Smile with a mask?

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Have you noticed that it’s harder to see a smile when wearing a mask? Half the face is covered, leaving only the eyes to detect facial expression.

When we pass people walking in the streets or parks, we keep our distance – which, on the one hand, makes us feel safer, but, on the other, also distances us emotionally. Whenever I walk, I notice that most people walk while looking at the ground… as if looking at each other were going to be a contaminant!

If science is studying the impact of masks to reduce the spread of COVID, it is also studying the impact of smiling on humans. Mask and smile… How to reconcile the two?

Sharing a smile creates a bond. It sends a signal of comfort and human warmth – something we sorely need right now. Mask or no mask!

Smiling at another person activates physiological changes by triggering neurotransmitters associated with well-being. These include oxytocin – the love hormone, which circulates when we feel a shared connection – endorphins, which promote a sense of ease and calm, and even serotonin – all those wonderful hormones that are also natural antidepressants, which activate when we feel good about ourselves, laugh or think about some of the good moments in our day.

Right now, this visual cue is even more important than ever, as many of us are not doing well. Autumn is here, the days are shorter and we’re preparing – in Quebec at least – to “go into our caves” for winter. Many of us suffer from seasonal depression and look forward to November with apprehension.

When we feel socially isolated or deprived of human contact, smiling becomes an essential link with normal life. Without our usual means of social interaction, of which smiling is an important part, we unconsciously run the risk of rewiring our brains to fear and anxiety. This is particularly worrying in children, given the elasticity of their brains and the rapid formation of their neurons.

Research has already established a link between the negative impact of not sharing a smile and so-called “subjective happiness” – including in people who use Botox, as it restricts facial movement, suppresses laughter or smile lines. Interesting, isn’t it?

So how can we make sure we still get our daily dose of happiness and connection while wearing a mask? How can we, for the sake of children and young people, find ways to express our smiles?

Even if our mouths are hidden, we can still share a certain intimacy with each other.

We have to smile more widely – so much so that our eyes light up.

A sincere smile triggers a whole series of changes in our brain and autonomic nervous system. We’re more relaxed and therefore less anxious.

To your smile, you could also add a friendly gesture. Wave, wink or raise your eyebrows in a friendly way. Find other creative ways to express your smile; make a mask with a hand-painted smile or a decal like the one my cousin Joëlle my cousin Joëlle (By the way, I invite you to listen to the episode of L’Élément JOIE where she is my guest. You’ll hear the smile in her voice). Wear a mask with a transparent part. Smile broadly!

And “watch” people. Be even more kind to each other. When we’re masked, our ability to sense whether someone is doing well can also be masked.

Can’t we see your face? Take the opportunity to smile ALL THE TIME! You won’t look weird in a crowd because… you’re wearing a mask over your smile! Make your eyes smile! And let me know if you feel the difference the next time you’re out in the fresh air or in a public place, proudly wearing your smile under your mask!

It’s a fact!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

 

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

We laugh to ward off fear… and viruses!

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Note: you’ll find all the links behind the orange words!

The whole world is shaking right now, and it’s time to LAUGH TO STAY CENTERED! We laugh to chase away the fear and the virus!

Since March 12, I’ve been doing on my personal Facebook page every day to encourage us to do things that keep our energy higher. That help us look up instead of down. Do things and make CHOICES! And of course, we laugh together!

Once completed each day, I place these videos on the the Laughter Yoga School YouTube channel (because, of course, not everyone is on FB!) where you can watch them and get inspired.

To prevent the spread of the virus, all places where laughter yoga sessions were held were closed. However, opportunities to laugh together online flourished here and there!

Many fellow Laughter Yoga facilitators, teachers and masters around the world have offered to host shorter Laughter Yoga sessions or, more simply, intentional laughter sessions on the internet. (ZOOM will have seen its shares bounce back over the past week, as many groups meet virtually to exchange ideas and have a laugh. Our direct contacts may be limited, but our virtual communications are proliferating – much to our delight! Thanks for our sanity 😉

Reinforcements

Here are some links where you can see/hear yourself laughing – because laughing releases tension, lets go of fear and anxiety, and keeps you as calm and collected as possible. We take the means! And we CHOOSE JOY! – because the other alternatives aren’t valid right now! HAHAHA!

