Can’t you laugh right now?

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Can’t laugh right now? For any number of reasons, laughter may not be an option for you right now.

I’m chatting on Messenger with a friend who had a big scare yesterday. She was rushed to hospital and underwent heart surgery. Young, fit, active, eating well… and yet she had a massive heart attack.

A friend with whom I was discussing the matter said he was surprised because, according to him, it’s “more men who are affected by heart disease”! Sadly, no. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Quebec, “a third more women than men die of stroke in this country. Women with heart failure are more affected than men.”

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

I’ve already told you about the research Dr. Michael Miller has undertaken at the University of Maryland, where he is a professor and researcher in the School of Medicine. I told you about it in a video I made when I returned from the American Laughter Yoga Conference in 2018. Watch the video here Laughing is EXCELLENT for our heart health. If only because laughing will “zap” the harmful effects of stress, I’m convinced of the positive effects of laughter on our cardiac system.

So I suggested that my friend imagine that she was laughing out loud. To feel the energy of laughter in her body at rest after her surgery. By closing her eyes, by “pretending” she was laughing out loud. But above all, to pay close attention to how she feels as she imagines herself laughing. To feel intensely. Because she’ll reap the benefits of this physical visualization.

I have a little theory about that, you see.

Several years ago, when I was immobilized with a shoulder injury that made my every move hurt like hell, I found myself unable to laugh out loud. IN CA PA BLE! For a pro in daily practice, this is not an easy thing to live with.

That’s when a colleague suggested I imagine I was laughing. And I tried it.

To my amazement and delight, I found that I relaxed, felt lighter and smiled more. Just imagining and feeling it very strongly in my body.

When I’m laughing out loud, I know how it feels. And I feel great!

So the power of our mind allows us to FEEL the well-being of our body, which is laughing. Hello endorphins and goodbye tension!

I’m extending an invitation to you. Try it! You don’t have to wait until you can’t laugh to try it. Just do it. Just to see if… And let me know how it goes. Because I’m curious to know if you’ve dared to do it!

But I know it works miracles. HAHAHA!

And I’m convinced of that.

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

Have you spoken to your adrenal glands recently?

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Right now, we’re seeing an increase in adrenal fatigue. What is adrenal fatigue? It seems to be the new buzzword for sheer exhaustion. And I assure you, it’s very real, especially for those living in a constant state of high stress. Continual stress also means adrenal fatigue!

There are many things you can do to energize your adrenal glands. I’m not a health specialist, but I would suggest relaxing the adrenal glands to slow down the release of cortisol and adrenaline in the body. By doing so, you’ll allow the glands to reset (reboot) on their own.

How to get there

A great way to do this is through meditation, or more precisely, what my friend Cathy Wildschuetz calls the body scan technique. If you’ve never experienced a body scan, I recommend you do!

It’s hard to explain the relaxation that occurs with a body scan. The way the body relaxes and unwinds, the way the organs inside the body relax as the muscles do. It’s wonderful, and since Cathy introduced me to it, it’s become one of my favorite techniques. Apart from laughing, of course!

Talking to your body?

During the body scan, we command certain parts of the body to rest. Yes, I said “command”. And when I get to the adrenal glands, I ask them to relax and tell them they’re safe, that I don’t need them right now.

Okay, so it’s possible that you’ve never talked to your body before. However, it’s proven that by focusing our attention on what we want or need, our body will respond. And why am I telling these little glands that they’re safe? Well, they’re the central glands for cortisol and adrenalin in the body!

So, when we’re under a great deal of stress, like the one we’ve been dealing with for several months, our bodies use these hormones to regulate our emotions. With constant stress and fear, our bodies are flooded with these hormones, resulting in fatigue.

Are you beginning to understand why I’m talking about these glands? YES!

By telling them you’re safe, you stop this process and give them a chance to “reset”, to recharge. Even if you leave the body scan meditation and find yourself in a stressful situation, this reset will help the glands differentiate between the need to turn on the little faucet rather than the big garden hose! As a result, they’ll be able to better regulate the production of stress hormones in your body. You’ll have them in your body, but not in staggering quantities! It’s healthier.

Taking a break is vital to our health. It’s much easier to schedule time to relax our adrenal glands than to drive ourselves to exhaustion or burn out when it’s not in our plans! Someone said to me a few weeks ago, “I’m taking my vacation now and I’m doing it before my body chooses a time that won’t work for me.” Good idea, don’t you think?

So talk to your adrenal glands today, and if you need help, use the short meditation my friend Cathy recorded for you below. And I did it in French! You’re worth the joy! Your body deserves it.

