Laughter….Defined
laugh verb \ˈlaf, ˈläf\
intransitive verb
1 a : to show emotion (as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound b : to find amusement or pleasure in something <laughed at his own clumsiness> c : to become amused or derisive
2 a : to produce the sound or appearance of laughter b : to be of a kind that inspires joy
Children laugh just for the fun of it, from the heart, as they play. They don’t rely on understanding a joke or developing a sense of humor. They just laugh. In Grounded, we teach that Joy is a quality of the heart that can be cultivated and we show how laughter inspires joy through poses such as Laughter Hero, Laughter Milkshake, Oompa Loompa and Mountain Range Laughter.
We practice yoga to reveal our innate joyful nature that resides within our heart. Invite laughter into your body just as you would welcome an unexpected guest who arrives at your door eager to clean your house. Laughter clears away the dust from your heart allowing your innate joyful self to come out and play.
We take laughter very seriously here at Grounded. After all, it’s our middle name. Amy and Cheryl are proud to be certified in Laughter Yoga, created by Dr. Madan Kataria from India. “The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits. “In India, Laughter Yoga has been introduced in many schools of Surat, Baroda and Bangalore. The school schedule includes ten minutes of Laughter in the Morning Assembly, followed by five minutes of Laughter Session in the classrooms both at the beginning and at the end of the day. This routine has shown that the mood and atmosphere gets energized. Teachers and students are happier together, with a more positive outlook, and improved communication, discipline and attendance. Academic results have also shown improvement.”
Of all the proper definitions listed above, at Grounded we resonate most with the last one…to be of a kind that inspires joy! Our mission, our purpose, and our measure of success is inspiring joy. May we all choose to be grounded each day and speak the universal language of laughter with fluency.
As Earth Day approaches this year, I am struck by what it means to truly foster Peace on this planet. I remember as a child, learning about anti-nuclear protestors who chained themselves to fences and were forcibly removed and jailed. These brave souls became my heroines and heroes in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. I was moved to tears singing Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind” and hearing stories of civil disobedience and the message of non-violent resistance. Later in the 1990’s, when I danced barefoot on my very first Earth Day, a lump would form in my throat when I celebrated each small victory (and the Gigantic Hearts) of environmental protestors who sacrificed so much to save a single tree and worked to preserve open space for our children’s children. Peace.
Yoga has become a great way for children of ALL abilities to become aware of their body, in line with their breath, and connected to the beautiful truth and peace within them. As an occupational therapist and devoted yogi, Allison Morgan of Zensational Kids (see