Personal Development

#laughteryogawithJoe - a natural, simple, spontaneous approach to laughter yoga.

'Laughing to improve your wellbeing'
Watch the BBC film here

#laughteryogawithJoe is a natural, genuine, and spontaneous way to reduce stress & anxiety, build resilience, and promote mindfulness, happiness & stress-free living.
It uses traditions from around the world.
This helps us be happier, more optimistic, more connected, and more energised & effective at what we do.

Would you like a short (2-minute) video with 3 quick & easy tips? Email me joe@joehoare.co.uk with 'Yes' in your subject line and it'll be in your inbox directly - or just stay ahead of the game by subscribing to the monthly laughletter 

Upcoming events include:

• Bristol Laughter Club monthly sessions, details of the next one here
• Laughter Facilitation Skills - learn laughter practices from traditions around the world
  Bristol 14/15th September - book here  
• Laughter Yoga and moving mindfulness, Bristol, 13th July, book here

Opportunities this year include

• World Yoga Festival, Reading, 19-21 July
• Remember to come back here for more dates soon......

Have you read the blog yet? Articles on laughter / happiness / stress / depression / mindfulness / wellness / productivity.

Podcast : click to hear this podcast for Alternatives, London.
Dr David Hamilton writes:
‘I worked with Joe on our Kindness & Laughter day and STRONGLY recommend his nls: natural laughter skills and Laughter Yoga to anyone wanting to know how
laughter impacts every aspect of our consciousness, performance and happiness’.

 Tim Wheater writes:
'Joe is an authentic healer of the heart......his natural charisma brings laughter and light to the eyes, ears and soul.
thank you Joe for the good vibrations experienced by all!'

Got any questions? Get in touch today.

Background Information

What is nls: natural laughter skills?

1. nls: natural laughter skills is based on Gelotology, the science and practice of laughter, and includes Positive Psychology, Appreciative Inquiry, Laughter Yoga, NLP, and Mind-Body medicine.
2. It has an inherent flexibility which stimulates genuine, spontaneous, good-natured laughter.
3. Because of its flexibility, it provides resources and insights for every-day life, work and relationships.
4. It has 5 key elements:
   - physical awareness, the happy posture: walk the walk
   - generating positive feelings, emotional awareness: feel the feelings
   - upbeat communication: use the language, speak the words
   - developing a positive frame of mind: think the thoughts
   - connecting: live the life

What is laughter yoga? The 5 key points as described by Dr Kataria:

1. Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise routine developed by the Indian physician Dr Madan Kataria. According to this concept anyone can laugh for no reason, without relying on humour, jokes or comedy.
2. Laughter is simulated as an exercise, within a group, with eye contact and childlike playfulness. It soon turns into real, genuine laughter if you are willing to participate.
3. It is called LAUGHTER YOGA because it combines laughter exercises with yogic breathing which brings more oxygen to the body and makes one feel more energetic and healthy.
4. The concept of laughter yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. One gets the same physical and physiological benefits and you soon find that the fake laughter becomes genuine.
5. The first laughter club was held in a park in Mumbai in March 1995 with only 5 participants but now there are over 6000 laughter clubs in 60 countries - just showing that there is a need for laughter all over the world.

I trained in Laughter Yoga with Dr Kataria in 2002 and 2003, and Laughter yoga is one aspect of the Laughter Facilitation Training which I set up in the UK in 2006.
Laughter yoga is also at the heart of the monthly Bristol laughter workouts (www.bristollaughterclub.com). These workouts are the UK’s longest running uninterrupted monthly laughter sessions, having started in 2003.