Laughter in the Park – Day 2

I found it a little bit more difficult to laugh in the park this morning, and was a bit more self-conscious. That was my hang-up. I really tried to think and laugh at the same time. It’s almost impossible to do and tiring.

We came up with three new laughter games — progressive decibel laughter, swimming strokes laughter, and tight rope laughter. 

Jon and I are practicing, I think, for the time when people actually do show up to laugh with us. We’ll seem to know what we’re doing. We certainly helped a few passers-by laugh this morning.

Mainly, the consistency of making a commitment to laugh together every day – in a public place – will make all the difference in our relationship and perspectives as we stick to it.

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From Jon:

Laughing Day Two – June 30, 2009

I felt little resistance today to arriving at the park, in fact was eager.  I have no attachment at this point with any number of participants.  Actually it is slightly less intimidating to just laugh with Leigh, as we are comfortable and familiar; the challenges will come as new people are added.

Leigh created a couple new games today (see above). I find myself more drawn to the motions that seem to open body postures.  The Archer, Tiny Measure and the Hands over Head, all seem to be freeing.  I am however more comfortable in closing in, Sneezing, Balloon Blowing and Colapsing in Laughter all fold inward and feel safer somehow.

Meditation today was grand.  The laughing section was slightly more forced, and I was tired…less inclined to push than yesterday.  However, I went in deeply and quickly during the silent meditation.  My connection to earth, with grass and sun was very strong and very tuned to a natural setting.  The bustle of the waking downtown area was a grand contrast.  I felt so grateful that I was able to not shut it out, but in fact, embrace the external as a soundtrack to my internal quiet.

Laughter in Lee Park – Day 1

Since last year, I’ve wanted to start a laughter club in Lee Park. It’s just been on my heart to do.

Jon and I showed up at 7:55 a.m., put up our sign and started with the usual warm-up laughter games. No one else joined us this morning. Although we missed our supporters, we were mainly there for ourselves. We have the ability to get too serious and need to laugh, every day, as a spiritual discipline. It brings us much more levity, which helps small things stay small.

I felt the energy disperse with every “Very good, very good, yay!” that we cheered. We confused a few dogs. Otherwise, people pretended we weren’t there. They looked down at the sidewalk and walked by like nothing was happening. I guess I would have done the same a few years ago.

I realized how much my inhibitions have shrunk to a workable size for authentic social interaction as a result of leading laughter yoga each week for two years.

Staring at the bright blue sky in the morning while laughing, then meditating, was a special treat. The weather was gorgeous. We left refreshed and ready to start the day. It was great. Come join us!

The Challenge of Change

If we need to change something in our lives, if something “isn’t right” and needs “correcting”, the process usually bears shame for us. “Shame on you! Be different!”

What if we embraced the “not right” parts of ourselves - those icky behaviors – instead of hiding or tucking them away? What if we loved those parts for absolutley no reason?

I think we can love ourselves for no reason as a discipline just like we can laugh for no reason. It may seem really really fake at first. We’re so used to loving ourselves for reasons. The only problem with that concept is reasons can change from moment to moment. So our self-esteem will be shaky or overly rigid if we choose that route.

When we surround darkness with laughter, it becomes lighter. It loses it’s power to shame,blame and threaten us. Whatever we laugh with, for a reason or not, no longer has the power to rule us. Laughter has a way of leveling the playing field.

When you attend a laughter yoga session, especially during the laughter meditation, locate a dark place. As you laugh throughout the session, be mindful that you are embracing and laughing with that part of you. When you laugh during the meditation, pull you knees into your chest, wrap your arms around them, and rock back and forth. That part of you needs forgiveness for no reason. Allow any amount of forgiveness in during that time. You may not be able to use this discipline yet. If you keep laughing, a time to forgive yourself will open.

The more we laugh, the more we love.

laughlovepeace,
Leigh

The Heart-Healing Retreat

What an honor it was to co-lead the Heart-Healing Laughter Retreat at gorgeous Bridge Between the Worlds! I came away with a few thoughts on laughter that were reinforced by the comments made by the participants. It works. It heals. It brings hope as it is adopted as a discipline, a yogic path. It opens the spirit to visions of new possibilities that hadn’t been seen, or fathomed, before.

Leading with Jon was a special treat. He has a background that compliments mine, and a leadership style that is different, too. We seemed to flow well together.

Most of all, my belief that laughter is many things and serves us well in so many ways was underscored. It’s taken about 2 years for me to become an irreversible, bonafide, “addict” (I’m using that word cautiously as substance abuse is so very painful) to laughter yoga. I want to start a laugh-a-demic and help foster an energy shift with whatever group who are willing and open to do so. Improv. Fun never-been-done-before stuff. If that interests you, please let me know. info@yogalaughs.com.

laughlovepeace,
Leigh