Guided Laughter

Justin B. Wright, Certified Laughter Yoga Leader

1

2

~ Please share a word or phrase on these 3 topics ~

Laughter is: (Give a Definition, Synonym, Value, etc.)

Laughter can: (Give an example)

Laughter in Elma Elementary should: (Dream BIG!)

The Sanskrit word Yoga has the literal meaning “Yoke”. Theroot yuj means: to join, to unite, to attach, to get hold of, tointegrate, or to harmonize.Laughter Yoga can be a physical, mental, and/or spiritualdiscipline.Laughter Yoga is not a form of Hinduism. If I ask you to laughlike a chicken I am not advocating that you believe inreincarnation. Laughter Yoga helps us integrate laughter intoour life.

3

Philosophy

4

Washington State K-12 Health & FitnessLearning Standards

WAC 392-420-135 > RCW 28A.230.040

An average of at least 100 instructional minutes per week shall be required of all pupils

5

Laughter Yoga as PE?

EALR 1 captures movement, physical fitness, and nutritionEALR 2 recognizes dimensions of health, stages of growth and development, reduces health risks, and promotes safe livingEALR 3 analyzes and evaluates the impact of real-life influences on healthEALR 4 analyzes personal information to develop an individualized fitness plan

6

Health & Fitness EALRs

What’s the Problem?

7

Discipline

Laughter can communicate via tone, volume, rhythm

Laughter can be soothing or agitating, helpful or harmful

Appropriate and healthy laughter increases social skills, emotional intelligence, and positive relationships

A culture of healthy laughter reduces the incidence of bullying, teasing, and harassing

8

Laughter is an extension of our voice

Laughter is fun

Laughter is healthy

Laughter is contagious

Laughter is easiest with friends

Laughter can be produced deliberately without comedy

9

Assumptions

When to use Laughter Yoga

10

• Beginning of the day – to energize• Lining up – to signal transitions• PE – to achieve a full aerobic workout• Music – to exercise the voice• Library – to excise the voice ;)• Assembly – to create a generous audience• Prior to MSP, DIBELS, etc. – to ease test anxiety• In class – as a celebration of achievements or

mistakes

As with any aerobic activity, use precaution

Recent surgery (last 3 months)

Pregnancy

Major psychiatric disorders

Hernia

Heart Disease

Epilepsy

Urinary incontinence

Bleeding piles

Persistent cough

11

CONTRAINDICATIONSWhen in doubt consult your physician

increased energy levelsa rapid decrease of stress levels and better ability to deal with stressimproved commitment and motivationincreased performance, efficiency, innovation and problem solving abilitiesstronger team spiritreduced absenteeism and improved health

12

Benefits

Be Willing to Laugh

Attitude of Playfulness

Warm-Up Stretches

Call & Response

Signal to Break [VG,VG, Y!x2 or HH/HHHx3]

Eye Contact

Mingle

‘Yogic’ Breath

13

How-To

Animals

Holidays

Special Events

Common Life Scenarios

Characters from Fiction14

Examples of Themes

Contagious Yawners tend to be higher in dispositional empathy.

15

Yaaaawn

16

Handshake/ Namaste Greeting

Solfege [Scales]

Beautiful Round Notes

Faux Opera

See also works by: Handel, Puccini, Bach, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mozart, Strauss, Verdi, Prokofiev, Gilbert & Sullivan, Shostakovich, Webber, Wagner, Sondheim, Gershwin, et. al

17

Laughter & Music

18

Animals

19

Blow Kisses Breath

20

No Money Laugh

21

Won the Lottery Laugh

22

Roller Coaster Laugh

23

Silent Laugh

24

Shiver Laugh

25

Hot Cocoa Breath

26

Pirate/ Swashbuckler Laugh

27

Bow & Arrow Laugh/ 1 Meter Laugh

28

Cell phone

29

Toothache/ Nitrous/ Gargle

30

Cutting Onions/ Crying

31

Hula Hoop/ Hula Dance

32

Unbalanced Washer

33

Bouquet Breath

34

Sneeze

35

Wicked Laugh

36

Wolfman, Ghost, Witch

37

Zombie

38

Vader Breath

39

Characters from Fiction

40

Gradient Laugh

41

Further info

42

With or without

Red Nose

43

Safe, Appropriate, Profoundly Memorable Surprises