the case with this provider. So I struck up a conversation with a certain Esmeralda and asked her my question. She took the time to write me a long paragraph explaining in detail what I needed to do. But I panicked a little! I asked her to stay with me for a few moments to “hold my hand” while I tried to rectify the situation. Which she did.

Eureka! After a few minutes, the mystery was solved and the form was translated into French. Hallelujah! Thanks Esmeralda and have a nice evening.

It didn’t stop there!

As I was about to leave the form, my finger touched a key that took me somewhere “magical”! I discovered the place from which I could modify the visuals and make the whole thing (all in all, very boring and not warm at all) more in the image of the School of Laughter Yoga, i.e. more colorful and lively!

YES!!!

And I’ve modified the header of these forms!

The sense of pride I felt friends!… All because I had just learned something I never knew existed! And I did it “by mistake”! All by myself!

You would have seen my back straighten, my smile widen, my eyes shine! Pride changed my energy of the moment!

So much so, that I’ve chosen to share it with you. To make my sense of pride last a little longer. To immortalize it! hahahaha!

So here’s a little challenge for you. What could you do to feel proud of yourself right now? Something big or small. Try a recipe with ingredients you don’t know? Walk a little farther than usual? Learn the words to a song in a foreign language? Complete a task that’s been weighing on you for a while?

TRY IT ON! Just try it!

and let me know how you’re getting on!

I’m going to continue celebrating this little victory over my “incompetence”!

WOOHOO!!! Tap on the shoulder and cheer up.

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

P.S. Even if you missed all 17 conferences of the Good Mood Summit live, you can now watch them all at your own pace by subscribing to Planète Joie!

Ending the day on a positive note

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

I don’t know about you, but I really like to end my work day on a positive note. I thought I’d share with you what I do to give you some ideas!

Here’s what I’m putting on the menu.

  1. Ending the day with a quick phone call to check in on someone – a customer, a colleague, a friend – just to say I’m thinking of them. It always makes them smile, and it’s good for both of us.
  2. Send an e-mail that says “Thank you” to someone. It’s a ritual that feels good.
  3. Taking the last 10 minutes to tackle a task we’ve been putting off is like taking that first bite of elephant before the next day. And elephants are eaten one bite at a time, as you well know!
  4. Tidy up your work surface to find a welcoming space the next morning.
  5. Completing one last task on your to-do list will give you a sense of accomplishment.
  6. Write down things to do the next day. It’s a great way to clear your mind and help you concentrate better the next day.
  7. Meditate for a few minutes. There are many applications that can help. Yes, it takes a bit of practice, but the benefits are enormous in terms of stress reduction. Don’t feel like meditating? Then take a series of breaths (cardiac coherence), smiling broadly.
  8. Research shows that simply performing the same ritual at the end of the working day became a way of closing up store and moving on. Turning off the lights, tidying up the desk…
  9. Take a moment to think about what went well, noting 3 things we’re grateful for, the small successes. The worse the day has gone, the more important this ritual is!
  10. Do something fun, dance, raise your arms to the sky and say “WOOHOO! The day is over”.

And what about you? What do you do to take a break between work and home? Especially now, when many people are telecommuting. It’s harder to “let go of work” while you’re on the way home – commuting time often sucks! It only takes a moment to switch from office space to family space. This makes it all the more important to plan the smiling transition between the two.

Have a nice evening!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

A low point happens to everyone

/0 Comments/in , /by

A low point happens to everyone. Mine too. I’m experiencing one right now.

Certainly, doing what I do, people don’t expect me to go through lows. Or at least, they expect …

“Come on, Linda! Laugh! It’ll get better!”

Every time I hear this phrase, I grit my teeth a little because, yes, laughing makes you feel better and gets you through the turmoil with a lighter heart, of course.

But…

The troughs are there. We mustn’t ignore them, put them off, or try to get out of them quickly at all costs. That wouldn’t solve anything. What’s more, I have the impression that trying to run away or forget would sometimes make things even worse.

