09/08/2016
COMING SOON IN JANUARY:
Laughter Yoga is not your typical type of yoga—no mats necessary! Laughter Yoga is laughing as an exercise, or intentionally, with beginners leveraging the mantra, “Fake it till you make it!”
Laughter Yoga was developed in 1995 by a doctor in India who found that our bodies do not know the difference between fake and real laughter. Our bodies and minds get the benefits of laughter—such as increased blood flow, a drop in stress levels, increased energy and feelings of happiness, improved concentration and mental focus (from pranayama yogic breathing) and even burning calories—without the need for jokes or comedians.
How can Laughter Yoga help your team?
1) REDUCE STRESS- LY is a quick method by which to reduce stress both mentally and emotionally, by focusing on a stress elixir that has been around since the beginning of time—laughter! LY releases endorphins and increases positive feelings. Studies have shown that employees perform better when they are less stressed mentally and emotionally.
2) INCREASE MENTAL FOCUS- Our brains need~25% more oxygen than other organs. During LY, we work on oxygenizing the body and brain via pranayama yogic breathing (that’s how Laughter Yoga gets it’s “yoga” name!), which increases mental acuity. We also know that most of us can focus for only about 90 minutes at a time. Using LY as an energizer can boost concentration and mental focus, as well as energy levels.
3) TEAM BUILDING & COMMUNICATION- It is often said that LY is a “peace movement.” It’s difficult to be upset with a colleague if you laugh together! Individuals connect over laughter. This, in turn, often leads to the development of positive attitudes toward one another and better communication.
4) INNOVATION & CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT- Laughter stimulates the right-side of the brain, which governs creative thinking. Stimulating this part of the brain during a LY session helps teams bring down obstacles and problem solve faster and deeper, coming up with new ideas that can not only solve business problems, but also inter-personal issues.
Scientifically Proven Benefits
LY is a workout, without the sweating! You can increase your heart rate, blood flow, and oxygenate your body. Stanford University research (via Dr. Williams Fry) found that 10 minutes of hearty laughter is equivalent to 30 minutes on� the rowing machine!
