Laughter Workshop: Laughter for Health

Laughter Workshop with Jo Bluett, Laughter for Health

Free for edmesh members and a friend/family member. In the community space on first floor in Ocean Terminal.

If you want to come along to the Laughter workshop, please let Jeff know. Call him on 07979 543 245 so that we know how many are coming. Or send an email to Jeff.

edmesh member Jo Bluett has lived with ME and Fibromyalgia for 25 years. After a major relapse in 2002 when she lost her job, Jo became housebound and almost lost everything; but then laughter came along at exactly the right time and rescued her.

It is well documented that gentle exercise and a positive mindset are essential for recovery – ask anyone who lives with ME and who has made steps to recovery and both will feature prominently. However what we also know is that CBT and GET do NOT work and can actually prove to be harmful for people with ME.

For Jo, laughter was – and remains – the perfect combination to boost positivity and resilience in order to influence mindset and attitude, as well as a form of exercise in which she is able to participate (because going to the gym still remains a “no way” and “too much” option) and which she actually enjoys!

Laughter Yoga, quite simply, is laughing combined with calming, healing, deep breathing. Laughter Yoga allows the laughter to be practised as a form of exercise – giving us a holistic workout that influences our physical and mental health as well as our emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Laughter Yoga can be an exercise that that is incredibly gentle but can also be deeply powerful. Laughter is available and accessible to all of us – but some of us maybe need help in finding and embracing our laughter again and letting go of the fear that enjoying ourselves isn’t going to set us back.

Jo runs two weekly classes with Edinburgh Laughter Club (which is FREE to carers), and her club members come from all walks of life, from a whole range of ages (from students up to 91!) and with a whole array of health conditions, challenges, life experiences and mobility who all attest to and rave about the benefits that regular laughter can bring. That’s why they keep coming back and genuinely notice the impact when they miss it!

Laughter Yoga trains our body and muscles to laugh again but in a controlled, gentle, paced way so that anyone can actually start practicing daily laughter in their own home every day.

Benefits of Laughter:

Laughter releases endorphins – our feel-good, happy chemicals – we don’tlaugh because we’re happy – we feel happy because we laugh!

Endorphins are our natural anti-depressants (with no adverse, damaging, symptom erupt-ing side-effects!), our natural pain-killers (again no nasty checmicallyinduced side-effects) and our natural anti-inflammatories.

Laughter boosts our lymphatic system and our immune system – both are weak for people with ME and gentle laughter exercises really can make a difference.

To summarise the main benefits of laughter:

Lifts our mood

Boosts the immune system

Reduces inflammation

Helps us manage pain

Boosts our heart health

Lowers blood pressure

Boosts lung capacity and breathing

Reduces stress and tension in the body

Increases blood and oxygen supply (so helps with brain fog!)

Boosts our resilience, our confidence, our self-esteem and our social connection

Jo’s workshop will be gentle, fun, paced, and with options of intensity for all levels of fitness, ability and mobility. The whole session can be enjoyed seated but those who wish to move around and enjoy the full benefits of laughter exercise can do so. Jo will ensure everyone is encouraged and supported to work only within their comfort zone.

Come along and learn how laughter can boost your health and your happiness – laugh yourself happier!