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I Want To Start A Laughter Club. What Do I Do? |
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FREE! Just Do It. Laughter Clubs are fully independent, not-for-profit, non-political, non-religious and non-competitive community-based associations of diverse people where all are welcome regardless of gender, age, physical abilities, social or economic backgrounds.
The name "Laughter Club" is a trademark of the Dr. Kataria School Of Laughter Yoga who created it and has been using it since 1995. Anybody can and is welcome to use it. The Laughter Clubs we promote are not for profit and are places where people laugh for no reason for the reasons mentioned above.
Our vision is to achieve health, joy and world peace through laughter. It is very important that you understand that Laughter Clubs are 100 per cent independent. Although the Dr. Kataria School Of Laughter Yoga greatly appreciates financial donations to help support its mission, technically there is no registration fee, no royalties or dues to pay.
Laughter Clubs do not report to anybody and do pretty much what they want. If you mess up, misbehave and anybody gets injured or complains nobody will cover up for you so we suggest you contract your own insurance. We also strongly encourage you as well as everybody else NOT to participate or stop participating in activities you feel uncomfortable with.
Laughter Club guidelines are very straightforward:
- No jokes: Do not try to behave silly or idiotic or have people do so to laugh. This is not a comedy and we don't put anybody down in any way.
- No politics, no religion, no competitiveness: Leave the critical part of your mind at home. Laughter Clubs are for the body alone. There is nothing to explain. Just do, be, and happily chant “do be; do be do.”
- Free and public: all are welcome.
- Just laugh: Some run, others swim - we laugh.
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These exercises are silly and ridiculous and I feel embarrassed? |
The very concept of Laughter Yoga is based on cultivating your childlike playfulness. Physical playfulness leads to playful mental attitude and one can laugh much easily while doing laughter exercises.
As grown-ups we do not indulge in childlike play. We stay sober and become more serious. Therefore, initially, you may feel awkward doing these exercises and may find them silly, but as and when you get over your inhibition and shyness you will experience joy and relaxation from within. Laughter Yoga exercises are done in a group with like-minded people who believe in being joyful and playful. With supportive laughter groups you will feel very safe. |
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I already laugh a lot. Why do I need to join a laughter club? |
The spontaneous laughter that comes throughout the day comes for a few seconds here and there. If you add up, it does not make even 5-6 minutes in 24 hours. That is not enough to bring physiological and biochemical changes for health benefits.
Moreover, laughter that comes by using humor is not always positive. It involves sarcasm, ridicule and at times it is vulgar and offensive. Humor is based on individualism and different cultural traits and there is no guarantee how much we can laugh.
In contrast, laughter in Laughter Yoga is unconditional and we laugh with other people for the pure joy of it. In order to get scientifically proven benefits of laughter one needs to laugh for at least 15 to 20 minutes with breaks of relaxation in between. That is only possible by doing laughter as an exercise. |
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My life is full of problems and terrible things have happened to me. I'm not happy so how can I laugh? |
If you are unhappy, there is no point in punishing yourself forever and staying unhappy. How you feel is always a personal choice and you can change it. Laughter Yoga exercises can change your feelings and mood state within minutes.
You can laugh in the laughter club even if you are not happy and going through problems. Laughter Yoga is not about happiness, it is all about creating joy within you with some laughing and breathing exercises.
Happiness is a conditional response and depends upon fulfillment of desires and some external conditions, while joyfulness is the unconditional commitment to be happy from within.
When we approach laughter as a physical exercise, it brings physiological and biochemical changes due to release certain hormones that makes you feel good.. Once you feel good within, your state of mind will change which will further change the perception of the outer world. You will see your problems differently. |
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How can I laugh when I am sad or not in a good mood? |
You don't have to depend upon your mood to do something. You can change your mood at will. This can be explained by Theory of motion creates emotion. If you observe sad and depressed people - they walk and talk slowly and their body movements are slower. This means that whatever happens to your mind happens to your body. Your mind and body are connected. Very few people are aware that there is two-way link between the body and the mind.
Consider this: If you are experiencing sadness in the mind try to keep your body active by doing some exercise or engage yourself in some physical work. Soon you will experience change in the state of mind. |
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Laughter Yoga