Leah Tunnell is a Certified Laughter Yoga Instructor and a Motivational Speaker in the Austin area. She's a proud promoter of mirthful silliness and the mental and physical benefits of intentional joy. As a motivational speaker, "Leah has the ability to lift groups from a state of gloom and doom, to bring it on". Her personal goal is to someday share a laugh with everyone in the world ...all at the same time.
Laughter Yoga is a deceptively simple yet very powerful and potentially even life-changing form of exercise that anybody can do. Its core premise is that your body can laugh, regardless of what your mind has to say. Laughter boosts your immune system, promotes healthy cell growth and lowers your blood pressure. It's been proven to help people with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, heart conditions and after 10 minutes of laughing endorphines are released.
Laughter Yoga is non-political, non religious, non-racial, non-threatening, non-competitive. It comes with no strings attached. There are no jokes or comedy, therefore there is no judging. No mind = no ego, no room for conflict or power struggle. Laughter is a universal language that transcends all barriers: language, age, gender, social or racial background. It improves inter-personal relationships and enhances communication. It interrupts the power struggle and breaks down the instinctive barriers between people. It teaches you to make happiness a choice and not a consequence.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Saturday, October 2, 2010
SCIENTIFIC STUDY ------------- SENIORS DOING LAUGHTER YOGA
SCIENTIFIC STUDY PROVIDES EVIDENCE FOR THE EFFICACY OF LAUGHTER YOGA IN MENTAL DISORDERS
Posted On October 2, 2010
In Category Laughter Research, Laughter Yoga News
The first scientific study (randomized controlled trial) to provide evidence for the efficacy of Laughter Yoga in mental disorders was published this month in the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY.
FINDINGS SHOWED THAT LAUGHTER YOGA MATCHED THE EFFICACY OF EXERCISE THERAPY AND EVEN PROVEN SUPERIOR IN IMPROVING LIFE SATISFACTION.
To our knowledge, up to now there were only two articles in which health outcomes of Laughter Yoga were assessed on healthy individuals (Beckman 2007 and Nagendra 2007). Therefore, this one by Shahidi et al is the first one conducted on “patients”; particularly in the treatment of mental illness (late life depression). Much remains to be done and this is a very encouraging step forward in the field of evidence-based research on Laughter Yoga.
Laughter Yoga versus group exercise program in elderly depressed women: a randomized controlled trial.
Background: Laughter Yoga founded by M. Kataria is a combination of unconditioned laughter and yogic breathing. Its effect on mental and physical aspects of healthy individuals was shown to be beneficial.
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Kataria’s Laughter Yoga and group exercise therapy in decreasing depression and increasing life satisfaction in older adult women of a cultural community of Tehran, Iran.
Methods: Seventy depressed old women who were members of a cultural community of Tehran were chosen by Geriatric depression scale (score>10). After completion of Life Satisfaction Scale pre-test and demographic questionnaire, subjects were randomized into three groups of laughter therapy, exercise therapy, and control. Subsequently, depression post-test and life satisfaction post-test were done for all three groups. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance and Bonferroni’s correction.
Results: Sixty subjects completed the study. The analysis revealed a significant difference in decrease in depression scores of both Laughter Yoga and exercise therapy group in comparison to control group ( p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference between Laughter Yoga and exercise therapy groups. The increase in life satisfaction of Laughter Yoga group showed a significant difference in comparison with control group ( p<0.001). No significant difference was found between exercise therapy and either control or Laughter Yoga group.
Conclusion: Our findings showed that Laughter Yoga is at least as effective as group exercise program in improvement of depression and life satisfaction of elderly depressed women.
Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Posted On October 2, 2010
In Category Laughter Research, Laughter Yoga News
The first scientific study (randomized controlled trial) to provide evidence for the efficacy of Laughter Yoga in mental disorders was published this month in the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY.
FINDINGS SHOWED THAT LAUGHTER YOGA MATCHED THE EFFICACY OF EXERCISE THERAPY AND EVEN PROVEN SUPERIOR IN IMPROVING LIFE SATISFACTION.
To our knowledge, up to now there were only two articles in which health outcomes of Laughter Yoga were assessed on healthy individuals (Beckman 2007 and Nagendra 2007). Therefore, this one by Shahidi et al is the first one conducted on “patients”; particularly in the treatment of mental illness (late life depression). Much remains to be done and this is a very encouraging step forward in the field of evidence-based research on Laughter Yoga.
Laughter Yoga versus group exercise program in elderly depressed women: a randomized controlled trial.
Background: Laughter Yoga founded by M. Kataria is a combination of unconditioned laughter and yogic breathing. Its effect on mental and physical aspects of healthy individuals was shown to be beneficial.
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Kataria’s Laughter Yoga and group exercise therapy in decreasing depression and increasing life satisfaction in older adult women of a cultural community of Tehran, Iran.
