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What are you laughing at?

It's not just been about the yoga, the group have also got outside and taken action for nature

Laughter yoga has been a roaring success in Morecambe, Alex tells us more...

When we think about climate change, pollution in the ocean and biodiversity loss, it can be hard not to feel anxious or powerless to make a difference. Our recent 5-week course from our Community Hub in Morecambe offered a new perspective. These Laughter Yoga sessions gave the opportunity to connect with others in a small group while and making a positive impact on our local environment.

The benefits of laughter are many and varied, ranging from positive effects on the mood, stress reduction and social connection. Laughter can also help us to build the resilience to cope with life’s ups and downs. However, if we leave laughter to chance, it’s easy to go for days or even longer without laughing at all.

Four people on yoga mats meditating

Laughter is even integrated to meditation

The practice of Laughter Yoga invites us all to commit to making laughter a choice in our daily lives, instead of relying on external factors to make us laugh. Laughter Yoga is a fun exercise with a scientific basis - it has beneficial effects on the body and mind and drives social connection.

Laughter Yoga shows us that by embracing our inner playfulness, we can work towards making laughter a habit in our daily lives. The practice is a unique concept and was founded in 1995 by Dr Kataria, a medical GP in Mumbai. Laughter Yoga has now spread to over 100 countries and there are over 10,000 clubs worldwide! Laughter clubs give space for participants to embrace deep, hearty laughter and in doing so, gain the full health benefits that laughter can offer.

Group of people picking up litter in Morecambe

It's not just been about the yoga, the group have also got outside and taken action for nature

The Bay’s sessions provided an introduction to Laughter Yoga alongside activities to get us active in nature. Each session began with laughter exercises designed to get us laughing and feeling comfortable in the group. Over the 5 weeks we then built up to ‘the laughter meditation,’ an exercise in free-flowing hearty, laughter. After a grounding meditation we then spent some time getting to know one another while taking positive actions for nature. Over the 5 weeks we collected 8 bags of litter from the prom and beach and took part in citizen science surveys including The Great Nurdle Hunt and strandline searches.

A person making large bubbles

Bubble meditation helps to blow away anxieties

We wrapped-up our final session with ‘the bubble meditation’ and blew giant bubbles on the seafront to represent letting go of our anxieties.

Here is some of the feedback from those who joined the group:

‘I’ve gained the confidence to laugh out loud, loudly and with no embarrassment’

 

‘I’ve enjoyed confidence building and socialising, I feel less anxious’

‘Laughter Yoga has helped me to find more compassion for myself and others. I’m able to approach daunting things with more confidence knowing that I can laugh off any mistakes I might make.’

‘I always felt really refreshed and calm after each session.’

If you'd like to register your interest for future Laughter Yoga sessions, then please email Alex Blomfield at ablomfield@edenproject.com for Morecambe, and Amber Woods at amberw@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk for Barrow.

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