Laughter is the key to LOVE and positive relationships

As it is the month of LOVE I thought I would dedicate this months blog to it. There are many types of love and each relationship can benefit from adding a good dose of laughter. As we all know, laughter makes us feel good and helps us have that feel good factor that...

Unbreak Your Heart Through Laughter

February was the month of LOVE and while that has been awesome for some it’s maybe been a totally different story for others – including me. I chose to break up with my boyfriend the day before my birthday, which is 2 days before Valentines Day – now this is hard but

Get Happy

Jane McGowan meets two mistresses of mirth who are bringing a new brand of wellbeing to Woking Move over mindfulness, there’s a new therapy in town – and it’s one designed to turn that frown upside down. Joking aside, Laughter Yoga workshops are the latest trend to hit the wellbeing circuit and while it may sound a little off the wall, it would seem there is a good reason that people often espouse the theory, ‘If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry’. Rowena Wood and Jo-Dee Walmsley (pictured above) are two exponents of the art and have recently launched their Laughter Club – a series of workshops running in Woking, encouraging people to reconnect with the lighter side of life. “I found out about laughter therapy during my treatment for cancer,” says Rowena. “I did all the medical stuff and I was prepared for the pain and upheaval that went with that. What I wasn’t prepared for was my mood, which changed completely. I became soangry with everything and I was feeling really down. “Then I just happened to be watching the Robin Williams’ movie Patch Adams and it really changed my life. Its whole premise is about bringing laughter back into your life, and I knew that’s what I desperately needed to do.” An acquaintance recommended Laughter Yoga and Rowena decided to give it a go. She couldn’t believe just how positive it made her feel – even inspiring her to become a practitioner herself. She quickly found a use for her new-found joy in her role as a volunteer at the Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary in Shere and she hasn’t looked back. A little later she joined forces with energiser, speaker and happiness coach Jo-Dee, who had long been practicing the art of Laughter Yoga under its founder Dr Madan Kataria, dubbed the ‘Guru of Giggling’. Jo-Dee herself had discovered the benefits of laughter therapy during a particularly tough time in her life, following her marriage break-up. “I knew I wanted to leave the abusive and aggressive aspects of my life behind,” she explains. “But I was unsure about the future. I remembered seeing the film Amadeus, which was full of laughter and I recalled how watching that movie made me feel. I Googled ‘laughter’ and Dr Kataria’s Laughter Yoga page came up. Amazingly he was in Johannesburg [where I was based] and I got in touch.” It wasn’t long before Jo-Dee was feeling the benefits of laughter and as she says, “It changed my relationship with my ex, it changed my relationship with my kids and all because I changed my frame of mind. Laughter changes the way you see life. You respond to it rather than react to it.” Jo-Dee went on to become one of the foremost exponents on Laughter Yoga and has travelled the globe telling everyone from teenagers to CEOs about the benefits of letting laughter into your life. The Woking Laughter Club sessions, which take place at Christ Church in Jubilee Square, will combine unconditional laughter with yogic breathing (Pranayama). Laughter is initially simulated as a physical exercise while maintaining eye contact with others in the group and promoting childlike playfulness. As you would expect, it quickly becomes natural and grows ever more infectious as the class goes on. Jo-Dee says the body doesn’t differentiate between actual laughter and fake laughter, thus giving you the benefits of laughter where endorphins are stimulated and more oxygen is circulated around your body. “After the laughter we encourage people to embrace other things such as gratitude and how to focus on the positives and be more creative,” says Jo-Dee. “There are so many people out there with mental health issues or who are just feeling low,” adds Rowena. “The New Year is a great time reassess things. We show you how to laugh and relax through gentle exercise. You don’t have to get into all kinds of positions and you don’t have to wear Lycra.” The Laughter Club takes place at Christ Church on January 8 and on the following first Monday of each month. For details, visit: simplylaughter.com

