WHAT IS LAUGHTER YOGA?
Combining laughter exercises with yoga breathing techniques (Prayanama), Laughter Yoga was developed by an Indian doctor in 1995. It now enables people to laugh to reach greater HEALTH & HAPPINESS in more than 100 countries.
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Yoga poses, comedy or jokes? You will not see nor hear any of this in a Laughter Yoga session. The process is actually the opposite: it is an exercise program where laughter initially comes from your body thanks to a combination of gentle stretches, exercises, deep slow breaths, clapping and chanting, while looking playfully at each other in the eyes.
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That is right, you will learn the art of laughing for no reason at all!
As the session progresses, it gradually translates into genuine and sustained belly-laughter which spreads its positive effects on the body, mind and spirit: intentional laughter becomes natural, liberating and healing. And did I say it is highly contagious?
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In a nutshell, you go from "weird" to "wonderful" to "WOW!".
It gets even better: our body gets the same benefits from simulated and spontaneous laughter, which means that whether you surrender to your joyous self to connect with your inner child straight away or not, you will reap the same benefits.
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Do you want to bring more joy and laughter in your life? Would you like to share this with your group to connect on a simple yet very effective level?
Here are some of the many reasons Laughter Yoga is so beneficial for individuals as well as groups.
BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER YOGA
Whilst some of these benefits can be felt straight away, it is with regular practice that others are fully experienced and truly benefit.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
According to evidence-based research, Laughter Yoga helps to
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regulate blood flow
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boost the immune system
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increase oxygen intake & deepen breathing
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provide pain relief by easing muscle tension
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increase energy levels
MENTAL WEALTH
According to evidence-based research, Laughter Yoga helps to
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decrease depression and anxiety: when you laugh, you are in the present moment.
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manage and reduce stress by releasing endorphins, dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin while reducing cortisol.
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build resilience, making people look on the brighter side of life, especially when faced with challenges.
SOCIAL CONNECTION
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Laughter is truly universal : it knows no language, age, cultural, economic, educational or gender barriers and creates bridges between people like nothing else.
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It also helps us (re)connect with our inner child and our inner joy, something that is there all the time, but that we sometimes need to find and nurture.
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Promoting peace through joy, laughter naturally relieves tensions and dissolves loneliness.
DID YOU KNOW THIS?
33%
Average reduction of cortisol levels after just one Laughter Yoga session during a research conducted by the scientific ABC show Catalyst. One participant even got 65% reduction!
Zygomaticus major
One of the 40 muscles in your face, it is responsible, along with the risorius, for pulling a smile on your face. During a session of Laughter Yoga, it is so intensely used that we even need to relax and stretch it!
10 min of belly-laughter
provides the same benefits to 30 minutes on a rowing machine. I know which one I would choose.
If you've ever had a sore belly from laughing, you'll understand!
30
We are 30 more times likely to laugh in a social situation than when we are alone (without the stimulation of books, tv, etc). Another good reason to connect with someone and laugh together.
MEET BENEDICTE
As a linguist who strongly believes in the power of language learning to break barriers between people, Bénédicte’s aim is to use laughter as a universal language to help participants reconnect in an increasingly disconnected world: not only to reconnect with themselves and their inner child, but also between their own body and mind, and with the professional and personal communities they belong to.
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Her message is simple…Laughter Connects!
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25 years ago, as a rather withdrawn and lonely young Belgian woman, she embarked on a solo backpacking trip to a Greek mountain. There she met her life partner and started an adventure that took her to Australia on the other side of the world . With this new-found love came a package of optimism and an equally positive family. In harder times, speaking words of wisdom, her mother-in-law Mary advised her to “laugh at herself”. These words were never forgotten, so when Mary passed away, they resurfaced and set Bene on her laughter path.
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Enthusiastic, open and motivating, Bénédicte is passionate about the many benefits laughter brings to those who attend her sessions, and herself: daily practice has changed her life and her aim now is to enhance the lives of others to increase their mental wealth.
A qualified Teacher and a child carer, Bénédicte has over 25 years of experience teaching people from a wide range of age groups, abilities and cultural backgrounds. Qualified Laughter Yoga Leader since 2019 and certified as Aged Care Laughter Leader since 2022, she has run sessions for educational and community organisations and is running a couple of weekly social laughter clubs on zoom, both in French and English.
SERVICES
EDUCATION
After 25 years of teaching all age groups, I am familiar with the current challenges faced by teachers and educators: from endless preparations, marking and report-writing, ever-increasing amount of administration and data collection to dealing with parents expectations, their duties exceed by far the face-to-face contact with children.
Whether you are in charge of an Early Years setting or principal of a primary or secondary school, provide your teachers and staff with a professional development workshop that will reward them and give them tools to help them handle their every day tasks better, feeling more connected as a team and less stressed, while letting them connect with their own inner-child!
Students workshops are of course also available.
WORKPLACE
As a leader, you know that when people feel good at work, they are more likely to be more productive and creative, less absent, cooperate more effectively with their team and remain with their employer. We know from research that a positive culture contributes to a stronger performance overall. As a recognised tool, Laughter Yoga helps workers reduce stress and form dynamic, productive workplaces where people are happy and proud to work.
Whether you are considering a conference ice-breaker, a PD activity such as team-building workshops or wellbeing sessions and programs for your staff, executive and management teams, contact me to discuss your Corporate Laughter Yoga sessions.
