Created for an all-agency meeting of Community Youth Services (CYS), this gives background and prompts for a 1/2 hr Laughter Yoga session.

2. Research

3. Benefits

4. How-To

6. 3

7. 4 2011 Over 500 Willing Faces Pied

8. 5

9. 6 Assumptions Laughter is fun Laughter is healthy Laughter is contagious Laughter is easiest with friends Laughter can be produced deliberately without comedy

10. 7 Philosophy The Sanskrit word Yoga has the literal meaning “Yoke”. The root yuj means: to join, to unite, to attach, to get hold of, to integrate, or to harmonize. Laughter Yoga can be a physical, mental, and/or spiritual discipline.

11. 8 1995 – 1st Laughter Yoga Club formed by Dr. Kataria 1996 – I graduate from TESC 2001-03 – I serve as an AmeriCorps*VISTA 2003 – “Laughing Clubs of India” Documentary released on DVD Circa 2004-5 DVD enters public library system in West Linn, OR 2008 – I’m dreaming (and blogging) about Laughter Yoga 2010 – My wife and I become Certified Laughter Yoga Leaders 2011 – Our friend, Kate, becomes a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher

12. 9 Portland Laughter Yoga Laughter Leader Certification June 2010

13. 10 Olympia Laughter Yoga at ENR We met at Evergreen Nursing and Rehab every Tuesday for 3 months

14. 11 Olympia Laughter Yoga at OUUC We meet each Sunday at 12:30 at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation

15. 12 CONTRAINDICATIONS 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 When in doubt consult your physician

16. 13 Benefits increased energy levels a rapid decrease of stress levels and better ability to deal with stress improved commitment and motivation increased performance, efficiency, innovation and problem solving abilities stronger team spirit reduced absenteeism and improved health leading to decreased sick leave and lower medical costs

17. 14 New York Times 9.13.11

18. 15 How-To 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

19. 16 Examples of Themes Animals Holidays Special Events Common Life Scenarios Characters from Fiction

20. 17 Yaaaawn

21. 18 Handshake/ Namaste Greeting

22. 19 Opera Laugh

23. 20 Animals

24. 21 Blow Kisses Breath

25. 22 No Money Laugh

26. 23 Won the Lottery Laugh

27. 24 Roller Coaster Laugh

28. 25 Silent Laugh

29. 26 Shiver Laugh

30. 27 Hot Cocoa Breath

31. 28 Pirate/ Swashbuckler Laugh

32. 29 Bow & Arrow Laugh/ 1 Meter Laugh

33. 30 Cell phone

34. 31 Toothache/ Nitrous/ Gargle

35. 32 Cutting Onions/ Crying

36. 33 Hula Hoop/ Hula Dance

37. 34 Elvis the Pelvis

38. 35 Unbalanced Washer

39. 36 Bouquet Breath

40. 37 Sneeze

41. 38 Wicked Laugh

42. 39 Wolfman, Ghost, Witch

43. 40 Zombie

44. 41 Vader Breath

45. 42 Characters from Fiction

46. 43 Gradient Laugh

47. 44 Further info

48. 45

49. 46 Safe, Appropriate, Profoundly Memorable Surprises With or without Red Nose