Laughter and The Golden Years

This month’s blog comes to you from Istanbul, Turkey, which was inspired as I watched a lonely old lady sitting on the road selling socks she had knitted. People have a much higher life expectancy now and this is taking its toll and we really need to make some changes to help with the positive psychology of our wonderful folk of this great golden age. I would like to talk about 3 areas that laughter can help bring more happiness into their lives and ours, after all we are all heading that way so lets nip it in the bud now and help emotionally, physically and socially. Emotionally A good example of this is the lady I just saw, her years of cooking, cleaning and dedicated care to her family showed on her body, hands, face, and especially in her eyes, she had given so much to make sure everyone in her family was taken care of and yet here she was all alone. I bought a pair of socks from her and smiled, gleaming because I was happy – I was with my children after not seeing them for 4 months, she smiled back a lonely empty smile and that got me thinking. We dedicate our lives to bringing up our kids and then set them free to be the best they can be and to put our hard work to use and hopefully become a success. Ironically, they do just that and often become too busy and move on leaving their parents alone. It may not be intentionally, it just is what happens and families crumble especially in the west where many seniors are left in care facilities and old age homes. Bouts of depression at any age is not fun but when your mental and physical faculties are not as they were before it is even worse. Laughter yoga releases the joy cocktail of oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins to the brain and so this helps lighten the mood. Also, they want to be involved in everything and the generation gap makes it hard for them to understand what is going on. Through learning to laugh at life, themselves and at their misunderstandings will make this easier to accept. Socially One big thing is dealing with the loneliness. This is a big topic and felt at many stages of life and seniors are no different. Older people suffer social losses greatly with age. Their social life is narrowed down by loss of work associates, death of relatives, friends or spouse and weak health, which restricts their participation in social activities. Home becomes the center of their universe and that brings on a feeling of isolation. There is good news, laughter really connects people and is a good source of inclusion, human touch, community and a chance to step away from that dreaded feeling. Laughter Yoga Clubs are an amazing way to meet regularly and share that connection, which brings emotional comfort and solace. Also the more interaction that people have the easier and more confident they will feel to meet other new people and this will help them have a great social life. Feel free to contact me to find out where your nearest laughter club is and enhance your social interaction. Physically Our elders are dealing with many diminishing health conditions and laughter really is the best medicine. It’s a very passive workout and will get you moving and oxygenating your cells, which will promote better health. A good regular Laughter Yoga Workout will: • Help strengthen a weakened immune system, which can help fight off viruses, bacteria and diseases. • Help you feel energized and also promote improved sleeping habits. • Will promote better mental health and help to deal with those bouts of depression • Improve Heart conditions (hypertension, high blood pressure ) It’s as good as cutting salt • Help regulate your blood sugar levels in conditions like Diabetes These are just to mention a few, there is constant research on the many benefits of laughter and it is really exciting to see how we have such a fun way to improve our health and wellbeing.