AGED CARE
Just like everyone else, our senior citizens living in residential homes need stimulation, exercise and connection to lead a healthy and happy life. Laughter Yoga provides them with an activity which enhances their physical and mental health while giving them an opportunity to connect with each other and their inner child. Gentle stretches and physical exercises while sitting down, laughter exercises, connection through eye contact and playfulness are are all on the program, with participants reaping the benefits without even realising they are exerting themselves.
Whether you would like me to come and run a program, and/or to train your staff so that they learn to run sessions, contact me today.
COMMUNITY
I am passionate about helping communities to thrive and connect, and I know nothing beats laughter to bring a group of like-minded people together.
Each community is unique: whether it is about living in the same suburb, having the same interest or passion, language or culture, experiencing the same challenges or aspirations, and much more, it is also all about sharing something in common while enriching each other with uniqueness.
A more connected community is happier and more resilient.
Contact me to organise a workshop with YOUR community.
To come to my weekly FREE laughter club see the details HERE
TESTIMONIALS
“I love Laughter Yoga with Benedicte, it is the icing on my self-care cake. By the time the class finishes I have moved, stretched, engaged with others, relaxed and most of all laughed so much that my jaw is tender. With my spirit high, I can then go and meet my day, my week and my life. Thank you Benedicte for bringing Laughter yoga into my life, I am a convert!" - Annie
NEWS
LAUGHIE CHALLENGE AUSTRALIA
Launched on the 2/02/2022 by Laughter Yoga Oz, the aim of this challenge is to improve the mental health of 2,022,022 people of all ages across the nation this year.
How? Just by laughing for 60 seconds every day!
What is a Laughie?
A Laughie is like a selfie, but instead of a photo, you create a video (or sound recording) of yourself laughing, using your smart phone.
Why don't you try it now? When do you start laughing for a minute EVERY DAY?
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During November 2022, I will take part in the pilot Australian Laughie Study, a very serious University research which will aim at measuring and understanding the effects of producing a laughie every day and laughing with it at least once later in the day. I can't wait to be part of another study!
ABC CATALYST STUDY
Last December I took part in a 2-day shooting for an upcoming episode of the ABC show Catalyst.
This episode focusses on the impact of laughter in improving relationships, more particularly through the reduction in cortisol (known as "the stress hormone") in our body. This was scientifically measured through a saliva sample collected in a small tube, before and after a 45 minutes session, which was analysed later in laboratory. The second day of the shooting we received our individual results from presenter Lily Serna and Doctor Sarah McKay , which truly exceeded our expectations.
3 main points to highlight:
-every single participant experienced a reduction in their stress levels.
-one participant had a reduction of 65% in their cortisol level.
-the average reduction in stress levels was 33%.
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This exciting and significant study scientifically measured benefits of Laughter Yoga which we are used to experience during and after our sessions, only confirming in a scientific way that Laughter Yoga is a strong tool to help alleviate stress.
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You can watch the segment here:
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FAQ
You are not the only one wondering...
WHAT DOES A LAUGHTER YOGA SESSION LOOK LIKE?
Sessions typically run for an hour, and include warm-up, a mix of gentle stretches, laughter exercises and breathing, followed by a laughter meditation to finish with a deep relaxation. However, depending on your needs and time constraints, the length and components of a session can be adapted. Every session is tailored to the participating group and its unique needs.
WHAT IF I HAVE NEVER TRIED YOGA BEFORE?
IS THERE ANY PRE-REQUIREMENT?
Laughter Yoga does not require any pre-requirement: if you breathe, you can laugh! It does not comprise of traditional yoga poses, is a gentle cardio exercise, and all exercises can be adapted to each participant own level of fitness.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Just like people and groups are unique, each session is different and will be tailored to your needs, desired outcomes, type of group and time-constraint to name a few criteria. When you contact me, please provide as many details as possible so that I can get back to you with a quote.
WHERE CAN SESSIONS TAKE PLACE?
I am based in the Illawarra / Wollongong area and can travel for face-to-face sessions to
the Sutherland Shire, the Highlands, all the way to Goulburn in the West and Mollymook on the South Coast (travelling costs apply).
I also operate online using Zoom, anywhere in the French and English-speaking world. It is easy and highly effective too, and presents its own advantages.
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CLIENTS
We had the pleasure to laugh with
BBCR
Bay & Basin Community Resources is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation, operating as a non-government independent entity.
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I ran a session for a group of Senior Ladies as a part of a 5 week program centred on Health & Wellbeing.
GOULBURN MULWAREE YOUTH COUNCIL
Host to the 2022 conference for young people aged 12 - 24 years residents of NSW and currently a member of a youth council or youth advisory group for a Local Government Council, NGO, Peak government body or High School.
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I had the pleasure to run a session for 100 young people during the conference.
MONTESSORI AUSTRALIA
Supporting the full development of the human being, the Montessori approach offers a broad vision of education as an ‘aid to life’. As an educational system, it is used in over 22,000 schools worldwide, and has a longer track record of success than any other educational approach in the world.
I had the pleasure to run a couple of sessions at Elonera Montessori School, one for staff and one for parents during the 2019 Wellbeing Festival.
Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
Victor Borge
LET'S CONNECT TO LAUGH!