Laughter, joy and health

Linda
Cathy’s website: www.naturallyguidedhealth.com

How’s confinement working out for you?

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Hello! How’s confinement working out for you?

I was talking to a fellow speaker this morning and he said that everything was going well for him, his wife and their children. However, he’s very worried about his mom, who’s in an old people’s home. She’s almost deaf, so it’s impossible to call her on the phone. For almost a month now, he’s heard nothing from her. It must be terribly difficult.

At least, even if they’re far away, I can talk to and see my parents thanks to Messenger and Skype. I know they’re together, healthy and safe in their home.

The situation we now find ourselves in is so far from any scenario we could have imagined! Reality meets fiction!

I was watching Andrea Bocelli’s live broadcast on YouTube from the Duomo in Milan on Easter Sunday. The cathedral was empty. The cathedral square was deserted. I well remember the crowds that used to gather there when I was there a few years ago! And today… nobody walks there! The images from Paris, London and New York of empty thoroughfares… it was chilling! When you consider that all these places are frequented by thousands of people at all hours of the day and night, it was a nightmarish vision we were shown. But at the same time, it’s a good sign. It means that people are staying at home to avoid the spread of the virus. That people are taking the instructions seriously and thinking of each other.

Still…

More than 30 days of confinement… that’s tough!

I avoid going out for anything other than fresh air and essential food shopping.

I’m busy with several projects.

First, I collaborated with my colleague Corinne Cosseron in France to set up an intentional laughter “circuit” offering 3 blocks of time to laugh for 10 minutes each time.

Then I created Urgence Rire to allow people in our Canadian time zones to benefit from 10 minutes of intentional laughter several times a day. I have to admit, it took me a long time! Technology is miraculous right now when we can talk to our families and see them through all this. But when things get stuck and we don’t understand why, we can spend many hours… which is what I did! After a few attempts, things got back on track and we now offer over 30 “windows of laughter” a week in Quebec. Not to mention all the possibilities with French schools! It’s all wonderfully beneficial and liberating. I’d like to thank the animators and teachers who donate their time!

And this morning, I put the finishing touches to a “Containment 2020” idea kit. In a few minutes, I’ll be sending it out to my newsletter subscribers. My intention is to offer ideas for doing something creative, constructive and rewarding during confinement. Stuck at home, maybe. But you don’t have to stay in your pyjamas all day, watching time go by!

I continue to make my cuckoo clocks live on Facebook every day. I call it Operation Hope and Good Humor! Would you like to see it but aren’t on Facebook? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered, because we’re putting the whole thing on the Laughter Yoga School YouTube channel! hahaha! In the Coronavirus playlist. And if you subscribe, you’ll never miss one!

Not an easy task…

A rollercoaster of emotions some days. From laughter to tears. Anger and frustration sometimes creep in.

LOVE… radiate love. Feel love. Sending love. Flood the world with love. To love and forgive ourselves. Love yourself. Like in James Taylor’s wonderful song “Shower the people” ( chills guaranteed).

What about you? How’s confinement working out for you? Write to me and tell me about it, your favorite recipe, your favorite activity… Talk to us!

I wish us an abundance of love and health

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

 

Let our emotions run wild!

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Let our emotions flow… there’s nothing more HEALTHY!

At a certain point in my life, I believed – wrongly, you’re right – that I should never be angry. That it’s wrong to be angry.

Well, no! It’s far from bad. In fact, it’s good. What isn’t is the way it’s sometimes expressed. When it ends up in violent gestures. People then express their angry emotions in the wrong way.

I found an illustrated series on the web a few days ago and these innocent little drawings really spoke to me. I felt moved as I unrolled the screen. It’s so true! You can’t repress a desire to drink. So why should we repress a feeling?

When we wrote our book The Yoga of Laughter, Corinne Cosseron and I were determined to include a section on emotions. Laughing is good (very, very good indeed!), but just because we laugh doesn’t mean we should ignore our emotions! They speak to us, telling us that something isn’t right. And we have to let them speak.

When I give talks to certain groups of people who work in a profession where we have to remain neutral – I’m thinking here of police officers, for example – I tell them that it’s very important to reserve a space for ourselves where our emotions can continue to tell us things. These people can’t really let themselves be overwhelmed by them because of the neutral role they play in society, but it’s important not to continually ignore them. They won’t disappear, but they will be repressed… and what pushes its way out, ends up coming out in ways that aren’t always acceptable or healthy.

