You may have seen footage from the recent ‘Learn India with Hamish and Andy’ special where the boys went along and experienced a laughter yoga session. Despite the session nearly being washed out with torrential rain, Hamish and Andy had a great time and really got into the spirit – as you can see from these photos!
If you didn’t see it, it’s definitely worth a look and you can view some footage and photos here.
The good news is that you don’t have to travel all the way to India to experience the benefits – and the fun – of laughter yoga. Laughter Works can tailor a session to suit your workplace, event or social function and deliver it to you anywhere in Australia. Get in touch to find out more .
It should be pretty obvious to you by now that we believe having fun is a better way to change behaviour than a negative, deficit-based approach (see our YouTube testimonials and clips ). It ties in with our belief that happy people are more effective at work and in their personal lives. There’s plenty of scientific evidence for that and a growing body of practice including Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and Innovative Positive Organisational Development (IPOD). Now IPOD and AI probably don’t sound like very “fun” words to you (we’re geeks and love this subject) so we’re going to make it fun for you to understand. Just watch this clip read on below. Notice how many more people take the stairs after the change ….
It does remind me of the maths teacher reported in the Melbourne Age that who brought a dog into class and found that all the students’ marks went up. People are attracted to what makes them feel good and avoid that which makes them feel bad (oh what a surprise *lol*). Not everything can be lighthearted but things have gone too far the other way – there is an epidemic of seriousness. Workplaces and jobs can be much more fun. Workshops, especially, should be fun to make people receptive to new messages and help learning. That is if you want people to want to be there. And we wonder how to engage our people!
The silly season is fast approaching and here at Laughter Works I think it’s already hit because we have an amazing deal on offer to come and spice up your workplace Christmas Party!
By now, plans for your business’ Christmas Party should be in full swing – right? Well, what better way to liven up this year’s event and give your staff an experience to remember than with a laughter session!
Book a laughter session for your Christmas party and receive a massive 15% off our regular corporate charge.
We’ll keep this offer open until November 24th for bookings held before Christmas (subject to availability). We’ll extend it to a range of other talks/team-building/planning and staff development – but only if booked in next two weeks for delivery before Xmas.
Have a look around our website for more information about laughter sessions and why everyone will thank you for suggesting one for your Christmas function and then contact us to make your booking.
Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want. ~Margaret Young
If you’ve ever been to a laughter club or laughter yoga you’ll know just how great they feel and how good for your wellbeing, relationships and workplace they are. But for people who haven’t been to one they can be a bit daunting and there has been a tendency to dismiss it as a bit “fringe”. Well now the tide is turning – a mainstream movie released November 18th in Melbourne (other locations to follow) features a laughter session run by yours truly (that’s me Cris Popp ).
BELLADONNA is a Polish-Australian drama that deals with the spiritual and intuitive world of two couples in different centuries that are somehow linked. I won’t spoil it, but suffice to say that it is good a film and quite remarkable achievement for first time writer and director Annika Glac.
I am a bit embarrassed about my part though – if I had know I was going to be on screen that much I would have worn a different t-shirt! And shaved ;->.
That said, the cast and crew are great, it is really well written and directed and tackles a very interesting idea. Overall it’s an entertaining and thought-provoking film.
So do yourself a favour. Get along to http://www.belladonnathemovie.com/ for more information (see the trailer and enter the competition for opening night tickets). Better still go along and support a great independent production – and see a laughter club in a feature film for the first time ever. We are coming of age.
I’m thrilled, and a little flattered, to announce that after two and a half years of hard work I’ve been invited to take Laughter Yoga to the “Happiness and Its Causes 2010″ conference! This conference has featured some of the biggest, baddest (or should that be happiest?), and most influence figures in happiness Dalai Lama; Martin Seligman (the ‘father’ of positive psychology); Marva Collins (US educationalist); and Tal Ben Shahar. This year I am very much looking forward to seeing Barbara Fredrickson – a pioneer in the field of positive emotions.
Happiness & Its Causes is the world’s largest forum on human happiness and is being held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, 5-6 May 2010. Each year, over 2,000 people from all walks of life meet at the conference to examine the big issues of life. The conference provides a unique combination of hard-edged science, real life inspiration, gut-wrenching personal stories and practical wisdom. Many have hailed it as a life-changing experience. I know I certainly have – it is also an incredible buzz to be in a room so many people all interested in human development.
There are some fantastic key note speakers scheduled to present over the two-day event, including some of the world’s best psychologists, scientists and philosophers (and of course – me)! I am very grateful for the opportunity to bring laughter yoga to so many people – I hope you can be one of them. If you do come please popp (sorry couldn’t resist that pun) over and say hello.
We were so honoured to receive this from Madan Kataria himself (the founder of the world laughter yoga movement) that we just had to share it with you!
“Dear Cris Popp,
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that on behalf of Laughter Yoga International you have been chosen for the award “Laughter Ambassador” for your contribution to the Laughter Yoga movement.
It was because of your efforts, many people’s lives have been touched and you continue to inspire others to bring more laughter to their lives. This award will be conferred on you at the All Australia Laughter Yoga Conference to be held in Melbourne between August 23-24, 2008. I look forward to seeing you at the conference.
Madan Kataria, Founder,
World Laughter Yoga Movement.”
Thank you Madan, from The Laughter Works team. May your work continue at a good pace too.
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