Laugh with Me!
Laughter, Play, Thankfulness, Fun
Email me at Support@JanetMassey.com if you are interested in Laughter sessions for a group.
Join a Laugh With Me Session
For the current weekly schedule for laughter sessions see the schedule:
Subscribe below to be on the email list for weekly schedule updates, zoom link for the free laughter sessions, and any permanent changes to the schedule, etc. (access free live laugh with me sessions (or mind renewal sessions)).
In my sessions, you can participate in whatever way is available to you. Sitting/lying and smiling, gently giggling with lots of breaks, or full laughing throughout the class and up on your feet moving all around. You can also be on or off camera, although you get more benefit seeing your own face smiling and laughing, in fact it's quite powerful. You also benefit others when you are on camera and on microphone by sharing the mirror neurons of laughing and being silly with others, with sights and sounds of laughter.
After laughter sessions, we complete a mini mind renewal session (around 10 minutes), click here for more information. Anyone is welcome at laughter or mind renewal, its the same link, there will just be a pause after laughter before we begin mind renewal and people can come and go.
Example Laughter Session & Playlist
Benefits of Laughter
Laughter is a fantastic exercise. It's aerobic, and it releases dopamine and oxytocin, serotonin,and endorphins into our blood stream. Sometimes these are called DOSE as an acronym and they are positive neurotransmitters and hormones that affect the brain and body in very beneficial ways. Laughter also increases oxygenation of the blood and therefore the whole body.
Laughter is great for building connections and community. Looking at someone and laughing and smiling breaks down social barriers. Mirror neurons are neurons in our brain that respond positively when we watch ourselves or someone else do an activity, such as laughing, smiling, being free and goofy etc. What an awesome way to support each other!
In laughter class, or laughter yoga class, we are choosing to laugh, not because somebody made us laugh. The laughter is a conscious decision. And this has some added benefits beyond that of regular spontaneous laughter.
Laughter as a choice tends to be longer and more sustained to get more of the positive neuro-chemicals and hormones and other benefits, including aerobic exercise. It also helps you to choose laughter, and happiness in situations in life where you might otherwise choose frustration, anger, sadness, etc. The more you practice it, the more you will see the carryover for this particular piece in real life. This has been such an amazing gift for me, and many others. To laugh so easily and especially at things, like spilled milk for example, that in the past may have made me frustrated. As you choose to laugh and have simulated laughter, natural laughter is usually not far behind.
It is recommended to clear laughter with a professional as laughing is considered an aerobic activity. Always stay in your window of tolerance and respect your body and mind. Participation on zoom or on a recording or on your own after is at your own risk and not the responsibility of Janet Massey, PT, DPT.
Laughter Sessions
I have been leading Laugh with me Classes, since October, 2020. (I am certified in Laughter Yoga, which is not actually yoga, it's not rooted in yoga, see my blog HERE on the subject). I am a certified Laughter Leader and have logged hundreds of hours leading. And I love it! Leading people through laughing, goofiness, freedom, silliness and community is a gift.
My style is unique in that I usually like to create a story or a visualization that we laugh through with pauses for deep breaths between each activity. I love laughing about both real life situations and also made up ones. It is so powerful to laugh about real life things, even if you are just visualizing them for now. It's great fun to act them out in a community and feel free to be silly.
For example, we can laugh while pretending we are swinging on a swing, and even if you are on your back just seeing yourself swinging while laughing; your brain believes you are having a fantastic time swinging. And when you act out the swinging, you get the benefit of movement too and it's great fun! The laughter associates all of the good neurotransmitters with that activity which is very powerful. Laughter has added so much to my life!!!
In each session, you will be guided through laughter exercises and breathing. Sometimes there is some clapping and other movements as well. But everything is modifiable. You can do the movements in your imagination or with your full body! You get the benefit both ways!
If you would like me to lead a laughter session for your group or community on zoom (or locally), message me for pricing.
"A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul".
Proverbs 17:22 TPT
History of Laughter Yoga
Medical Doctor Madan Kataria started what he now calls laughter yoga, in Mumbai, India in 1995, in a park. He started with the medical knowledge of the benefits of laughter for his patients, and told jokes to them daily for a couple weeks until he ran out of jokes. Since the medical information shows that the brain and body get the same benefits (see benefits of laughter section), whether the laughter is natural or simulated, he began guiding his patients to laugh along with him, by choice. Then he added some deep breathing, and clapping, and named it laughter yoga.
It has now spread across the globe. And there is research showing its amazing benefits. There are lots of styles of laughter yoga, but all focus on making the choice to laugh (but so often turn to natural full laughter as you participate).
What People are Saying About Laugh with Me!
Janet delivers radiance. I love laughing with Janet! She’s creative, fun, and a delight to laugh with. –Audra
I’ve been joining Janet’s laughter yoga sessions for close to two years now. The joy and sincere laughter I always experience make these classes one of the top highlights of my week. There is something very special about Janet and the way she does her sessions that cannot be replicated without her! If you are undecided and reading this, just do it! You will be 100% so grateful that you did! –Jen E.
I love joining in Janet’s laughter yoga sessions. She is always so much fun and brings in so much heartfelt laughter. I always leave feeling uplifted and happy. Janet has a special way of bringing laughter to all with great imagination and contagious laughter. She is a natural leader. –Janet B.
Janet leads such FUN-filled laughter yoga sessions! I always end up laughing so naturally and effortlessly! If you like to laugh, then you will love laughter yoga with Janet. –Lindsey B.
I LOVE Janet’s Laughter Yoga class. She is pure joy! She leads her class with such ease. She’s a natural leader. Her genuine smile and laugh makes me smile and laugh right away. She makes everyone comfortable with just letting loose and being silly bringing out the playfulness in all of us. –Kim L.
I was really struggling with symptoms this morning and was going to skip the laughter class because of them. I decided to focus on joy and joined with my daughter. We had so much fun laughing and goofing around together and, by the time class was done, I felt significantly better.
Thank you! –Nichole
I remember doing the class for the first time on my lunch break at work and I was having a tough day. During the class I did feel kind of silly laughing and acting silly since I was new to it. I was telling myself, Amber, you look crazy right now. But it worked, lunch was over and I went back to work feeling less anxious and much better - Ambar
Doing Laugh with Me has many benefit! One is that it puts you in parasympathetic, which is rest and digest. More than a few times after laughter class I have emptied my digestive system. Yes 💩 🤣
- Anonymous.