Tag Archive for: Joy

A great celebration!

/0 Comments/in /by

I can’t wait for this great celebration!

As you probably know, May 7 is World Laughter Day.

But what makes me so happy this year is that this date will officially mark the 20th anniversary of my professional laughter yoga practice.

And for the occasion, I invite you to a great party!

We’re going to laugh, move, dance and celebrate life with joy and good humour.

The retrospective

I’ve found that when I look back over the last 20 years, there are certain moments that drain my energy, while others put it into orbit around the sun. I’m sure that if I asked you to do this exercise, you’d have some good and not-so-good memories too. Harder times. Celebrations.

You can imagine that in 20 years, even though I teach intentional laughter, this journey hasn’t always been like the “yellow brick road” in the film The Wizard of Oz, where I would sing and gambol along! hahaha! Hell no!

I had moments of doubt – not that I doubted the power of the method – but doubting myself. Am I okay? Good enough? Comfortable? Supportive and present? Documented? Just… enough.

If in 2023 I’m still hearing people say they’ve never heard of laughter yoga, imagine that in 2003! It makes me laugh to think back on the bewildered looks and wry smiles. “Yoga of what?” I couldn’t judge, because I myself had had this reaction when I first read the words Laughter Yoga: What have they invented now?

Sometimes the perception is that it’s not serious. And God knows it is.

Researchers have shown us enough about the physical and mental health benefits of laughter. Even if it’s difficult to prove beyond any scientific doubt that laughter is good for your health, our state of mind speaks louder than our doubts! After laughing, WE FEEL GOOD – period!

When you consider that cardiologists are now PRESCRIBING minutes of laughter to their patients, you’ll stop thinking it’s far-fetched! In fact, Dr. Michael Miller ‘s book Heal Your Heart contains a whole chapter devoted to laughter and its benefits for heart health.

Although I know all this, I admit that some nights when I’m more tired, I question things and wonder if it’s worth it… Then I remember.

Do you remember…

A few years ago, François Morency published a book in which he recounted his “worst” experiences as a comedian. The worst venues, living and touring conditions, flopping acts… I was almost tempted to write the same kind of behind-the-scenes book about life as a speaker and trainer.

Not to complain, but rather to help me remember what drives me and keeps me going.

And what keeps me going is the spark that lights up in people’s eyes when they realize they can laugh at will. Without thinking. Without judging. Just… laugh!

I finally gave up on this book project because you kept me so busy! The sparks have been flying brighter and brighter. And the ideas and wonderful projects multiplied.

Thank goodness!

I can count on you to celebrate with me on May 7? Whether you’re in the room with me or laughing from home via the School’s YouTube channel, where I’ll be broadcasting live, I’m counting on you to make this a day to remember!

If you’d like to be there on May 7, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Centre St-Pierre (1212 rue Panet, Montréal), I’ve provided the link to register. It’s free, and the registration is to give me an idea of how many people I’ll need for the birthday cake! If you decide to come and you’re not registered, it’s no problem at all! COME! Bring your friends, your kids, your neighbors. It’s a PARTY! A REAL PARTY!

Big smiling kisses

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

 

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…

Can’t you laugh right now?

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

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

Let our emotions run wild!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

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

/0 Comments/in , , /by

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!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

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?

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

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…

Change your body chemistry with a laugh?

/0 Comments/in , , /by

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

Tag Archive for: Joy