Laugh Into Compassion

“Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.” – Charlie Chaplin It is always great when you hear a friend speak about the progress you have made. Last week during the closing party for my online summit my good friend, Rohit Bassi, co-author of the book Success Mastery with Jack Canfield, reminded me of the positive changes laughter has made in my life. He had seen me go through a journey of about 7 years as I was transforming from a few difficult situations and noticed 3 core values shining out. 1) Compassion 2) Love and 3) Joy. And he shared his story with me too. Rohit’s find laughter and compassion In 2004, my marriage was crumbling due to my own sabotaging feelings thoughts and actions. In that time of painful agony I came across the book The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. Howard Cutler a psychiatrist posed questions to the Dalai Lama on the concept that the purpose of life is happiness. Dalai Lama, is know as the Buddhist Tibetan spiritual leader and it was this book that got me to on the path of the miracle of compassion. The book talks about love but before dwelling into love it layouts that the foundation is compassion. Compassion holds the key to eliminate human suffering. Compassion is highly misunderstood, unfortunately, many see it as pity and believe it to be wimpish, frail or weak. A trait considered by many in the world as pathetic. On the other hand when you listen to the likes of Dalai Lama, Daniel Goleman or Lorne Ladner you learn compassion has got nothing to do with pity. In the words of Dalai Lama “Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.” The beauty about compassion is that its fuel is awareness, gratitude and the final crucial ingredient being laughter. If you have heard any talks done by the Dalai Lama you will get a pleasant surprise that he actually is a “professional laugher” and he openly admits to this title. He knows that laughter is the best medicine. Dalai Lama Airs His Views Listen to him and you will realises he laughs about anything and everything; he even cracks jokes about farting. In one of his interviews, he talks about a personal incident during a flight. He is unable to hold his fart. As he cannot just “let it out,” he vigilantly looks in all direction then he lifts one of his butt cheeks and farts. The interviewer and the crowd burst out in laughter with him. Dalai Lama knows that laughter can mend bridges, bring harmony and unites humankind. He is man who cannot return to his homeland and considers himself to be homeless for more than half a century. Yet, this serene individual laughs, laughs and laughs. Laughter in essence brings six main benefits for you: Relaxes the whole body Boosts the immune system Decreases stress hormones Triggers the release of endorphins Improves the flow of blood Defuses the anger held within Throughout ones life one is likely to face adversity. These adverse moments affect our feelings, thoughts, health, career, finance, relationships, growth and much more. As humans, we love to have self-pity yet this is a ridiculous notion that has no productivity for our inner self. Either we can take the path of a victim or get up and be victorious. Decide where it is important to spend your time, effort & energy. Would you like to spend it in on loving life or fearful life? And when you allow laughter to take control of the way you respond to life, it permits you to focus your attention towards a loving life. Laughter fuels compassion and this in turns allows you be at peace with yourself, your circumstances and surroundings. “Laughter is good for thinking because when people laugh, it is easier for them to admit new ideas to their minds.” – Dalai Lama

How to Empower Women through Laughter

Part 1. Woman in Business More and more companies are focusing on empowering woman in the work place and this is a subject close to my heart. The positive outcomes through doing this are amazing and beneficial to all involved and are the inspiration of my upcoming book, which will be launched later this year. In an article in forbes.com it was reported that only 14.6% of executive officers, 8.1% of top earners, and 4.6% of the Fortune 500 CEO’s are woman. Women often hold themselves back from advancement with self-imposed barriers. As a strong woman myself, I would love to see these numbers improve and I have a few suggestions to help them on their way. I have been in male led industries for years and never saw my being female as an obstacle to be honest. I was always confident and believed in my abilities to succeed and I did. I never let anything stand in my way of getting what I wanted and this I owe to my positive way of seeing things even from a young age. As I grew older I found laughter to be key in giving me all I needed to get to where I wanted to be whether at home or in my business. Here are 4 ways to laugh your way to Woman Empowerment: 1. Build Self-esteem and confidence It is easier than you think to be a strong powerful woman. Love yourself and you will see how your self-esteem and confidence grows. If you believe you can do it so will everyone else Laughter creates wonderful bonds that will increase your confidence and ability to communicate with anyone Get rid of the inferiority complex – it is safe to be a successful woman Love yourself laughter 2. Learn job skills and start your own businesses If educated in the skills needed to do a job, a woman will excel and take the job to new heights Another report in forbes.com was that on average, Fortune 500 companies with more female board representation achieved a significantly higher financial performance than those with fewer female representatives Show me the money laughter 3. Fear of failure There is no reason why you cannot do a job the same or better than a man – it’s about your ability to thrive in the face of adversity, accept change, be resilient and get back up again It’s ok to make mistakes – It is an opportunity to learn and improve and really creates that transparency that is needed in a company – it is not a sign of weakness Women have great intuition so make sure you use it Laugh at yourself 4. Family Matters It’s OK to start a family: A woman should never feel she has to put her career and dreams on hold because she wants or has a family. Feeling that employers will view them as unable to continue with their job efficiently if they decide to start a family Be who you are: You don’t have to act tough and show that you are wearing ‘the pants’ at work. You may find that you can actually bond better if you are you and you start talking about your family. People can relate to you and you can have an unbelievable transparent company culture Unzip yourself laughter What can employers do to help woman be empowered at work Remove the pressure: A company should always show interest in their staff whether male or female and let them feel comfortable to put their family first Create a safe supported environment for families: Ensure benefits to nurture family life by offering flexible work times, in-house childcare facilities, and education Encouraging support, mentorship and collaboration: Learn from what other successful woman have done So be the woman you want to be and empower yourself today YAY!!