People sometimes think I laugh all the time. Because that’s what I teach, I should laugh all the time? Pffffff… make me laugh! I feel my share of emotions, just like any normal, well-balanced human being. I experience anger, sadness and joy. The whole gamut! I’m not always attentive to what my emotions are telling me. I’m learning too!

But when I feel anger building up, I take the time to ask myself what’s going on and why I’m feeling this emotion. If I’m in the car and stressed by traffic or road conditions, I welcome that anger and thank it… When I feel sad, I listen to what that little voice is telling me… and I take the time to “rock myself”, to comfort myself, to say words of love to myself.

I’m not trying to cheer myself up at all costs! No. If that’s what’s coming up, then I listen. And, by not ignoring what’s going on inside me, I somehow make peace with life… and then I can move on with more serenity.

There’s nothing to do! We’re all human. Creatures with human experiences. Not always pleasant. Not always fair. Simply human!

Do these illustrations speak to you too? Let me know what you think.

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

n.b. These lovely illustrations are by Fanny, Wellness Artist.

A very true quote

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Last week, I attended several networking events. At one of them, one of the speakers said something that made me realize just how far I’ve come. Do it and do it until you get it right.

Do it… again and again and again and again. Until you get it right.

It’s so true!

Think about it. When a child learns to walk, he falls, and falls, and falls! Does he get discouraged and stop trying to get up and move forward? NOT. AT ALL. AT ALL! He keeps going… until he succeeds! That’s his goal and he KEEPS GOING!

Hey boy… the number of times I’ve tried to do something and, because on the second try I didn’t get the results I wanted, I stopped… Crazy!

Perseverance or stubbornness?

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that it’s easy to get discouraged after a few unsuccessful attempts. Not that I give up when something doesn’t work out, but rather that I don’t know whether I’m being persistent or stubborn! It’s a small but important nuance.

 

In my opinion, perseverance enables us to achieve our goals, realize our potential and succeed in things we believe in. The definition I found on the web basically says this: To apply one’s will, to use patience to pursue an action despite difficulties, to remain firm in a resolution, an opinion, an attitude.

Stubbornness on the other hand has a more negative connotation for me. If I’m stubborn about something, then I’m stubborn! The image that accompanies this concept of stubbornness is that of a billy goat running into a wall. He’s charging and charging and charging headfirst… and that’s not very positive! Obstinate, unreasoning attachment to an opinion or bias.

In the case of the sentence that made me react, it’s all about perseverance. And when the goal is worthwhile, when it’s something that’s good for my health, that’s good for humanity, then that’s a very positive thing! and I buy that!

When I tell you that hearing those words made me realize how far we’ve come, I was thinking of several things.

To my beginnings on two legs, trying to stand up and move forward, of course, but also and above all, to all the effort I put into becoming what I am today. Building a business that allows me to laugh, spread good cheer, reduce my own stress and help others reduce theirs… to laugh EVERY DAY! That’s no mean feat!

A difficult start

 

I’ll always remember my first experience with laughter yoga. Oh, how uncomfortable I was with the idea of laughing for no reason! Oh how I remember the thought that crossed my mind that morning as I was told I should laugh after saying my first name, laugh after saying where I was from, laugh after saying what I did for a living!“Uh… no! That’s vrrrrrrrrrreally not funny! And why should I laugh if it’s not funny?!”

But I had paid for my internship and I had DECIDED to give it a try. I had CHOSEN to see what could happen and if it could help me. Thank God I persevered! Much to my delight!

To this day, I often hear people tell me that they could never do what I do. That they’d never be able to laugh “at nothing” as naturally as I do!

Well, I’d tell them Do it and do it until you get it right! Don’t stop because you think it’s too strange, too left-field. Just keep at it! You’ll see that in the end you’ll succeed, and you’ll feel BETTER and HAPPIER!

Yes!

Doesn’t that give you a little extra pep to continue what you want to do or what you’ve started? Don’t be discouraged! You’re walking on your own two feet now? Are you? You’ve got the proof!

Inspiration comes from everywhere, when you least expect it!

I give you a big smile. I tilt my head back a little and laugh happily and freely!

Laughter, joy and health

Your HAHA Sister, Linda

 

 

 

One more day in 2020!

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Hahaha! I just realized that 2020 is a leap year and we have an extra day on the calendar!

It’s so perfect!

I have two brothers. One of them is lucky (or unlucky) enough to have been born on February 29. So he celebrates his real birthday every four years. As if he didn’t age the other three years! Ha!

Why am I telling you this? Because I’m feeling feverish and bubbly at the thought of an extra day, and because my brother will be celebrating his birthday this year, which makes it special! Not necessarily because 2020 is full of promises, projects and travel! No.