Methods: Seventy depressed old women who were members of a cultural community of Tehran were chosen by Geriatric depression scale (score>10). After completion of Life Satisfaction Scale pre-test and demographic questionnaire, subjects were randomized into three groups of laughter therapy, exercise therapy, and control. Subsequently, depression post-test and life satisfaction post-test were done for all three groups. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance and Bonferroni’s correction.
Results: Sixty subjects completed the study. The analysis revealed a significant difference in decrease in depression scores of both Laughter Yoga and exercise therapy group in comparison to control group ( p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference between Laughter Yoga and exercise therapy groups. The increase in life satisfaction of Laughter Yoga group showed a significant difference in comparison with control group ( p<0.001). No significant difference was found between exercise therapy and either control or Laughter Yoga group.
Conclusion: Our findings showed that Laughter Yoga is at least as effective as group exercise program in improvement of depression and life satisfaction of elderly depressed women.
Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monday, September 27, 2010
SOMBER GROUP CHANGED BY LAUGHTER
DIRECTORS OF INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS meeting...LAUGHTER YOGA FEEDBACK!
This is a particularly anxious time for Directors of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Centers across the state, as the Texas HHSC budget proposals prepared for the 82nd Legislative Session include a number of significant and even critical cuts in funding. Presentations on the first morning of our quarterly meeting in September confirmed this, leaving us a somber group.
Then Leah walked in and changed things for the remainder of our meeting. Her energy, exuberance and ability to get everyone laughing -- while pretending to mix drinks, run a lawnmower or bounce basketballs -- helped people change their outlook from
"doom and gloom" to "bring it on".
It's often hard to gauge what people take from these day and 1/2 meetings. Not this time. No doubt they
snickered, chuckled or guffawed all the way home.
Carey Amthor
Waco Texas
This is a particularly anxious time for Directors of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Centers across the state, as the Texas HHSC budget proposals prepared for the 82nd Legislative Session include a number of significant and even critical cuts in funding. Presentations on the first morning of our quarterly meeting in September confirmed this, leaving us a somber group.
Then Leah walked in and changed things for the remainder of our meeting. Her energy, exuberance and ability to get everyone laughing -- while pretending to mix drinks, run a lawnmower or bounce basketballs -- helped people change their outlook from
"doom and gloom" to "bring it on".
It's often hard to gauge what people take from these day and 1/2 meetings. Not this time. No doubt they
snickered, chuckled or guffawed all the way home.
Carey Amthor
Waco Texas
Thursday, June 3, 2010
LAUGHTER YOGA AND MENTAL HEALTH
Laughter Yoga is extremely relevant and useful in the field of mental health because laughter breaks the cycle of psychological negativity that we tend to fall into at times. Individuals who laugh easily and frequently have better self-esteem and a much more positive outlook on life in general. In the bigger picture laughter is a survival skill that relieves tension, keeping us fluid and flexible instead of allowing us to become rigid and breakable in the face of change.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
CANCER PATIENTS LAUGHING !
News: Cancer patients embrace laughter therapy sessions
Posted On March 19, 2010 In Category Laughter Yoga News
Share
Brenda Crook paws the air as she stands laughing with eyes wide open, her tongue out and a red foam ball pinching her nose. About 10 other clown-nosed people surround her and mimic the same “Lion Yoga Pose.” The image seems absurd, but Crook, 34, needs a little silliness in her life. She is battling breast cancer at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at the Western Regional Medical Center in Goodyear. She rarely gets to laugh freely. The CTCA is using a new type of therapy to help its patients: laughter.
Source: www.azcentral.com
BRENDA CROOK (RIGHT), WHO IS BATTLING BREAST CANCER, AND ANNETTE SAUCEDO, WHO IS BEING TREATED FOR NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA, TAKE PART IN AN EXERCISE DURING A LAUGHTER THERAPY SESSION.
“I had kind of a crummy week. I miss my kids and family. This makes me feel rejuvenated,” Crook said of a recent laughter session.
“Laughter leaders” take patients through different laughter exercises where patients pretend to laugh while walking on hot pavement, talking on the phone, slipping ice down their shirts or riding a roller coaster. In therapeutic laughter and laughter clubs people learn how to laugh without the aid of jokes in order to reap the emotional and physical benefits of laughter.
“I like to present it (the therapy) as laughter fitness,” nurse and laughter leader Debbie Harbinson said.
Steve White, also a laughter leader, said laughter therapy is an extended part of patient care.
“We look at the whole person . . . and help them spiritually,” White said.
Laughter leaders are certified by the World Laughter Tour, Inc. through a two-day workshop that teaches laughter therapy benefits and techniques.
According to the organization some of the benefits of laughter therapy include:
• stress relief
• improved immune functions
• muscle relaxation
• aerobic benefits.
“It (laughter) isn’t valued in our society the way it should be. It connects you to others and it helps you handle problems,” Harbinson said.