10 minutes

First, the link to the 10-minute mini-sessions on ZOOM.

How it works: You choose your time and click on the presenter’s photo. You’ll be directed to the meeting space on ZOOM. We laugh together for about 9 minutes and breathe calmly at the end. No talking. Just laughter.

It can be a little unsettling the first time, but give yourself the gift of doing it cheerfully and see how much better you feel afterwards. Do it as often as you like! And there are laughers from all over the world who’ll be with you.

Do you want to be with me?

I’m there Monday, Wednesday Wednesday and Thursday. If you’re in Europe, the times shown on the chart are yours. If you’re in North America, you’ll need to look at the world clock to make the calculation. France switches to daylight saving time on March 28, at which point there will be a 6-hour time difference between Quebec and France (6 hours LESS here)!

30 minutes

And also the link to the laughter yoga session I offer on Wednesday evenings at 7pm – 30 minutes of laughter yoga, breathing and relaxation exercises. Before going to bed with a smile on your face.

So there’s no excuse not to take the smiling steps to boost your immune system and chase away the blues and stress!

Humans are not made to be alone.

And in these times of upheaval, it’s reassuring to know that we can “see” each other, despite our enforced isolation!

Come and join us! It’ll do me as much good as it’ll do you! (Guess why I’m doing it…)

Take care of yourself. Wash your hands for 20 seconds while laughing. Think of others! Love yourself!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

 

My wishes for you

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I’ve decided to share my wishes for you as the decade draws to a close.

I want you to simply choose to be happy now, even if it’s only for a little while. Choose to be happy.

Just for a moment, the present moment, abandon the idea that “something has to change first” and choose to be happy. Just be happy.

How would it look if you gave it a try?

  1. Put aside all regrets – all the “I wish I or someone else had done things differently” – just for this moment. No regrets.
  2. Let go of worries about the future – it will be what it will be – and be present now. Without projecting yourself into what isn’t there.
  3. Choose something, anything, from wherever you are right now. Find it beautiful and breathe into it. Enjoy it.
  4. Let things be easy – just for a moment. Without forcing it.

And if you take pleasure in breathing in the beauty you see in this moment, I invite you to keep doing it in another moment, and another… and another. Stay in this state of bliss for as long as you feel it!

You know that believing we’ll only be happy “when” (complete the sentence), freezes us in place.

And it’s all there! The moment you pay attention to what’s around you and CHOOSE to be happy, you’ll change the game. No more waiting for happiness to arrive. Happiness is here! In this tiny moment you’re living. Yes, it’s here!

Practice being happy!

And if you get inspired, drop me a line and let me know how it goes!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

p.s. Yes, I admit it. It can be a challenge! And I sincerely believe it’s worth a try!

Change your body chemistry with a laugh?

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Change your body chemistry with a laugh? Think it’s impossible?

Think again! All our emotions, every little feeling, has an impact on our body’s chemical composition! What you see here are the effects of anxiety, depression, love, happiness… Impressive, isn’t it?

How emotions affect our body chemistry

Change your body chemistry with a laugh? Yes, you can!

Depression, anger, anxiety, love, good mood… watch the tubes fill up or empty. It’s not science fiction at all! hahaha! (although how you can make a little graph that moves is a mystery to me…)

Do you know your hormones?

First, dopamine. It’s an important neurotransmitter involved in many of our body’s systems. See an interesting video to explain its action more scientifically.

Serotonin is a central nervous system chemical messenger involved in a number of physiological functions such as sleep, aggression, eating and sexual behavior, as well as depression.

Among other things, the serotonin/dopamine balance ensures mood stability.

Oxytocin is often referred to as the love hormone! After a long hug, its level rises. It’s associated with empathy, trust and interpersonal relationships.

