A Home full of laughter

The sun demands no reason to shine; water demands no reason to flow; a child demands no reason to be happy. Why do we need a reason to laugh?  – Dr. Madan Kataria

I was sick, but when I attended your Laughter Yoga at the Philippine Heart Center, I felt much better. I experienced happiness, felt lighter and, just like a child, felt playful and young again.”  Thus spoke Napoleon Co, owner of the chain of Home Depot stores.  He was so happy that he sent his two assistants, Cristine Pacia and Carla Sandig, to my subsequent Laughter Yoga session to experience for themselves what he did and find out if it would be suitable for their employees at Home Depot.

To share their happy experiences and the positive outlook implanted in them by the Laughter Yoga session they attended, coupled with the hope that the same will rub off on their employees, the owners of Home Depot requested for a Laughter Yoga session in their Ortigas branch. About 60 employees, headed by Mr. Co himself, attended the Laughter Yoga session.

The employees were pleasantly surprised that they were able to laugh, even if there was nothing to laugh about. More than that, they came to realize how easy and nice the feeling was of being able to laugh to their hearts’ delight, with no restrictions. All their stresses and tensions went away with the roaring laughter they dished out. All in all, it considerably helped improve the attitude and outlook of the Home Depot employees. 

Affirmations and healing mantras, which are an integral part of the session, are recited towards the end of the Laughter Yoga session — with the constant reminder to the participants that since what we think and say are what we attract to happen, they must utter them with all their hearts and might. 

I added mantras focused on boosting their morale and spirit at home and in their work, plus mantras specifically designed to cheerfully help perk up their sales performance This in addition to the Laughter Yoga advocacy of helping our people become healthy, happy, and positive! As Christine Pacia, puts it, “The Laughter Yoga session made me feel happy and great. It considerably reduced my stress level. Very much worth the time spent for it, as we enjoyed every minute of the session.”

It has been scientifically proven that laughter is both preventive and therapeutic. People practicing Laughter Yoga regularly report amazing improvement in their health as well as a more positive mental attitude and higher energy levels.

The healing effects of Laughter Yoga come from the following reasons: The immune system is the master key of health and if it weakens, one is exposed to constant infection and sickness. Scientific research by Dr. Lee Berk from Loma Linda University, California proves that laughter strengthens the immune system by increasing the number of natural killer cells and the antibodies.

My recent personal experience will strongly corroborate this. I was rushed to Makati Medical Center early morning of December 6 in an ambulance. My whole body was drenched with cold sweat and for the first time in my life, I felt so limp and weak that I could not even sit on my own. While clinging on to my daughter Bunny while daughter Nina was busy calling for an ambulance, I kept doing deep breathing as I know the importance of oxygenating the cells in the major organs of my body. I also know deep down the root cause of such tremendously weak feeling.

It is only us who know the ins and outs of our bodies, our feelings, and our activities to the minutest detail. Only the patients know their bodies! Since my gum surgery on my upper lip last Nov. 26 to the time I was rushed to the hospital, I could not move my upper lip.  Hence, I was not able to take my daily dosage of about 30 to 40 minutes of Laughter Yoga.  I knew it was the culprit that brought down my immune system! True enough, the battery of tests on my heart and brain proved that I am perfectly healthy and well. I was fully confident and sure as the rising sun that would be the outcome as various tests were being done on me.

Wow, who would believe that I was rushed at about 1 a.m. to the hospital, spent much money simply because I was not able to laugh for 11 days? But believe me, that was exactly what happened! That, dear readers, is the wonder and magical healing therapy that Laughter Yoga brings.

Exactly two weeks after my gum surgery, I went for a checkup with my dentist, Dr. Vivan Virata.  When I felt my upper lip had loosened up and could already move, I rose  from the dental chair, raised up my arms and did the hearty laughter — with all my heart and gusto for about 20 minutes — to the surprise of Dr. Virata and her staff, who just laughed with me. The suppressed-roaring laughter for two weeks, I released at home and in the gym, to the delight of everyone, who had missed my contagious laughter that  long. Ah! What a wonderful, relaxing, de-stressing feeling! I love laughing —  as much as I love my life! Ho, ho, ha, ha, ha!

The next Laughter Yoga sessions are set on Feb. 18 at the Makati Sports Club for the Maritime Law Association, and on Feb. 20 at the Manila Doctors Hospital for the cancer patients of the Joy in Living Foundation spearheaded by Peggy Ty.

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E-mail author at mega_abundant_lv@yahoo.com.