laugh
events, what is, training, booking, media
EVENTS
CHELTENHAM
Laughter After Work – Kate Sharp
Where: The Isbourne Holistic Centre, 4 Wolseley Terrace, Cheltenham, GL50 1TH
When: 6pm – 6.45pm First three Fridays of the month: 20th January; 3rd, 10th and 17th February; 2nd, 9th, 16th March; 6th and 13th April 2012
Price: £5.
More information: Relax after the week; energise for the weekend! Enquiries: 01242 511746. Read about Kate Sharp here
If you are enthused, click here to book!
If you think a free taster on Friday 13th January would whet your laughter appetite, click here. He he!
“Loved the laughter yoga, felt on top of the world, in need of more of this therapy, thanks!” A. Gregory
LONDON
Laughter yoga for SPORT RELIEF
Where: Horseguards Parade, near the Mall, London’s West End
When: All day, Sunday 25th March 2012
Price: It’s free!
More information: Love to laugh? We will be offering lighthearted sessions and laughter advice all day as part of Sport Relief, we look forward to seeing you there!
Contact: Charlotte.eaton@lifebulb.org or 07828 413 484
BIRMINGHAM
Laughter yoga at Tree of Life Festival
Where: St Columba Hall, corner of Alcester Rd and Chantry Rd, Birmingham B13 8DJ
When: 10am – 5.30pm Saturday 14th April 2012
Price: £9/£7
More information: Check out Birmingham’s Inspiration Network. All stalls and workshops included in entrance fee. Relax your mind, nurture yourself. Always a very special occasion. See http://www.treeoflifemagazine.co.uk/page4.htm
Contact: Charlotte.eaton@lifebulb.org or 07828 413 484
Full laughter and relaxation session
Where: Birmingham Buddhist Centre, 11 Park Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8AB
When: 5.30pm – 6.30pm Sunday 29th April 2012
Price: FREE
More information: Birmingham’s newest laughter leaders facilitate their first public session for… YOU! Come and have a laugh, always guaranteed to be lighthearted, creative, fun and inspiring as a new group of laughter leaders gain confidence an experience ready to sprinkle their own brand of positivity around the place.
Contact: Charlotte.eaton@lifebulb.org or 07828 413 484
Certified Laughter Yoga Leader Training
Where: Birmingham, Moseley and Central
When: Saturday 28th April – Tuesday 1st May (Do just two days or all four)
More information: Lifebulb runs a unique laughter leader training course including facilitation in real-life corporate and community settings: an absolutely unforgettable experience. Previous trainees have dubbed it “better than any business course they’ve been on” for both career progression and personal development. No experience required. Full tool-kit of facilitation skills and laughter exercises as part of the course. See our training section for full details.
“Was just what I needed, a great inner and outer release! Thank you.” G. Wikeley
In London and across the UK: book a private session for community or corporate settings – mental health, physical disabilities, events, hen/stag parties, you name it, we will give you a fantastic session. Contact as above or see make a booking
WHAT IS?
What is Laughter Yoga?
Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise routine developed by Indian physician Dr. Madan Kataria and is a fast-growing international phenomenon. It combines laughter exercises with yogic breathing (Pranayama) which brings more oxygen to the body and brain, and a positive and deeply connecting experience without relying on jokes or humour. It is based on the scientific fact that the body cannot tell the difference between fake and real laughter, and reaps the benefits either way.
“Hilarious!” M. Land
Film clip
Lifebulb’s Charlotte Eaton was featured in a Channel Four 3-minute short. Witty and entertaining, it should answer all your questions about laughter yoga. Enjoy it here
Why practice Laughter Yoga?
Laughter brings numerous social, emotional and physical benefits.
Scientific studies suggest that a ten minute full-blown belly-laugh is
enough to bring all the attendant health benefits into your life. Laughter:
- Improves brain function (increased oxygen throughout the body)
- Reduces pain (increase in natural pain killers: endorphins)
- Reduces stress (decrease in hormones cortisol and adrenaline)
- Alleviates depression (increase in beta-endorphins)
- Lowers blood pressure (tests show that during the session blood
pressure increases. Afterwards, it drops below its starting level) - Boosts the immune system (increase in human growth hormone
which aids sleep and cellular repair) - Increases positivity and mental wellbeing
- Increases emotional wellbeing and social connectivity
Laughter yoga sessions give a safe, nurturing and hilarious environment in which a laughter specialist facilitates people to enjoy a minimum of ten minutes full-blown laughter, followed by guided relaxation.
What happens in a Laughter Session?
A typical laughter session lasts for 45 minutes to an hour and starts with warm ups followed by laughter exercises in which participants are encouraged to cultivate playfulness and connection with one another, leading to real and contagious laughter. Exercises are interspersed with deep breathing. The session is skilfully choreographed to begin gently, raise the spontaneity, joy and energy into a free-flow laughter meditation, and finish with guided relaxation, grounding and reflection.
