Laughter Yoga at Alzheimer Disease Foundation Malaysia

ADFM at Jln 11/8e, PJ

Laughter Yoga Talk  at ADFM on 10th December was a great opportunity to introduce the benefits of laughter to the caregivers as well as the staff of the Centre.  Most of those present have never heard of LY and were skeptical about laughing for no reason.  But, at the end of the experiential session, all were convinced that it is possible to Laugh without humour, comedy or reason.  There was an elderly gentlemen who admitted, the session enabled him to laugh for the first time since his wife passed away in July this year.

Celebrating World Heart Day at TungShin Hospital 1st Oct 2011

TungShin Hospital organised an event to celebrate World Heart Day on 1st October.  There were free health screenings, talks by Medical Specialists, Lucky Draws, Qigong demonstrations as well as Laughter Yoga sessions.  The LY session was enjoyed by all who participated.  LY, once again brought out the laughter, smiles and joy from people who hardly knew each other, people who laughed just by keeping eye contact with total strangers.

Laughter Yoga with Cancerlink Patients 24th Sept 2011

With the Founder of Cancerlink, Mrs J Fernandez 

I was invited to share laughter at a retreat organised by  Cancerlink Foundation at Fraser's Hills recently.  This retreat known as the Rainbow Connection are for cancer survivors whose ages ranged from 35 and above.  There were about 50+ participants, including  6 volunteers. The retreated was fully funded through Cancerlink, which was able to get sponsors to support the event. There were games,  costume competition and Cane exercises as well as LY session.  Many have not heard of LY before.  Thus it was a great joy to bring laughter to a group of sporting adults, who have learned to appreciate life as never before, laughed with great zest and without inhibitions.

Early Morning Cane exercises

Laughter Yoga at Kechara Buddhist Centre.

saturday night fever laugh

hohohaha dance

passing the message

I was invited to conduct a LY session at the Kechara Buddhist Centre,  on 16th September.  It was held at night, after a talk on the teachings of Rinpochee.  Before the session, the  participants were feeling at bit lethargic as they have been focussing  on the talk for sometime.  Glad to say, all were very sporting and laughed with gusto. Everybody  felt relaxed and happy after the laughter session .  Gratified to bring laughter to more and more people.

LY Club in Sectio 8, PJ

The sound of laughter reverberated around the small park in Section 8 in the evenings of Mondays and Thursdays .  Yes, it is the beginning of joy and bonding amongst it residents, with the formation of the LY Club in PJ.  This is the brainchild of my mentee, whom I have been giving LY coaching on 1 to 1.  She is so convinced that LY can help the neighbourhood and  build better rapport.  I was invited to give an initial session with some of the residents.  Subsequent to that, the residents took their own initiative and started the exercise with the help of my mentee.  NOW, they get together every Mondays and Thursdays for a great stress busting  LY session.  Hooray to Section 8 LY Club.

Ara Laughter Club - PotLuck Party 26th July,2011

The Ara LY Club started in April and now is into its 3rd month.  The Club meets every Tuesday morning from 7.45am to 8.15am. The regulars, about 8-10 live around the area, and are mostly retirees and homemakers.  We got on really well; we know each other by names and soon we had our first get-together, breakfast after the Laughter exercises. Each of us brought food and drinks, it was a sumptuous spread by any standard. It was a beautiful morning, with coffee, pancakes, kueh, meehoon and more.  There was so much food..I think we put in more calories than losing that morning.....but we didnt care, the camaraderie was wonderful

Hospis Laughter for the Terminally Ill Patients- 26/July 2011

I have been doing LY sessions on and off at Hospis and Sisters of the Poor over the last 3 months.  What I have found is that, typically, as with other LY sessions elsewhere, it's the women who can express themselves freely and enjoy the fun that laughter yoga emulates.  It makes me wonder at the egoism of men, and why is it that they cannot let go.  But let me come back to the topic, the cancer patients of Hospis.  Last Thursday, I had a session with the women patients.  A few of the patients appeared tired and pale, but they were, nevertheless participative and did the exercises. One of them had to sit, yet she laughed with us.  Another had to rest on a chair after a few exercises, but that did not stop her from laughing.  We had a good session, and I hugged some of them, seeing that they were weak, yet so enthusiastic.
Later, a volunteer told me that some of these patients sickness had advanced, reaching the  terminal stage.  On hindsight, yes, I could see the paleness and weakness of a few of them. They are looking at death, YET..they carried on boldly with their time on this world, without sadness.  I feel privileged to know them and thankful for being able to introduce LY.  I do not know if I see all the familiar faces in the next LY session, but I am grateful to touch their lives through LY, without which I would never have the chance to see their courage.  I haven learned that attitude  is everything, in sickness and in health.