Introducing The Laughter Club
People begin to filter into the HEC conference room a little before noon on Tuesday, like every Tuesday.
They are all regulars, so giggling begins even as they sign in and listen to the music and look over the agenda for the next 30 minutes, which includes: aloha greeting, wind laughter, cross-country skiing exercise, carwash exercise, homework for next week. Dwayna Covey, CLL Certified Laughter Leader, and Christine Bills, CLYT Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, call everyone into a circle and the serious fun begins.
This is one of two Laughter Clubs held weekly at DHMC. For Dwayna Covey, Manager, Safety & eLearning Systems and Christine Bills, Software Implementation Specialist, both certified laughing instructors, (Covey with the World Laughter Tour and Bills with Laughter Yoga), laughter is a serious matter. "This is more than just about having fun. Laughing has been shown to increase serotonin and oxygen levels and decrease cortisol levels. Laughing increases people's energy levels, lifts moods, reduces tensions, contributes to a positive atmosphere, heightens creativity and tones the abdominal muscles, to name just a few," they say.
Covey says the philosophy of Steve Wilson from the World Laughter Tour (WLT) is that humor releases emotions, including negative ones. And, it's been found that people who can find humor in life face life's problems with more resiliency. "It's about finding balance at work and in our daily lives. People here work really hard and the work can be stressful. I know for myself and the others in the group that finding time in the day to laugh increases my enthusiasm and my productivity." Covey also brings to the group the WLT "Good-Hearted Living" exercises to "prevent hardening of the attitudes and add more laughter to your life." From cultivating gratitude to giving compliments, these exercises are about mindfulness. Covey says, "Positive energy creates positive energy."
Laughter Yoga was developed by Madan Kataria, MD. It is called yoga because yoga is really about the breath, as is laughing. Bills says, "Laughter Yoga is a unique concept that anyone can laugh for no reason without relying on jokes or comedy. You don't even need a sense of humor. Laughter is initiated as an exercise, but with eye contact, playfulness and encouragement and the laughter becomes real and mirthful. According to Dr. Kataria, the body cannot differentiate between real and simulated laughter, and you reap the same physiological and psychological benefits."
Covey and Bills volunteer their time to run the laughter clubs, with the support of their directors. "It's volunteer work, but it's selfish!" they both say laughing. They've been invited to attend several departmental staff meetings to hold mini-laughter sessions and are happy to attend others as interest demands. Upcoming dates and events include: April is National Humor Month and May 2 is World Laughter Day. On Aug. 19, there will be an event at DHMC all around humor and laughter, with CEUs available; stay tuned for details.
Back in the HEC conference room, the group begins with Dwayna reminding everyone that it is challenge by choice. "Just do what is in your comfort level today or hold a positive space. Take care of yourself." They begin by draping leis over each others' heads and greeting each other with a happy, "Alohahahahaha." Meeting each others' eyes and moving about the room, it doesn't take long for real laughter to be heard. Then someone snorts. Mirthful laughter, the kind that tones your abdominal muscles, erupts.