Laughter Yoga is open to all:
You do not need to have any yoga ability, a sense of humour, or to be anything other than yourself. All are warmly welcome!
“Wonderful. Haven’t laughed like this in a long time. I’m coming back for more!” C. O’Toole
TRAINING
Become a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader (CLYL)
Outline
Want to gain new skills and give something back? Unique opportunity for personal development and career progression. Further your facilitation skills, broaden your career portfolio, increase your confidence, practice your presentation skills and bring more positivity and joy into your own and others’ lives. Enjoy ongoing support from the key facilitator and laughter colleagues to set up classes, courses and workshops either in public settings or in your office, youth group, care home, school, service, medical centre or for friends and family. Laughter yoga stands alone or is an excellent addition to other creativity-enhancing and stress-relief work.
“Amazing, life-changing, lots of implications for use with different groups” Sandra Wathall, counsellor and lifebulb-trained CLYL
Course Components
- Daily Laughter Yoga sessions: experience the health benefits for yourself
- Planning effective sessions: managing individuals, group dynamics, various settings, mixed abilities and ages, creating targeted workshops
- Creative brainstorming: problem-solving, drawing on group expertise
- Key concepts: mental, emotional, spiritual and physical basis of laughter yoga, scientific research, experience a deep connection to why, what, how
- Real-life practice sessions in settings including mental health, schools, physical disbaility, corporate: leave inspired with confidence
- Business aspects of setting up as a laughter yoga leader: everything you need to get started
- Group sharing: feedback, support, reflection
- Facilitation skills: learn/refresh your ability to be lead facilitator and to work in a supporting role
- Follow up: advertising space for your laughter events on lifebulb’s site, promotion for your sessions through lifebulb’s newsletter, ongoing support from the lead facilitator and your coursemates
“I honestly found every aspect of the course engaging and valuable. Ten out of ten.” Andy Wakeman, after four-day lifebulb CLYL training
Forthcoming dates
When: 28th, 29th, 30th April & 1st May
Where: Park Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8AB
What: Two days indoor training for your certification plus a further two days advanced practical. The first two days finish with a session facilitated by you for locals, friends and family. During the following two days you will be observing, supporting and leading sessions in some of the following: corporate, care home, mental health, physical disability, schools, medical. This is all done with full support, planning and to the level of your confidence. Do just the first two days or all four, (highly recommended). Contact us for enquiries or download the booking form CLYLT Booking form 28th April 2012 and e mail to charlotte.eaton@lifebulb.org, after which you will receive confirmation of your place on the course and will be required to make payment.
Fees:
Option 1) 4-day course: £295 full/£230 concessions
Option 2) 2-day CLYLT only: £220 full/£190 concessions
Option 3) 2-day Practical Advanced Laughter (for those who already have their CLYLT): £220 full/£190 concessions
“Have had the most amazing four days doing the laughter yoga course. Have grown in more ways than I expected. It totally exceeded my expectations.” Narinder Moore, lifebulb-trained CLYL
In-house training options
Book us to run a laughter leader course for your staff, your youth group members, or your service. Each course participant will then have the certification to run sessions both within and outside of your place of work. Contact us for enquiries or to make a booking.
“Thanks so much for building those troubleshooting tips into your training, it made it a much higher calibre of information than just how to run an easy session!” Kate Sharp, lifebulb-trained CLYL
MAKE A BOOKING
All bookings and pricing are dependent on the programme you choose, group size and location. Contact us to secure the services of one of our exceptional lifebulb laughter leaders from across the UK.
“It was brilliantly facilitated and all the people were lovely and caring” Anon, participant in session at Warwick’s Old Bank Cafe mental health drop-in
Parties
Sessions for between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours to have all party-goers laughing their socks off and having the time of their life. Use it as an icebreaker to kick off a party with heart-warming, relaxing, hilarious activity, or schedule it later on in the evening to bring everyone together for a surprising and uplifting shared experience.
Community Events
Bring the community together with an uplifting experience that requires no physical ability or mental agility. For all ages, sizes, backgrounds. Laughter is an equaliser and unites people, celebrating our individuality and yet is common to all of humanity. Laughter sessions are effective for non-English speakers also. For large or small groups, indoors or outdoors; discuss your event with us and we will create exactly what you are looking for. Laughter sessions can be tailored to include themed exercises depending on your event.
Corporate & Team-Building Programmes
These training sessions and workshops are designed to help companies and organisations to transform their performance, increase profitability and become leaders in their field. It has been scientifically proven that Laughter Yoga can have a profound effect on individual, group and corporate performance. Book a single session, a half day or one day programme or an embedded programme with support to continue into the future. Or choose to have energising bursts of laughter yoga within a conference day or any other event. See our corporate page or contact us directly here.
MEDIA
Visit our press page for all the coverage we’ve had.
See lifebulb laughter clips on lifebulblive
Join us on facebook!