Laughter Yoga

The Laughter for Wellness Method

A Laughter for Wellness session integrates mindfulness techniques, neuroscience, cognitive behavioural therapy, ground breaking stress management techniques, positive psychology and innovative techniques for improving wellbeing in all areas of participants lives. It is an integrated gentle, non invasive approach to well-being that is researched, current and developed specifically for the unique qualities and diversity of Aotearoa, NewZealanders. Laughter for Wellness incorporates her counselling and professional group facitation skills and knowledge which enhance the richness and benefits of the sessions. Her depth of experience as a counsellor and facilitator in numerous corporate and community settings means she has the skill and experience to hold a powerful team building and stress relief experience which will stay with participants beyond the sessions. Each laughter session is taylored and paced to specially support the needs of each group of participants and their wider organisation. Honalee was co- founder of Christchurchs St Albans Laughter Yoga Club, the South Islands first Laughter Yoga club. She was a founding co director of the well known company "The Giggles". She has successfully delivered numerous workshops and trainings to a wide variety of participants, working in both corporate and community settings

Honalee is passionate about the power of laughter to transform and to connect . She did her initial training with Dr Medan Kataria in Auckland in 2007, and followed this up two years later with attending his week long training in Australia providing certification which enabled her to teach others how to facilitate Laughter Yoga. Honalees Laughter for Wellness sessions are created to foster authentic laughter that isn't strained or forced. This genuine laughter can be both gentle or raucous, a safe space is created to allow each person to express in their own way and comfort
participants will learn how to manage stress, increase wellbeing and belly laugh again! These experiential (and often life-transforming) workshops are ideal for personal and team development, providing participants with a combination of tools for fostering their ongoing Wellbeing , invaluable knowledge and skills for every day life, and the ability to access unconditional laughter. imagine the power and potential of that! Laughter is our body’s natural antidote to stress. The Laughter for Wellness Method switches off the autonomic nervous systems fight and flight response, lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels and increasing endorphins and serotonin and boosting the bodies innate ability to heal. Laughing effectively reduces stress, tension and the impact of trauma. Laughter for Wellness is a deceptively simple yet very powerful exercise combining laughter exercises with diaphragmatic breathing. It is fully inclusive in that absolutely anyone can do it. Ultimately, Laughter for Wellness is about the cultivation of joyfulness. It teaches you to make happiness a choice and not a consequence. Laughter is a universal language that transcends all barriers; age, gender, language, hierarchy, physical abilities, race, religion, political beliefs. With Laughter for Wellness, it is realised and experienced, that anyone can genuinely laugh for no reason, removing the need to rely on humour, jokes or comedy or a particular life circumstances to "make" us feel happy. Laughter is the ultimate connector, leveller, and healer. You cannot remain angry at someone and laugh with them. It dissolves tensions and opens pathways for healthy communication. Laughter has profound effects on our mental and physical state of being. The Laughter for Wellness Method:

Stimulates the release of endorphins and serotonin;
decreases levels of stress hormones decreases levels of stress hormones;
increases circulation;
floods the body with oxygen;
increases Killer T Cell production, which helps fight cancer;
is an aerobic exercise;
improves communication and creativity. Cuttind edge scientific research is proving that laughter just might be the best medicine after all. About Honalee:

Honalee Hunter is a NZQA accredited qualified counsellor and educator, with over twenty years’ experience working with groups and individuals. Honalee also provides trainings for health professionals in approaches to working with clients anywhere on the spectrum of eating difficulties/disorders. She also provides educational sessions at Anxiety Support Canterbury on the connection between diet and anxiety. She currently has a private counselling practice and also provides consultancy work for various agencies. Honalees intention is to work with optimism, humour, gentleness and joy, providing a holistic apporach to healing. She looks forward to meeting you
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