Without going into too much detail, the past year has brought me some truly intense experiences. I accompanied a dear friend in the last months of her life in Toronto, and was with her right up to the end, when she was able to receive medical assistance in dying. A roller-coaster of emotions. It was a privilege to be with someone who had been in my life for almost 30 years, to celebrate her accomplishments, to be a loving, smiling and reassuring presence for her, to witness her generosity to so many during her all-too-short life. To accompany her towards “the great and beautiful never seen“.. Yes. A privilege.

It was a great challenge to stay the course, to remain faithful to my laughter yoga commitments (I do the sessions on Urgence Rire 3 times a week and on RigoloZoom once a week) in addition to my conferences and workshops with numerous groups and work teams. And yet I succeeded. Don’t ask me how! For a year.

This is when “the thing catches up with me”. After balancing everything for almost a year, my body is now asking me to slow down and take the time to rock gently. So I listen and do. I don’t try to pretend everything’s fine or chase after miracle solutions that will make the temporary discomfort disappear. I stay present and fully aware.

I’m sharing all this with you because I’m convinced that you may recognize yourself in what I’m writing today. You’re also going through the rough patches that sometimes occur in our lives. Those moments when we don’t really recognize ourselves. Wanting to shake things up so that the feeling of melancholy, grief, pain and gloom goes away and is replaced by calm, serenity, energy and good humor. We want the sun to shine… at all times.

And I find the expression “trough of the wave” a very good visual representation of what’s going on inside us and our emotions.

Have you ever been on a boat navigating rough seas (lakes or rapids)? If you’ve never experienced it, you’ve probably seen a film showing the sea breaking, the waves surrounding the ship and forming an impassable fortress, with breakers up to 9 meters high. The ups and downs of life.

If you’ve ever experienced a storm at sea, you probably remember how the ship feels when it’s at the top of the wave, and how it feels when it’s at the bottom. Even if we’re a little scared, we KNOW that we won’t stay at the top or the bottom of the wave! That both are stages and cycles that follow each other and PASS. Until the storm subsides.

Nicole Bourget, who taught me at university, used to hammer home the point that “what you resist persists”.

So I have no intention of resisting right now. I’m letting myself hit the bottom of the wave because I’m deeply convinced that I’m going to get back up and ride the crest of the next one!

There’s no need to run away from the storm. It’s here… and it’s TEMPORARY.

And that’s what I’ve been telling myself for the past few weeks. All this is TEMPORARY.

I live what I have to live in this experience and I KNOW that I’m not “like that” forever. The proof? I’m able to tell you all about it. In all simplicity and transparency. I’m able to do it because I’m CERTAIN! It’s TEMPORARY.

Let’s not give up hope.

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

p.s.: This is also what the CRYING LAUGHTER teaches us.

p.p.s.: I’ve inserted links to two wonderful songs that go well with what I’m writing here. The first by Michel Rivard (Le beau grand jamais vu) and the second by my friend Lucie Raîche (Un arbre à la terre).

p.p.p.s.: and to make sure I don’t forget, I put a reminder right there on the corner of my computer screen!

p.p.p.p.s.: The nice picture is by Amélie Montplaisir and it’s called “Surfeuse sereine” I have the reproduction in my office! Surfing the wave…

How about a hug to reduce your anxiety?

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Yes! How about a self-treatment to reduce anxiety?

Most of us suffer from anxiety from time to time. At least, we suffer from high levels of stress. Experts agree that chronic stress causes many problems, including insomnia, depression, exhaustion… and very serious illnesses.

And right now, when our whole world seems to be falling apart, when our usual landmarks have disappeared, hello STRESS AND ANXIETY! For many, the sense of security we once felt may be gone.

However, there are some simple, practical exercises that have been around for a long time that can help reduce or even eliminate this anxiety.

I’ve discovered an exercise that can be practised at any time when anxiety strikes. It is also suggested as a daily practice to help increase our inner security on a daily basis. It not only helps us feel grounded, but also more balanced physically, mentally and emotionally.

It’s a“self-cuddling” exercise derived from a technique developed by trauma and stress expert Dr. Peter Levine. I’ve made a video here to demonstrate how it works. Click on the link to do it with me.

