The Park Ridge Hysterical Society - Laughter Circle for Laughter Yoga

What is a Laughter Club

Laughing with is a powerful concept and takes us away from laughing at. In a laughter club we laugh for no reason, no jokes or comedy is necessary. No sense of humor is necessary either yet with practice you can develop a better sense of humor. There are over 6,000 laughter clubs in over 60 countries and growing, we might say this is club 6001!

Laughter Yoga is a new idea that is evolving that combines the peaceful breathing of yoga (pranayama) and the exercise of laughter to a most beneficial result for all concerned. In 1995 this movement began in Mumbai India as the result of Dr. Madan Katari, a medical doctor searching for answers to laughter as the best medicine. His wife Madhuri, a yoga teacher joined with him on this quest working to compliment the the beneficial laughter exercises with the elements of yogic breathing to develop Laughter Yoga.

It works like the concept of biofeedback where simulated laughter can be as beneficial to the body as genuine laughter and whether one does the former or the latter, the body does not know the difference giving the benefits of a healthy exercise for both. This demonstrates that even if one does not feel like it and goes through the motions they will still receive the benefits, however once one begins they usually end up in the genuine state of laughter. The physiological and the biochemical reactions in a group setting allow individuals to feel a significant difference in the way they feel.

A typical session begins with introductions and information followed by a warm up, the laughter and breathing exercises come next, and finally a breathing meditation grounds the session and consumates the experience in generally less than one hour's time. No special clothing is necessary yet bringing a blanket to sit on may be helpful. Drinking water afterwards to hydrate as it's important to flush out the body after the exercise.

It is fun, energetic and when done over a period of time can prove to be a healthy and beneficial expericence that flows oxygen to more of the body more often yielding a richer oxygen flow to the body and the mind.

Honor your body as this is a workout we like to call inner jogging where plenty of air, about 5 liters in fact gets circulated around your body pushing out the stale air that we generally don't exhale out and bringing in new air. If one has had surgery, heart conditions or a situation that they know could be taxing, take it easy and do what is right for you. No strains and no new pains is our motto.

Our Laughter club meets weekly.

In the Park: In the summer we meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30am CST at Centennial Park in Park Ridge on Western avernue just south of Touhy avenue in Park Ridge (2009 Season May 3rd for World Laughter Day - October).

After Dark: In the cooler season we meet indoors in the evening. The location has been changing and until we find a receptive home consistently, we move.

Everyone is welcome and we gather for about half hour to 45 minutes depending on the crowd size and laugh the exercises of laughter yoga.

There is also a Daily Laugh Line (712) 432-3900 use pin 6071292#
Calls begin at 9am and end at about 9:20am CST with Lynda. This is a wonderful way to flex your muscle of mirth by practicing laughter everyday.