Free “Encouraging Words” – see the bottom of this pageLaughter Exercise of the Month Click Image to see the Video Name: Follow The Leader Level of Vigor*: 1 – 9 How to Lead (for a group of up to 15 people): 1. Declare: “The next exercise is called ‘Follow the Leader.” 2. Demonstrate: “One person will laugh while doing any movement for 4 or 5 seconds. Everyone else copies them, at the level where you feel comfortable. After a few seconds, we’ll let the next person be the Leader, and we’ll go around so everyone has a turn.” 3. Do: “Are you ready? Everyone copy me first. And: GO!” (Begin performing a movement while laughing. After a few seconds, point to another person to indicate they are to lead next.)
> Technical Note: In the World Laughter Tour school, the certified Laughter Leader performs the laughter/movements and the rest of the group copies him/her. When the Leader stops doing their movements, the exercise is over. In the Kataria tradition the leadership role is passed to everyone (or many) in the group. Benefits: Especially good with young people, as they succeed no matter what they do; since they choose their own expression they avoid embarrassment. (Such “unconditional success and acceptance” can boost self-esteem.)
Variations: If you have a large group, the Leader can choose which person(s) will do the exemplary movement/exercises. Watch the group members’ energy level – depending on the vigorousness of the person leading the exercise this could go on for anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes. Variation: Follow the Leader (Moving Around): Start in a line. One person will be the head of the line. At the command of “Go,” this person does a laughter/movement, walking ahead, and everyone copies them. After a few seconds, the first person goes to the rear of the line while the next person in line becomes the “Leader,” everyone else copying them. Continue, changing Leaders every five seconds or so. Variation: Musical Instruments: One person pretends to play a musical instrument which makes laughter sounds; everyone else copies them. Go around the group, switching the instrumentalist (everyone copies them). (Be sure to encourage them to make laughing sounds, not just “pretend musical” sounds.) Variation: Follow the Leader (Shadows): Start in a row, with the sun or a bright light behind such that your shadows can be seen on the ground. The person on one end does a movement while laughing, the others (looking at their shadows on the ground) copy that person’s movement. After a few seconds, pass the “Leader” role to the next person. (Special thanks to Fiona Skye for coming up with this – now a Laguna Laughter Club “favorite!”) Origin: Timeless. See on the web: http://www.youtube.com/watch? * All sessions begin with the advice that participants may engage at whatever level they wish. The “Level of Vigor” offered is a suggestion of the intensity range at which the exercise is typically performed.
|
Videos of Laughter Exercises(about one minute each)from The Laughter Yoga Institute:Upchuckle (“Heave Ho-ho-ho”)
|
Articles by Institute Director Jeffrey BriarHow to Lead a Laughter Exercise Leading Laughter with Children Making Money with Laughter Yoga Warming Up the Voice (for Laughter Leaders) – by Kathryn Burns |
or right click to download to your computer.
|
Laughter Yoga Links and Articles
Dr. Kataria’s site, The International Laughter Yoga HQ, from Dr. Kataria, the Founder of Laughter Yoga.
AATH, the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Laughter, professional association for everyone in the field of therapeutic laughter.
American School of Laughter Yoga, Sebastien Gendry’s site.
Wikipedia, definition of Laughter Yoga.
Sense of Humor Site, all about humor, with Links to Laughter Sites.
Laughpower, discover the Power of Laughter with Laughter Yoga.
Pastor Laura Gentry, powerful advocate for Laughter as part of her ministry (Iowa, USA).
Laughter Yoga for kids, Pastor Laura’s delightful video.
Pamela Venus, Laughter Yogini/Therapist working with all ages (including teens, tweens and seniors) in Ohio, USA.
The Whole Being Weekend, annual low-cost California retreat with myriad workshops (including Laughter Yoga), music, dance and community celebration.
Tucson Laughter Yoga, laughter advocate Patti Wheatley, programs and events in Arizona, USA.
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, accomplished freelancer, writes about laughter yoga and health.
Hilary Kimblin, teaches both traditional and laughter yoga, including wonderful retreats in nature. Produces laughter parties and events in the Los Angeles area.
Coty Benrimoj, enthusiastic Laughter Leader/Teacher with diverse offerings in the San Diego area.
Melanie Rudolph, Laughter Yoga Leader and Wellness Coach in Louisville, Kentucky.
Melanie’s Louisville Laughter Club.
Laughing in Georgia, Helen and Craig Whitley’s delight-filled Laughter Yoga site (Georgia, USA).
Teresa Corrigan offers programs in Marin County, California; and Laughter Yoga Leader Training at the University of California Medical Center, San Francisco.
LaughterYogaAlberta, Fif Fernades’ website in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Get inspired by what Fif (and husband Hamish) are doing in Uganda.
LaughterYogaVictoria&ComoxValleys,Canada Laughter Clubs, Leaders and resources.