Laughter therapy sessions also provide some much-needed diversion from the daily pressures of living with cancer.
“It helps you loosen up and let go of your fears,” Annette Saucedo, 41 said. Saucedo is a Goodyear resident and patient at CTCA, who is being treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The CTCA laughter therapy meetings are held once a month and are open to patients, family, caregivers and employees.
Posted On March 19, 2010 In Category Laughter Yoga News
Share
Brenda Crook paws the air as she stands laughing with eyes wide open, her tongue out and a red foam ball pinching her nose. About 10 other clown-nosed people surround her and mimic the same “Lion Yoga Pose.” The image seems absurd, but Crook, 34, needs a little silliness in her life. She is battling breast cancer at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at the Western Regional Medical Center in Goodyear. She rarely gets to laugh freely. The CTCA is using a new type of therapy to help its patients: laughter.
Source: www.azcentral.com
BRENDA CROOK (RIGHT), WHO IS BATTLING BREAST CANCER, AND ANNETTE SAUCEDO, WHO IS BEING TREATED FOR NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA, TAKE PART IN AN EXERCISE DURING A LAUGHTER THERAPY SESSION.
“I had kind of a crummy week. I miss my kids and family. This makes me feel rejuvenated,” Crook said of a recent laughter session.
“Laughter leaders” take patients through different laughter exercises where patients pretend to laugh while walking on hot pavement, talking on the phone, slipping ice down their shirts or riding a roller coaster. In therapeutic laughter and laughter clubs people learn how to laugh without the aid of jokes in order to reap the emotional and physical benefits of laughter.
“I like to present it (the therapy) as laughter fitness,” nurse and laughter leader Debbie Harbinson said.
Steve White, also a laughter leader, said laughter therapy is an extended part of patient care.
“We look at the whole person . . . and help them spiritually,” White said.
Laughter leaders are certified by the World Laughter Tour, Inc. through a two-day workshop that teaches laughter therapy benefits and techniques.
According to the organization some of the benefits of laughter therapy include:
• stress relief
• improved immune functions
• muscle relaxation
• aerobic benefits.
“It (laughter) isn’t valued in our society the way it should be. It connects you to others and it helps you handle problems,” Harbinson said.
Laughter therapy sessions also provide some much-needed diversion from the daily pressures of living with cancer.
“It helps you loosen up and let go of your fears,” Annette Saucedo, 41 said. Saucedo is a Goodyear resident and patient at CTCA, who is being treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The CTCA laughter therapy meetings are held once a month and are open to patients, family, caregivers and employees.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR TESTIMONIAL
Testimonial: breast cancer survivor now much happier
Posted On March 10, 2010
By Anna (Denmark): I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2000, had to be operated and undergo chemotherapy treatments afterwards. I was frustrated and angry. This was a very painful experience for me. Somehow I heard about Laughter Yoga at that point and thought it could maybe help me alleviate the pain.
ANNA, A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, SAYS "I AM NOW MORE OPEN. I SMILE A LOT AT PEOPLE AND IT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY WHEN THEY SMILE BACK AT ME."
I was fortunate to be able to join a local laughter club and the impact on my emotions was almost instantaneous. I started to perceive my challenges in a different way and felt much happier. I even started to laugh in between chemo sessions!
I am now more open. I smile a lot at people and it makes me very happy when they smile back at me.
Posted On March 10, 2010
By Anna (Denmark): I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2000, had to be operated and undergo chemotherapy treatments afterwards. I was frustrated and angry. This was a very painful experience for me. Somehow I heard about Laughter Yoga at that point and thought it could maybe help me alleviate the pain.
ANNA, A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, SAYS "I AM NOW MORE OPEN. I SMILE A LOT AT PEOPLE AND IT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY WHEN THEY SMILE BACK AT ME."
I was fortunate to be able to join a local laughter club and the impact on my emotions was almost instantaneous. I started to perceive my challenges in a different way and felt much happier. I even started to laugh in between chemo sessions!
I am now more open. I smile a lot at people and it makes me very happy when they smile back at me.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
AMERICAN SCHOOL OF LAUGHTER YOGA UPDATE
Testimonial: From MS And A Wheel Chair To Stress Free And Walking ─ Laughter Yoga Big Part Of Therapy
Posted: 01 Mar 2010 11:17 AM PST
Akhil Jhaveri from Dallas, Texas, tells his compelling story about how he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and a life in a wheel chair, and how he turned things around and is today walking and symptom free.
In his own words "Laughter Yoga is a big part of my therapy".
Posted: 01 Mar 2010 11:17 AM PST
Akhil Jhaveri from Dallas, Texas, tells his compelling story about how he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and a life in a wheel chair, and how he turned things around and is today walking and symptom free.
In his own words "Laughter Yoga is a big part of my therapy".
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