The Positive Impact of Parents and Kids Laughing Together

As I sit on the plane back to Dubai after my quarterly visit to Iran to visit my kids, I think of all the ways that laughing with my kids has helped our relationship. My situation is slightly different as my kids don’t live with me and I only see them for a week at a time but it works the same and I face the same challenges

Do you know what LOVE really is?

While everyone was running around giving thanks, and shopping till they drop on Black Friday’s and Cyber Monday’s, I have been recording my Simply Laughter Online Summit which I am hosting in January. I am so blessed to be interview amazing people who are really making a positive difference around the world. In the next couple of months, I would like to share some of the highlights with you.

How Laughter can help you through those scary medical procedures

Today I am sitting in the beautiful Burrows Lea Country House – the home of the Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary in Shere, Surrey in the UK. I have just held a Laughter Yoga session here for their retreat day with a fellow Laughter Yogi friend of mine. I thought this...

The Difference Between Right and Wrong

Highlights from the Simply Laughter Online Summit Yay! It’s 2018 and it’s going to be a wonderfully positive year! I am excited to announce that I have gathered over 30 Laughter Experts together and created an online summit that anyone can access, just as long as they...

smArt cIty = hAppy cIty

Sheikh Mohammed, Ruler of Dubai, said “Our ambition for this project is to touch the life of every individual in our country: every mother in her home, employee in his work, investor in his project, child in school, or a doctor in his clinic. Our aim is a happier life for all.”

JO-DEE IN BAHRAIN PRESENTING AT THE LAUGHING TO AS MASTERS

What better way to show your staff that you care about their wellbeing than with a wellness day. I work with many wellness coaches with different methods to creative a health happy work place. Let me tailor make a day for you and your Team.

6 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR DAY WITH LAUGHTER BY LESLEY LYLE

Feeling down? Positive Psychology Coach Lesley Lyle believes that laughter holds the key to happiness. Usually, we laugh because we're happy, but the latest scientific research suggest that through the act of laughing, we can make ourselves happy.

CANADA CONFERENCE REPORT IN BRIEF. DUNCAN COOK, CANADA

The first Canada Laughter Yoga Conference held in Toronto, Ontario, has been substantially approved of from the responses of participants. The weekend of November 9th and 10th firmly established the presence of....

THE LADY OF LAUGHTER – JO-DEE WALMSLEY FROM, ISLAND TRIBUNE

It isn't easy beating life's troubles with humor. But this exceptional lady, professional dancer-turned-laughter yoga instructor Jo-Dee Walmsley will teach you how. Ellen Samano tells her inspiring story of finding and.....

DUBAI HAPPINESS BUSINESS IS SERVICE WITH SMILE

Jo-Dee Walmsley has good reason to be cheerful - her skills are in big demand as the nation sets signs on its goal. DUBAI // Jo-Dee Walmsley starts out every day laughing at herself in the shower.

LAUGHING WITH THE STAFF OF THE CHILD EARLY INTERVENTION MEDICAL CENTER

I had the great pleasure of presenting Happiness through Laughter at the Employer Engagement Day for the +100 staff of the Child Early Intervention Medical Center andChild Learning and Enrichment Medical Center on....

HAPPINESS & LAUGHING WITH THE DUBAI DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

I had the great privilege to Speak at the Best Practice Awards held with Dubai Quality Group and the Department of Economic Development last week. In line with HH Sheikh Mohammed's new Happiness.

