Laughter yoga

Laughter Yoga classes for seniors are held at COTA NT in Spillett House once a month and are part of our Fit for Life program, which encourages seniors to stay healthy and focus on their well-being.

Class dates

• Friday 10 February, 10.30am – 11.15am 
• Friday 10 March, 10.30am – 11.15am 
• Friday 14 April, 10.30am – 11.15am 

“Against the force of laughter nothing can stand”  –  Mark Twain

Laughter yoga is one of the many non-intrusive health options available to every living being.  To simply smile changes how you feel in the moment. Yoga arises from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’ meaning to get hold of, integrate and harmonize.  Harmonizing body, mind, spirit and society.  And laughter is self-explanatory.  Laughter is not someone imposing their sense of humour on society which is always subjective.  It is laughing for no reason other than tricking our bodies into a sense of well-being and health. 

Benefits of laughing

Physical benefits are wide reaching, from feel good hormones, inhaling and exhaling deeply oxygenating our organs and assisting to eliminate waste easier. Our lymphatic system is massaged, strengthens the immune system, lifts depressions and is an anti-aging formula.  

Laughter yoga:

• Puts us intensely in the moment
• People who laugh don’t worry as much as people who don’t laugh, and as such enjoy life more
• Improved emotional intelligence
• Makes us feel good because it defuses three of the most painful emotions (fear, boredom and anger) by releasing them
• Lifts us up and makes life work living
• Aims to develop joyfulness, not just happiness
• Makes us feel safer and eases much of our awkwardness
• Puts anxiety on the back burner
• We provide good company when we laugh
• Interrupts the power and control struggle
• Is a pathway to unconditional love

Laughter releases endorphins, giving us the ‘feel good factor’

Acts as an aerobic exercise and is like ‘internal jogging’

Unleashes inhibitions, breaks down barriers

Great team building tool encourages better communications

Helps boost our immune system which helps us resist disease

Tones muscles, improves respiration and circulation

Encourages positive thinking and creativity

Relaxes the whole body by reducing stress and tension.