This is food for thought…
Lenny is considered one of the world’s leading spiritual leaders with a rare combination of mastery in Gestalt, humor and lifetime experiences as an educator and an actor. Lenny is also certified as a Laughter Leader by the World Laughter Tour and is a member of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.
This isn’t about positive thinking. It’s about how one deals with life in a much more general sense. The positive thinking movement is something I do not uncritically embrace. But learning how to approach life so that one feels better more often is a good thing. Embracing the whole spectrum of emotion is actually involved in this and that means allowing yourself to feel the dark stuff too.
It has been said that laughter is the best medicine and I believe it. I have often noticed that laughter truly takes me away and alters my consciousness for the better. I also purposely watch as many comedies, both sit coms and movies, for exactly this reason. I try to laugh as often as possible. I put EFFORT into finding ways to laugh and it’s part of my healing protocol.
I’m going to repost another post on laughter from a couple of years ago below:
I’ve often posted information about laughter as medicine and laughter yoga as a practice. I found a video on Shinzen Young’s youtube channel with Stephanie Nash that speaks of Laughter Meditation. Honestly we need to have this sort of practice available on every street corner…like Starbucks.
Hang in there and watch the whole video if you’ve got any interest in this at all…it’s very powerful and the introduction has important concepts included. The video starts a bit slowly being we’re not part of the class and it’s a bit out of context to join in via the video.
There is a “proper” laughing meditation at about 15 minutes. That translates very well via video! I cry right along with laughing when I do this stuff! Have fun!
____________________________________
____________________________________
Just going to share some links on how laughter is such a good thing. I use it as medicine as often as possible. Generally these days it’s via comedy on DVD.
● Laugh so you don’t cry: how laughing kills the pain
● Laughter really is the best medicine as doctors find it can be as healthy as exercise
● How Humor Makes You Friendlier, Sexier
● ‘Laughter yoga’ tries to tap a natural resource for healing
Some books on the subject:
● 65 Need-to-know Laughter Yoga Exercises
● The Great Big Anthology of Laughter Exercises: 500 Laughter Exercises for Health, Fun and Friendship
● Run-through Laughter Yoga Session Standing: See How It’s Done!
This was first posted in June 2013
You must be logged in to post a comment.