I can’t wait to see what’s possible this year alone. Of all the MORE that will be. Of all the celebrations that will make people smile, sing and dance. Of all the activities we never do in “normal” times, but will do in 2020 because we have an extra day!

….

We often wait for special occasions to do something, wear something we like, drink a certain wine…

So let’s try something new this leap year.

Take out your beautiful dishes every day. Place a candle on the table every evening. Drink from your Crystal glass, your fine china cup. Use your finest cutlery, your most beautiful tablecloth. Wear your beautiful “weekday” dress, your colorful tie. Make yourself beautiful! Just for fun! Don’t wait until February 29 to celebrate!

I can tell you right now that I intend to do everything I’m suggesting here!

I intend to do all that. A little bit every day. To stop waiting for “something special to happen”. Because every day is special! Even more so this year!

Wishing you a very happy, very happy, very especially ordinary New Year! May 2020 make us all AWARE of the beauty of each day – even if the coating sometimes smells bad!

Health, laughter and joy

Your Haha Sister, Linda

 

In search of happiness?

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Last November, I spent several days at the Salon du livre de Montréal, and as I wandered the aisles, one thing struck me. It’s mind-boggling how many books are published on the pursuit of happiness. How to be happier. What to do to feel happier.

I get internet alerts almost daily that articles have been written on this topic. (Yes, I’ve created alerts! HAHAHA! I draw my attention to the beautiful…)

“5 must-haves for happiness…”, “150 quotes to be happy”, “Happiness is within your reach”, “What do happy people do…”, “What you absolutely must know about happiness”. “Don’t do this anymore and you’ll be happy”. And the list goes on!

Whew! Every day, people suggest things to do or not to do to find (or rediscover) happiness! If there’s one thing we all have in common, it’s that we all want to be happy!

I search, you search, we search

It got me thinking. Why are there so many books, articles and columns on the pursuit of happiness? Do we believe that one book will give us the infallible, “ready-to-use” recipe without our having to make any effort? Why do we need to be reminded that happiness can be found in all sorts of little things? In our daily lives? In the bright eyes of a child eating his favorite food. In the song of the birds. In the smell of bread, the smell of apple purée simmering on the stove, the smell of flowers or the clementine we’re about to eat (they’re in season right now, and that smell makes me sparkle!). In the amused gaze of a colleague with whom we’ve just exchanged a joke. In the satisfaction of having accomplished something good. In the synchronicity that puts green lights on our way to work…

As the decade draws to a close, I invite you to make an important list. Write down a minimum of 50 things that make you happy. Things that make you feel good. Your 50 “happinesses”. And keep this list in sight. So you don’t forget! So you can dip into it when you need it. When things aren’t going so well.

I challenge you

And I’m doing it with you too.

I’ve even created a sheet so we can write it all down. It is here in pdf format, easy to print!

Challenge issued. Challenge accepted!

And share YOUR finds with me! Who knows, I might just add them to my own list! Nothing’s stopping me from going to 75, 100 or, why not, 200!

Shall we do it? Let’s do it!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

P.S. Want to see a list of books on happiness? I simply typed “books on happiness” into Google and this is what I found – only on Amazon… And even more here, what Mrs. Google gives me…

Why is it so destabilizing?

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Laughing at nothing… Why is it so destabilizing for us serious, stressed-out adults?

I was listening to a report on Radio-Canada’s Medium Large program this morning, and the host, Catherine Perrin, was talking to a columnist about laughter. In fact, about the false beliefs associated with laughter.

Naturally, my curiosity was piqued!

For example, they said the following:

  1. A good laugh is the equivalent of a session at the gym. Laughing burns a few calories, but not many. Not enough to make it worthwhile.
  2. Just because we laugh doesn’t mean it’s funny. Now we know!
  3. The monkeys laugh too. Of course you can! Many species can laugh. We just don’t know how to decode!
  4. It’s laugh-out-loud funny. That. I’d say we can die from not laughing enough!
  5. “Pre-recorded laughter” is effective. Our brains are equipped with laughter detectors—just like yawn detectors—so we feel the urge to laugh when we hear laughter… even if it’s “pre-recorded.”

However, laughter is an important social component and improves our communication.

A few years ago, I had asked that same host to mention the World Laughter Day celebrations taking place that year in Montreal’s Old Port. Her team seemed a little perplexed by the concept of laughter yoga.

And the more I listened to them this morning, the more I wondered how it is that the concept of intentional laughter is so destabilizing for adults?

