Brown Bag Presentation of Laughter Yoga for the Washington State Department of Ecology

1. Laughter Yoga
Brown Bag
Oct 16, 2013
Justin B. Wright,
Certified Laughter Yoga Leader
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2. Handshake/ Namaste Greeting
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3. ~ Please share* a word or phrase on these 3 topics ~
Laughter is: (Give a Definition, Synonym, Value, etc.)
Laughter can: (Give an example)
Laughter at Department of Ecology should: (Dream BIG!)
*share with the group or a neighbor
*share at facebook.com/olympialaughteryoga during the brown bag for a prize
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4. 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
practice.
Laughter Yoga helps us integrate laughter into our life.
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5. Yaaaawn
Contagious Yawners
tend to be higher in
dispositional
empathy.
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6. Laughter is an extension
of our voice
• Laughter can communicate via tone, volume, rhythm
• Laughter can be soothing or agitating, helpful or
harmful
• Appropriate and healthy laughter increases social
skills, emotional intelligence, and positive
relationships
• A culture of healthy laughter reduces the incidence of
bullying, teasing, and harassing
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7. Assumptions
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Laughter is fun
Laughter is healthy
Laughter is contagious
Laughter is easiest with friends
Laughter can happen deliberately without comedy
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8. CONTRAINDICATIONS
As with any aerobic activity, use precaution.
When in doubt consult your physician.
• Recent surgery (last 3 months)
• Pregnancy
• Major psychiatric disorders
• Hernia
• Heart Disease
• Epilepsy
• Urinary incontinence
• Bleeding piles
• Persistent cough
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9. When to use Laughter
Yoga
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During your commute
Beginning of the day – to energize
In the field – to overcome challenges
During lunch break – for a pick-me-up, to aid digestion
End of the day – to decompress
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10. Cell phone
EMFs? Ask the FCC?
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11. Benefits
• Increased energy levels
• 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
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12. How-To
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Be Willing to Laugh
Attitude of Playfulness
Warm-Up Stretches
Call & Response Laughs without jokes/ talking
Signal to Break [VG,VG, Y!x2 or HH/HHHx3]
Eye Contact
Mingle
‘Yogic’ Breath
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13. Silent Laugh
Silence will imply consent on meeting management and procedural issues
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14. Examples of Themes
•Animals
•Holidays
•Special Events
•Common Life Scenarios
•Characters from Fiction
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15. Laughter & Music
• Solfège [Scales]
• Beautiful Round Notes
• Faux Opera
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16. Animals
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17. Blow Kisses Breath
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18. No Money Laugh
Furlough, COLA shortfall
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19. Won the Grant Laugh
Federal Recovery Act Funding
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20. Roller Coaster Laugh
High Occupancy Vehicle?
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21. Shiver Laugh
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22. Hot Cocoa Breath
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23. Pirate/ Swashbuckler Laugh
Compliance & Enforcement
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24. Bow & Arrow Laugh/ 1 Meter/ 1 cm Laugh
Assessment
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25. Toothache/ Nitrous/ Gargle
ACA Dental Plan?
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26. Hula Hoop/ Hula Dance
Paid Vacation or Staycation
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27. Unbalanced Washer
Monitoring and Measuring Water Use
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28. Bouquet Breath
Stop and smell the non-native invasive plants
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29. Sneeze
Clean air, public health & the environment
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30. Wicked Laugh
Long term Polluters for Profit?
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31. Wolfman, Ghost, Witch
Trick or Treat, my sweet
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32. Zombie
7 AM Staff Meeting?
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33. Vader Breath
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34. Cartoon Characters
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35. Cutting Onions/ Crying
Persistent, bioaccummulative, and toxic substances?
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36. Gradient Laugh
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37. Further info
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38. Safe, Appropriate, Profoundly Memorable Surprises
With or without
Red Nose
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39. Facebook.com/olympialaughteryoga
Like · Comment· Share
Laughter…
Is: ____________
Can: __________
Should:________
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