Haha-happy Laughter Yoga in La Union

A indescribable, wonderful feeling!  Super-vibrant were the 160 members of the La Union Vibrant Women, Inc.  (LUVWI), who live  true to their name!

When Joy Ortega e-mailed and called me to please conduct   a Laughter Yoga session in La Union last Thanksgiving Day, she mentioned that her  mom  had asked her to contact me since 2010.  My heart melted and I felt quite embarrassed for their perseverance in contacting me. Though Joy had assured me they were providing transport and accommodation, it was still with some hesitation and uncertainty that I agreed because of the long-distance travel.  She billeted me and my group at the beautiful, breathtaking, must-see destination in our country — Thunderbird Resort. The magnificent resort faces the Pacific Ocean and is located atop a hill so one can gaze at the relaxing, awesome deep blue sea.
We were so warmly welcomed by Geraldine Ortega, Joy’s mom and the governor’s wife. Joy kept telling me how happy her mom was when told we were going to La Union.   I was speechless and humbled!

The LYoga session was held at the La Union Provincial Capitol, where the 160 vibrant women of La Union excitedly waited.  After Joy introduced me, I immediately explained the benefits of Laughter Yoga clapping and the hoho-haha-ing.  Together with the participants, we enthusiastically did the warm-up exercises to loosen up and drop all our inhibitions.
My strong desire to impart the whole range of Laughter Yoga’s life-changing benefits was matched by the eagerness and all-giving response of the vibrant women participants. They recited the positive chants, swaying and even dancing the twist like youngsters to the lively tempo of hoho, hahaha. The participants were very appreciative, as they sighed their “oohs” and “aahs” to the health trivia I dished out.  Their roaring-almost-endless vibrant laughter lifted their energy to its highest level.  I mentioned the antiaging, anti-wrinkle, good-for-the-facial-muscles benefits of the LYoga exercise and, as expected, they all went to the center to watch and listen carefully as Lynda Geraldez, a certified LYoga leader, demonstrated it.

Laughter Yoga is a body exercise and, according to Dr. Lee of   Stanford University, just 10 minutes of hearty laughter is  equivalent to  30 minutes  of cardio  workout  on  a rowing machine.  One hour of Laughter Yoga can burn as much as 300 calories, or even more, depending on how intense the LYoga exercises as well as the deep breathing are done.  We all perspired during and after the Laughter Yoga session, which brought to the fore the findings of Dr. Clifford Kuhn, a psychiatry professor at the University of Louisville, Kentucky:  “With laughter, you reap the recharging benefits of exercise, without having to spend time at the gym.” 

Also known as a laugh doctor, Kuhn affirmed, “After a good laugh, you experience a momentary surge of energy, which  — in addition to reducing stress and boosting immunity  — can help your body regenerate more healthful cells over time.”

At the dinner hosted by Joy Ortega, present were her parents, Pops Fernandez, her bosom friend, who sang solo and duet with Governor Ortega, and my LYoga team members Lynda Geraldez and Liza Spaargen. Ms. Dinne, as the governor wife is fondly called, is a very amiable, warm, simple, down-to-earth person. Showing her iPad, she said:  “See, Elvie, its here. I had been asking for your LYoga since Sept. 2010.”  Silently, I was thankful I accepted the invitation.  Inarguably, it was the best among my best Laughter Yoga sessions!

On our way back home, I got this very inspiring and motivating text from Joy, which sums up how she and the other participants felt during the LYoga session: “Top of the morning to you, my dearest Tita Elvie!  The pleasure was ours, you have made an impact on all those who attended and it was priceless to see the biggest smiles on  their faces!  Thank you so much for being patient with the long trip, for going out of your way.  I guess it was meant to be!  You  are truly a blessing!  My mom and I and all the La Union Vibrant Women, Inc. will always remember this wonderful unforgettable experience, and we  are all sending  you a big hug!  Till we meet again!  Hoho hahaha!  I am rich, very rich, yehehey!”

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E-mail me at mega_abundant_lv@yahoo.com. For more info, visit laughteryogaphils.