Laughter Lift

My name's Katie, I am an Occupational Therapist (OT) with over 20 years experience within the profession in a range of clinical settings including Acute Medicine, A&E, Later Life, Community Mental Health, Early Intervention Psychosis, Forensic Psychiatry.

Before that I trained and worked in theatre - Stage Management and Wardrobe Management, which I still do at times. This includes working in Theatre in Education and with groups with special needs as well as large scale tours, repertory, and West End.

I have researched and presented at National and International Conference about the use of humour in healthcare and how we as humans use humour.

I found Laughter Yoga in my quest to explore stress relief, and only trained in order to find out more. I found it hugely beneficial and felt so much better after each session I took part in. My face even looked younger!

After the initial training and experience I have gone on to learn more about how Laughter Yoga boosts health and function tutored directly by Dr Madan Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga - this involves reviewing research and how laughter positively effects our physiology, mental health and outlook, amongst many other components.

Laughter Yoga sessions include short playful fun exercises interspersed with yoga-based deep breathing, clapping (acupressure point stimulation) and joyful, fun chanting. All put together, participants experience unconditional, extended deep belly laughter, freedom from thoughts, a fun sense of play and connection with others. Internally all the organs benefit from a supply of oxygen and our system produces a range of feel good chemicals - endorphins, oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine. All the while cortisol (the stress hormone) is suppressed. This goes on for around 30 minutes following the session!

Over time we can reframe stressors, sleep is improved, the immune system is boosted (I cannot remember the last time I had even a cold!), people respond to us positively as we exude positive energy unconsciously, relationships improve, resilience is built, we take ourselves and life more lightly.

Laughter Yoga is classed as an exercise - do it at your pace. I will lead you and adapt as needed. It is a great way into exercise, appropriate for any level.

Specialist groups can be organised - I facilitate for Parkinson's groups and folk with dementia. I am happy and able to create sessions for any need. I also facilitate for teams - it is a great way to boost team spirit.

The laughter starts consciously, just follow the instructions given and just this simulated laughter is enough to gain the benefits. It is quite common to actually find this funny and we can just enjoy laughing either simulated, or spontaneously free from any intellectual trigger. Our brains are freed from thinking!!

As adults we are at risk from not laughing nearly enough. With Laughter Yoga, deep belly laughter is guaranteed!

My mission is to get people laughing and experiencing life in a joyous, fun way.

I am happy to present for a team or event - just reach out!