How to exercise self-care

Before starting the exercise, I’d like you to think of your body as a container, not just for your physical organs and systems, but also for your emotions. It’s all in our bodies. Keep in mind that if you feel anxious, it’s because your “system” doesn’t feel safe. So we aim to maintain feelings of security within ourselves through“self-cuddling“. In this way, we dominate overflowing emotions such as anxiety.

You can do the exercise standing up or sitting down.

  • Place your right hand under your left arm, just under the armpit.
  • Then place your left hand on your right shoulder.
  • Feel the loving embrace you give each other.
  • Inhale slowly to the count of four and exhale to the count of seven.
  • Note the sensations in your body.
  • How are you feeling?

You can continue to breathe slowly and deeply, or normally. Stay in this position for as long as you need, until you feel calm and more relaxed. This may take 30 seconds or several minutes. The idea is to stay present to our sensations and emotions. Without judging them.

You pay attention, you breathe, you relax and you give yourself a big dose of love. All this helps calm your nervous system.

It’s another great technique that works very gently. A self-cuddle to reduce anxiety!

Well, of course, laughter also works little miracles in the body! You don’t have to convince me of this, and if you haven’t already experienced it, I invite you to laugh intentionally and energetically for two or three minutes. Then watch your body and mind calm down. Need a little boost? Do the exercises with me here

So the next time you feel the anxiety creeping up on you, when your stress level is too high, give yourself a nice loving hug… and laugh!

It really works!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

A great lesson in fear

/0 Comments/in , , /by

I’ve just read a text that teaches me a great lesson about fear.

The fear of failing, of being ridiculous, of missing the mark… and I’m sharing this text with you here.

From “A Year of Living Consciously” by G. Hendricks.

Babe Ruth once said: “Don’t let the fear of missing the ball get to you” And who better to know than the famous Yankee player. While hitting all those home runs, he also missed MORE THAN ANY other player. So what? When we think of Babe Ruth today, we don’t think of all his strikeouts. Babe Ruth and home runs are forever associated in our minds.

So here’s the question: What would be the equivalent of hitting a home run for you? Would it be writing a poem, or cooking soup, or going to college? And on the other hand, what would it be like for you to be “taken out of the game”? To write a poem no one would like? To cook a not-so-good soup? To be rejected?

Now notice that, in all these cases, the second possibility can’t happen without the first. Withdrawal can’t happen if we don’t try to hit the ball first. And another thing – it’s rarely the things we try to accomplish that fail that trouble us later in life. It’s ALWAYS the things WE DON’T TRY that trouble us.

Take risks and try things you’ve been thinking about but haven’t dared yet. And who cares if your soup doesn’t make it into Campbell’s great recipes? You’ve tried it! Just trying feels good!

So I ask you now: What are YOU going to try NOW?

For my part, I know there’s something I’ve been thinking about for months. Something I’d like to create and have been “working” on for a long time, but haven’t accomplished because I was afraid I wouldn’t be “good enough” for it. Of not being able to.

Well, I’m I’LL GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY. We’ll see what happens! If I fail, at least I’ll have tried!

Just thinking about it made me smile… and sparkle. Half fear, half excitement! BUT I’M MOWING!

Stay tuned!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

P.S. Why don’t you write down what you’re going to try? Just so you’ve told someone, to force you to take action? I’d love to be your cheerleader! info @ yogadurire . com

Love is everywhere

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

That’s the conclusion I came to yesterday as I received love from someone who might have seemed more than unlikely.

Love is everywhere.

Not many people are aware of this, but I’ve been in Toronto for just over a month now on an important mission. That of accompanying a great friend in her last moments of human life. Important, difficult, sad, magnificent, privileged. Qualifications that go well with what’s happened.

This friend has been a big part of my life for almost 30 years. First of all, she was my boss when I worked at the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, where I came to know her as a determined, solid, visionary, generous woman, sometimes challenging but always right. A bit of a bulldozer, but above all the kind who SEES the potential in her employees and forces them to excel.

A few months after she left that job, we saw each other again “socially” and over the months became friends. Going from “you” to “you” had been a challenge for me!