If the columnist had said that laughter makes you lose weight, I can only imagine the number of people who would have rushed to sign up for classes!

But while laughing doesn’t make you lose weight (at least not enough to be worth mentioning), laughing is tremendously good for your health! On every level! Physically, mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually (yes, I dare say it!).

Laughter is a PHYSICAL process. Humor is a MENTAL process. In laughter yoga, we know this very well! We practice intentional laughter to, in a way, develop our sense of humor. The more we laugh—even intentionally—the more we find things funny. It’s like a workout!

Curiously, many adults have difficulty with this concept – intentional laughter means laughing “at nothing” – and yet they all understand the benefits of the stationary bike or the treadmill… and yet we’re going nowhere! But we keep going! HAHAHA!

Conclusion? What if we ALLOW ourselves to try? What could be worse than finding ourselves laughing out loud and saying, “This is crazy, but it works!

And IT FEELS GOOD!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

P.S. Give it a try and let me know what you think! I’ve included a short audio clip to help you out.

Touching moments with seniors

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Last Friday, I had the privilege of sharing some very touching moments with a group of seniors in Montreal. Very touching indeed.

I took part in a shoot for Fernand Dansereau’s next film – Le Vieil âge et l’Espérance.

I met Fernand in 2011, I think—the year he was shooting his film *Le Vieil âge et le rire*, in which laughter yoga played a small part. This man is the kind of person who honors us with his friendship. Filmmaker, director, screenwriter—we owe him so many films and TV series! Many of the films Fernand Dansereau was involved in as a producer have won a whole string of national and international awards. In fact, *Le Vieil âge et le rire* won the Audience Favorite Award at the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois! His body of work is so rich and extensive that I invite you to check out the list on Wikipedia!

Anyway, last Friday I was with a lovely group of 10 seniors, all aged between 80 and… 98. The cameras, pole and microphone intimidated us all at the start of the laughter yoga workshop. But as we progressed through the exercise, the more I saw the eyes sparkle with pleasure and the less we were bothered by the technique. Something wonderful happened between us: a complicity of laughter, joy and good humor.

Positive attitude

Despite the weight of years, physical restrictions and cognitive loss, many of the participants I asked to let go of their worries responded: I have nothing to let go of! I’m all right! I’m not hurt. I’m just fine.

This positive, serene attitude gave me a lot to think about on my way back to Ottawa.

If senior citizens in long-term accommodation, old and even very old, in wheelchairs and walking frames, tell me that everything is fine, what do I have to complain about sometimes? I go where I want, I eat what I want, I see who I want… Yes, I have occasional physical aches and pains. Yes, I have annoyances. But me too, I’m Fine and All’s Well, so it’s a choice? Well… Maybe so after all! As Sonia DiMaulo taught me in the spring, by keeping my words positive, I attract more positivity to myself!

These seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease, with serious physical challenges… and no longer “young”, I saw them happy and serene. After experimenting with a few laughter yoga exercises adapted to their condition, I saw them smiling, cheeks rosy, eyes bright.

I practice what I teach?

I was a bit nervous when I arrived… It’s never a foregone conclusion when I’m working with groups. Will they like what I suggest? Will they be able to overcome their initial embarrassment and let themselves laugh… at nothing? How will they react? And last Friday, I was feeling a little extra stress because the technical crew was going to be watching my every move and filming for Fernand’s movie. I often say this when I’m training facilitators or teachers: the focus shouldn’t be on us, but rather on the people who are with us when we’re leading a workshop. That’s why I can laugh at myself—because it probably took me a good five minutes to stop worrying about whether my hair looked okay on camera, whether I’d be able to get these people to participate, or whether I’d be “good enough”! Hahahaha! — Yes, yes! I’m laughing at myself!!

My lessons.

In the end, what I took away from this exercise was the following:

  • Do your best and forget the rest… it doesn’t belong to you – Learn to let go.
  • When you DECIDE to take things positively, they become positive.
  • Age is a funny concept… it’s possible to be 98 and look 80!
  • After a while, if we’re busy, we stop seeing the disturbing elements – Focus on what matters.
  • You can do lots of important or fun things at any age – Thank you Fernand for showing me so beautifully.
  • Even if we sometimes forget, our childlike heart is never far away – the mischievous eyes bore witness to this.
  • The good old songs of yesteryear stay with us – I’ve seen them humming with Doris Day
  • And as my grandmother Éva’s favourite song says, the heart never gets old! – Despite the wrinkles!

Fernand Dansereau, I’m honoured by your presence in my life! Thank you for allowing me to experience such beautiful and extraordinary things!