LaughterSchoolQuebec, Linda Leclerc’s multi-faceted Laughter Yoga school in Montreal, Quebec Canada (in French).
LaughterYogaInstituteFrance Fabrice and Lolita Loizeau’s wonderfully active “Institute of Laughter Yoga and Healthy Laughter” in France (in French).
LachYogaGermanyBirck, Claudia Birck’s flourishing and fun School of Laughter Yoga in Germany (in German).
LachYogaInstitut, Gabreila Leppelt-Remmel (based in Hamburg) offers training, laughter club, conferences and other programs (in German).
LaughterYogaAmsterdam, Maarten Voss’ sparkling offerings: Club, Coaching, Resource Center in the Netherlands (in Dutch).
YogadelaRisaMexico, The fantastic, encouraging work of Luis Gomez in Mexico and South America (in Spanish).
Encouraging Words
a gift to thank you for visiting our site
During laughter sessions, as an exercise concludes, let the air resound with comments like these. Words of encouragement remind the participants that they are in a supportive atmosphere where their playfulness is genuinely welcome. The Critical Mind can be calmed by the assurance that the person’s actions are greeted with acceptance, even to the point of gratitude and celebration. This will encourage continued participation (rather than the individual withdrawing to listen to the judgments of their Inner Critic).
As you complete an exercise, call out a word (or several) of encouragement before moving on. Deliver them with enthusiasm!
Just reading these will make you feel good.
Hint: put them up on your bathroom mirror or refrigerator. Read often – let yourself accept the praise!
[ In the following, the implied exclamation points (!!) are deleted to make the reading less tiring. ]
Some favorites:
- Great job!
- Alright
- Oh, yeah
- Super job, gang
- Fantastic
- Brilliant
- Wonderful
- You’re doing great
- Uh huh, uh huh; That’s the way I like it
- Perfect
- Beautiful!
Other great exclamations, listed alphabetically:
Absolutely – – -! (Absolutely amazing, absolutely fantastic, etc.)
A-plus job, everybody
Awesome
‘Best aerobic workout in the world
Best in the West
Bingo
‘Bit of alright
Boing
Bravissimo
Bravo
Classic
Cowabunga
Cragzap
Deee-lectable
Deee-licious
Deee-lightful!
Deee-lovely!
Dynamic
Dynamite
Dynamo
Excellent
Exemplary
Fabulous
Fantabulous
Feelin’ good
Feel so good, feel so fine
Fun fun fun
Get down
Get funky
Go— (Go laffers; go girlfriend; go surfers, etc.)
Google-icious
Great
Hallelujah
Happy days are here again
Healthier and healthier
Healthy, happy, Howsabout it
Hinky dinky parlay voo
Hip hip hooray
Hoo-ray
Hooray for Captain Spaulding
Hot-cha-cha
Hot dog
Hubba hubba
Hunga dunga
I adore (love) this
I love what you do to me
I love (adore) you!
Immune system — is happy! (Lungs are happy; Feet, Heart, Knees, Toes, etc.)
I’m proud of us
I’m ready to go
Incredible
I still respect you
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood
I want fries with that
Joy to the world
Knock me out
Let it out
Let it loose
Let it be
Lookin’ Good (Fine)
Loosenin’ up
Magnificent
‘Makes me feel so good
Marvelous
Masterfully done
Now we’re flying
Now we’re havin’ fun
Now we’re takin’ off
Now we’ve got it
Ooh baby that’s what I want (- what I like)
Original
Outstanding
Phenomenal
Priceless
Rama lama ding-dong!
Really—! (Really good, really awesome, etc.)
Remarkable
Right on
Rock and Roll
Sensational
Shake it, baby
Shake it up
Shazam
Sock it to me
‘So much to be grateful for
Spectacular
Speechless
Supercalifragialistic…
Super-duper
Terrific
Thank you
Thankyou-thankyou-thankyou
That makes me happy
That’s right
That’s the best
That’s the way to do it
That was special
There’s no stoppin’ us now
This is soooooo good
Totally – – – (Totally excellent, Totally right-on, etc.)
— to the max (Super to the max, Cowabunga to the max, etc.)
Way down upon the Swanee River!
‘Way to go!
We are all in this together
We are doin’ it
We are one
We are together
We be friends
We have got it together
We’re free
We’re healthy
We’re not in Kansas any more
We’re on top of the world
We’re on our way
We’re reelin’ and rockin’
Well done
What a gift
What a great workout
What a marvel
What a treasure
What a treat
What good listeners
What you say
Whoo-ie
Whoopie
World-class
Wowie
Ya-hoo
Yee-haw
Yee-ow
Yippie
You hound dogs
You’ve got friends
You’ve got it!
Special thanks to Dr. Catherine Maloof
whose compilation “Words to Praise Children”
greatly inspired the above collection.