One of the hormones illustrated here is missing: endorphins. Endorphins are hormones secreted in the brain when we exert ourselves with moderate or vigorous intensity (De Matos et al., 2009). These neurotransmitters play several important roles. Indeed, when endorphin levels rise, the body allows our negative emotions and sensations to take a breather, fostering the emergence of a good mood and a sense of well-being. Not only does the secretion of these hormones contribute to well-being and pleasant sensations, they also influence the perception of pain and stress (De Matos et al., 2009). This chemical is said to have an anxiolytic effect, i.e. a substance that reduces sensitivity to anxiety and stress (reference on http://www.centrecircuit.com/fr/Pour-les-familles/Blogue/Juillet-2017/La-magie-des-endorphines).

We know that laughter has an impact on the secretion of all these hormones. We also know that laughter reduces the concentration of adrenalin and cortisol (the main stress hormones) in our bodies.

The result? Less of what’s associated with the effects of stress – tension, discomfort, illness. More of what makes you relaxed and happy!

So, what do you think? Do you believe, as I do, that laughing more is totally appropriate as a joyful prescription?

Looking for a little extra laughter – even if you’re alone? It’s been proven that hearing laughter predisposes us to laugh.

I remember when my cousin and I were teenagers, we played a “game”. One of our aunts had a tape recorder and she lent it to us for a little while. So my cousin and I would take turns going into the bathroom and recording ourselves. I often sang and told stories. Her? She laughed! To this day, I still remember the physical sensation of the mega giggle that followed! Laughing so hard to hear her laugh, to see us laughing together! It felt so good!

Then today’s “Good mood” tip will give you an idea to stimulate your laughter!

Do you? Yes? and tell me how it worked out for you!

Laughter, joy and health

HAHAMasté

Linda

And when life doesn’t help us laugh…

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Precisely. When life doesn’t help us laugh, what do we do?

I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean when I talk about being thrown for a loop by events. Sometimes it’s hard to just smile. So don’t talk to us about laughing!

And yet, this simple little trick allows you to breathe, to distance yourself from the situation. And by taking a step back, it’s easier to see things differently. Taking a deep breath and “pseudo-laughing” will help you, as it did me, to avoid jumping in with both feet in panic, discouragement, anger…

It’s so simple, yet so effective!

Give it a try!

And that’s a fact!

Laughter, joy and health

Your Sister of Laughter, Linda

For the last episode of the year… A gift!

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HAHA! For the last episode of the year of my podcast The Element of JOY, I’m giving you a gift! A sweet, smiling gift.

Have you heard of Maïtie Trélaüm? If you’re just discovering her today, you’ll want to learn more about this wonderful person! I have to admit that I listened to her episode several times after editing it. She shares things in it that really resonated with me and inspired me.

Do you know what a podcast is?

Also known as podcasts, these are audio capsules that you can subscribe to and listen to when you need to. Free and available on several platforms – iTunes with Apple Podcast, Spreaker, SoundCloud, YouTube, iHeartRadio… Free and inspiring! You listen to them in the car, at home, while walking, while working.

I’ll let you in on a secret… I LOVE taking my time recording the episodes, editing them, writing the intro scripts, and uploading them. It’s a very creative activity for me, and I almost see it as a hobby! Because yes! I’m working! A lot, actually! Hahaha! Even though you see me laughing—live or on video—what I present requires preparation, research, follow-ups, and… administration! All of that is a lot of work! So, unlike many of the tasks I have to do at work, recording and listening back to conversations with these people really warms my heart.

So, you’ll understand that bringing inspiring and beneficial little bubbles into the world makes me smile, and I’m happy to be able to share it all with you. I hope you enjoy it too.

I invite you to subscribe so you don’t miss any of them. If you feel like it, give me “stars” and comment on the episodes. You can do this in the “comments” section on iTunes. You’ll help the podcast move up the charts and let more people discover these bubbles of JOY!

You can even subscribe to the English version of my podcast: The JOY Element! Yes! I do it in English as well! Look it up and subscribe. OH! and if you feel like it, please give me stars and comments. This way, the podcast goes up in the rating charts!

In the meantime, happy last days of 2018…. Don’t forget to make your wishes with laughter!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

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.