From weekends at his house in the country, to summer sojourns in Maine, in what became a veritable haven where we could recharge our batteries after months of grueling work, and where we always arrived exhausted and ready to clear our heads, we have accumulated memories of complicity and smiles.

During the last month I was with her, we reminisced about the little places we explored together, on the lookout for amusing or useful finds. Antique shops where she liked to rummage. Beautiful landscapes… She told me about her travels, the people she met, the challenges she overcame, the hard knocks, the beauty of the world.

I have no other friend who, when I ask her what rose petals do in a small container, says “It’s from a rose on Mother Teresa’s coffin when I went to the funeral with Madame Chrétien and the Canadian delegation” or when I sort through her photos and ask her if that’s her with Queen Elizabeth “I was introduced to her twice” or “This photo was taken with… in a leprosarium in India” or “I bought this in a market near…” naming a remote country where most people will never set foot, where men weave magic carpets and the entire village performs a creative task for its survival.

She left last Thursday. Serene, with a heart full of gratitude, surrounded by love and sunshine. I was with her.

Messages started pouring in from friends around the world. All expressed sadness, but also joy and gratitude for having had her in their lives. A larger-than-life woman. Not perfect – far from it – but a woman who was doing her bit to make the world a fairer and more beautiful place.

She left. And I stayed to complete the beginning of the second part of my mission. A little numb. Deeply moved and honored to have been able to be with her at the end of this life journey.

Yesterday, I had undertaken some administrative tasks. Sorting, filing, tidying to keep my brain busy and try to see things more clearly.

A week ago, I asked for a replacement for my laughter yoga sessions with URGENCE RIRE and Rire en ligne (Corinne’s sessions in France). I didn’t practice my intentional laughter exercises as assiduously as usual. Tears took priority! I stayed strong for months and it was time to let them out. And they did!

So yesterday, I decided to take over my 4 p.m. (Quebec time) slot and propose a 10-minute session of intentional but gentle laughter, so as not to rush myself and to avoid suddenly bursting into tears, as has been happening to me over the past few days. We did 10 minutes together. And it did me a lot of good. I didn’t laugh out loud, but I was laughing and it felt good.

I had one last task to complete before the end of the afternoon: go to the bank to notify them of my friend’s death and initiate the transfer of the account to that of the estate. I had met them several times over the past few weeks, and they were very thoughtful and kind to me. I stood firm while the person in charge explained what was going to happen and how I was going to proceed. It was on the way out that I “lost my temper” and started crying, even though I was on the sidewalk at a time of heavy traffic. I couldn’t move forward. I just stood there crying. And people passed by me indifferent and in a hurry to get home.

Until a man walking towards me, dressed really extravagantly and worthy of a suit assembled from donated clothes, looked at me and said, “What’s wrong honey? Tell me. I am Mother Nature and I can help” The look so full of compassion and love. “What’s wrong honey? Tell me. I am Mother Nature and I can help”.

This banged-up itinerant had stopped to console me… wanted to help me with my grief.

I couldn’t help thinking that, for weeks now, I’ve been seeing homeless people in the neighborhood every day, and that people pass by them without stopping, but also that I’ve never felt reassured by seeing so many of them. A man who screams and gesticulates and seems to be in crisis is not reassuring, I agree. And unfortunately, we come across too many of them these days. Drugs? Mental health? I don’t know, but I walk fast when I go out in this neighborhood.

And this man who’d been talking to himself a few moments earlier had stopped to give me a little love as the other passers-by went by.

I wanted to take him in my arms to thank him and welcome him back.

COVID oblige, I told him, wiping my eyes, that he had just done me a lot of good. “This, my dear, is worth a whole lot of brownie points in heaven. You are a dear dear man”. Vous êtes très très précieux cher homme” And he went on his way, blowing me a kiss with his hand. Without asking.

Love came to me on a street corner in an unlikely and life-saving way. Comfort came from someone who certainly needed it as much as I did. A small moment of profoundly and intensely luminous humanity.

Lessons learned: look with the eyes of the heart. Do not judge. Don’t be afraid. Love is everywhere.

HAHAmaste

Laughter, joy and health

Linda