Taylor Pocopani (left) one of the Senior Star at Elmore Place Program Directors and Certified Laughter Yoga Leaders, leads Jane Voss (center) and Hilda Busch (right) in Laughter Yoga exercises.
You can’t miss a Laughter Yoga class. In fact, if you’re within earshot of a session, the sound of a room full of boisterous laughter can become irresistible to anyone passing by.
“Ho, ho… ha-ha-ha,” the crowd repeatedly chants as they clap in synch.
Welcome to new a form of exercise that’s beginning to get attention from senior centers to the workplace here in the Quad Cities and around the world.
“Did you know that when you laugh your heart rate increases faster in one minute than what in normal exercise can take 10 minutes to achieve?” asks Taylor Pocopanni, one of the Quad Cities’ newly certified Laughter Yoga Leaders. Taylor is the Independent Living Program Director at Senior Star at Elmore Place, a retirement community in Davenport . She leads the Laughter Yoga sessions every Monday morning there and also is receiving inquiries to lead sessions in other organizations in the community.
According to its official Web site, Laughter Yoga is an international phenomenon, founded by an Indian physician in Mumbai. Dr. Madan Kataria, who was already practicing yoga, noticed that breathing in laughter was very similar to yogic breathing. He launched his first Laughter Yoga club in 1995, and what started as one session with a few people in a public park, has become 6,000 social Laughter Yoga clubs in 60 countries.
Experts have long recognized the health benefits of laughter. Laughter reduces stress. It quickly induces a state of relaxation. When people laugh, their blood pressure tends to drop. And now, according to Dr. Kataria, scientists are finding that laughter can boost the immune system with an increased production of anti-viral and anti-infection cells. In addition to the physiological effects on the body, many participants report a psychological boost and an improved sense of wellbeing after a 45-minute session.
“I feel so relaxed,” agrees Hilda Busch, a Senior Star resident and regular at Laughter Yoga sessions. “I just love it, and I won’t miss a class.”
“Ah-lo-ha…ha-ha-ha!” yells Taylor. “Ah-lo-ha…ha-ha-ha,” answer her students, all smiles, of course.
Kaylan Hamerlink, Assisted Living Program Director and Certified Laughter Yoga Leader (center), shares a laugh with Sylvia Plute (left) and Marge Paulsen (right).
Laughter Yoga is unique because it involves eye-contact and child-like playfulness, which soon turns into real and contagious laughter. Laughter Yoga is a non-verbal exercise that does not rely on humor, jokes, or comedy. Instead participants are lead through exercises like “credit card bill” laughter. In this exercise, everyone is told they just received their bill and the total amount is outrageous. Participants get up, walk around and pantomime holding their bills, emptying their pockets, and laugh with complete shock and disbelief.
“It’s hilarious,” says Taylor. “We’ve all been in a room when people are laughing. Everyone has a unique laugh, and then there are the stand outs. One person’s distinctive laugh can get the whole room going, and the session just picks up from there.
“The whole idea behind Laughter Yoga is to enjoy the benefits of laughing for no reason, because your body can’t tell the difference between real or contrived laughter.” Taylor plugged into Laughter Yoga while researching new ways for seniors to get some exercise. Laughter Yoga is a form of exercise that is suitable for individuals of all ages. And, after a series of laughter exercises, there is a period of guided relaxation to bring participants into a more quiet state.
Taylor is one of three Program Directors at Senior Star, who are all Certified Laughter Yoga Leaders. In addition to classes at Senior Star, she’s started a loyal following at CASI, the Center for Active Seniors, Inc., in Davenport, the largest senior center in the Quad Cities. Now, several employers and non-profit agencies that benefit seniors have contacted her about conducting Laughter Yoga sessions.
“People just love this class. It breaks down barriers. We make new friends. Laughter is contagious and it allows us all to reconnect through childlike playfulness, which is something adults forget to do,” says Taylor.
Interested in joining Laughter Yoga? All are welcome on Monday for the weekly sessions at Senior Star at Elmore Place, Davenport. The 10 a.m. session is held in the Assisted Living media room, while the 11 a.m. session is held the Independent Living building.
You can also learn more about Laughter Yoga, how to train to become an instructor, or start your own Laughter Yoga club at www.laughteryoga.org