LAUGHING WITH CANCER SURVIVORS FROM BREST FRIENDS IN DUBAI

I had the great pleasure of presenting Happiness through Laughter at the Employer Engagement Day for the +100 staff of the Child Early Intervention Medical Center andChild Learning and Enrichment Medical Center on....

World Laughter Day 2017

What a good time to have World Laughter Day 2017 and boost those positive vibes. In a world full of uncertainty and disruption let’s take a break and laugh for no reason other than choosing to do so. We know laughter cannot fix or heal a problem but it can help you dissolve the feelings and improve your mood and help you take steps to being positive. Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement, created World Laughter Day in 1998. The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for world peace and is intended to build up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter.

Letting Go Through Laughter

Letting go is one of the important things to do in order to keep positive and to be happy. Not so easy though is it? Well I have a story of how Laughter Yoga helped me through a difficult situation.

The 12 Laughs To Kick Off The New Year

Ho ho ho is something familiar to you especially as Christmas season has just passed. YAY!! Now I would like to give you 12 ways to stay positive for the New Year. For those of you who have not had the luck to find out about all the benefits of laughter nor heard of Laughter Yoga yet, please just bare with me, let go and bring back that child like playfulness back and see how it changes your mood.

The Positive Impact of Parents and Kids Laughing Together

As I sit on the plane back to Dubai after my quarterly visit to Iran to visit my kids, I think of all the ways that laughing with my kids has helped our relationship. My situation is slightly different as my kids don’t live with me and I only see them for a week at a time but it works the same and I face the same challenges.

Saved by Laughter — My Story

I was lucky enough to have found this phenomenon at a time when I was in a very dark place. I had lost custody of my kids to my ex and was in a deep depression. I had a previous experience in my early twenties when I was a professional performer, living the dream life and then losing it all. Laughter was what got me back on my feet.

How I Found Laughter as a way to Stay Positive - Positive Psychology People Blog

I would love to share my story of how I stay positive through using laughter as an exercise without jokes or humor by using Laughter Yoga. Laughter helped me with my relationships, helped me deal with the ups and downs in life and most of all helped me find happiness. By changing my response to events I changed my outcome, which ultimately makes me more positive and helps my relationships at work and at home.

Stop taking selfies and live in the moment says Jo-Dee Walmsley - Podcast

The Learning Curve Podcast - THE Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East. Happiness! Its an interesting word and a word that weirdly enough can cause a lot of stress too. How many of you say this...' Ill be happy when...' or 'When I get passed this moment I'l have time to be happy'.... weirdly enough most of us put happiness on the back burner and only create happiness when we've achieved certain things. And then when we do achieve our goal we could land up feeling bitterly disappointed because how you feel and the outcome are dissimilar. Happiness can seem like a battle of wills BUT... it doesn't have to be that way. My guest Jo Dee Walmsley is a professional motivational speaker and facilitator of Laughter Wellness. Jo-Dee is helping people in business that face stress and other work-related illnesses, to find better ways to live more productive and healthier lives.

The Lady Of Laughter – Jo-Dee Walmsley from Island Tribune

World Laughter Day: Laugh to boost your health

Dubai: If you’re too stressed, depressed, or simply unhappy, head to Dubai Marina at 6pm on Sunday and laugh all your cares away to reap the health benefits of laughter as part of World Laughter Day. A group of 30 people led by Jo-Dee Walmsley, a motivational speaker and laughter facilitator, will go around Dubai Marina on Sunday for the first World Laughter Flash Mob. They will laugh around and try to make people around them laugh too with the gift of a red balloon.

Laughter in the Workplace

HAPPINESS THROUGH LAUGHTER IN LIFE AND IN THE WORKPLACE What do I need to change in order to be happy? There are many changes you can make towards being happy. The first thing you need to realize is that happiness is a choice! If you change your reaction to a situation you will change the outcome – like Jack Canfield says, “E + R = O.” Event + Reaction = Outcome. You can get many people experiencing the same event and they all have different outcomes. If you can be in charge of your R’s, then you will certainly have a good O. Through laughter I help people look at life differently and train themselves into changing the way they deal with many different kinds of situations.