5 Ways Laughter Yoga Helped Me

When I discovered Laughter Yoga I was 16. I was 16, anorexic, depressed, and using marijuana and alcohol to escape. I was miserable, and being great at pretending I was perfectly fine didn't help. I know I'm not the only person out there who thinks they could keep up the facade.

Well, let me tell you, even I couldn't stop the train heading right towards me. One night, I was admitted to an overnight hospital. I was taken there in handcuffs because I was deemed "a danger to myself" and they were being thorough. I had snapped. The lack of sleep (3 1/2 hours a night), starvation, and the drugs all finally caught up to me. My mom drove all the way from LA to Arcata (California) in one night and signed me out. The next day, I was making my way back to LA with her. One thing I left out was, in the midst of it all, I had discovered Laughter Yoga.

Straight away, the first thing I noticed was that Laughter Yoga gave me a high like no other. When I say that it brings on a state of euphoria, I'm not joking. I say it because I experienced it. Being so low and pessimistic; the joy, optimism, and endorphins all made me feel like I was on a cloud. Thus bringing, "5 Ways Laughter Yoga Helped Me" reason #1: It showed me that I didn't need to self medicate to feel better. Laughter Yoga gave me an outlet to escape my self undoing and grow towards something whole and stable, something healthy!

#2: My self confidence grew!

The reason for my eating disorder wasn't just a need to gain control, I had felt like I wasn't enough. I always felt so small in comparison to others and I judged myself too harshly. Forcing myself out of my comfort zone not only exhilarated me but, it made me better at other things. I started saying hello and smiling to people passing me on the street. I started conversations with people I had been too scared to talk to in the past. In my drama class, I was improving and taking risks I wouldn't have taken before. I used to be incredibly reserved and, I'm still no social butterfly but, my social skills have definitely improved. My social skills continue to improve. Laughter Yoga gave me courage and a voice that I didn't have prior.

#3: Laughter Yoga doesn't just lighten the mood, it provides lessons. And, they're all worth taking home!

If you've ever been to my class at the Studio City Public Library, you'll know that "Oops I Made a Mistake!" is my favorite exercise. That's because....

"Oops I made a Mistake!" created a positive habit for me!

One day, I get myself a nice bottle of kombucha (I splurge a little bit). When I get home I walk over to the fridge to put it away for later and, on my way over, I drop it. You're not going to believe what I did next...

I looked at it and broke out into a "Oops I Made a Mistake!" It was amazing! I didn't even get a chance to think before I acted. Once, I realized what I had just done, I was so happy for the positive change. I knew that any time before Laughter Yoga, I would've been so mad at the sight of kombucha all over the floor. The mess, the money invested, I would've let something like that ruin my mood for hours! Instead, I cleaned it up happily and continued laughing at the situation.

This is just one of many examples where Laughter Yoga created a positive habit for me. Overall, I think it has given me a more positive outlook and demeanor.

#4: I wasn't afraid to laugh out loud anymore!

It's interesting to see that even the most confident people are afraid to really laugh. How some, don't really laugh that much in their day to day lives. I know because, I used to be the type. I used to be the person that smiled, chuckled, and remained composed. Now, tell me a pun and I'll just melt! Since becoming this person, I began to notice how many people had a hard time doing the same. In it's own way, it was like a culture shock!

When you're in a session, it really is an hour of release, letting go, and it's so liberating.

I sing in a church choir every week. All the songs we sing tend to be full of profound meaning. Though one week in particular, another singer sang a song that really struck me. The line that really hit the spot was, "Why do I live like I'm in chains, when you have set me free?"

And, that's exactly how I would describe it! We chain ourselves up and during the session we have a moment that's like, "Oh! I don't have to wear these? I can just take them off? Really!" Finding this freedom allowed me to open up in more ways than one and so many people find that liberation just as much of a shock as I did.

#5: I found purpose.

Leading these classes and being so young at the time, I had found a purpose in my life that I was lacking. For a long time, life had felt meaningless and pointless. Laughter Yoga, gave me a reason that I didn't have.

I did have to take a break though. Everything wasn't sunshine and happiness once I started doing Laughter Yoga. I stopped leading sessions for about a year because I wasn't my best yet. I was trying to help people while I still needed help.

In my time leading classes, I got a glimpse of life, of actual life. Not some miserable existence that I had given myself.

So, I kept working and working. To many, it would have seemed that I wasn't doing anything except, going to school and being a teenager. It was anything but...

Everyday, I fought myself. Everyday, I challenged myself. Everyday, I got a little closer to that life I so desperately wanted. It was the hope that I could be more than the sick person with wasted potential and, that I wouldn't die that way.

Aside from singing and leading Laughter Yoga classes, I also paint and do a million other little things. Another awesome person from my church gave me some great advice (regarding my art):

"Sometimes it can take years to finish a painting while another takes an hour. Just, don't rush it. You might need to live a little more to be able to express what is necessary. And, in the middle of the night, when you're fast asleep, suddenly you'll wake up and you'll need to paint!"

So, sometimes it takes an hour, or years, but, when it's time, it's time. I went back to the Library and started leading sessions again. I went back determined and ready to be better than I was the first time.

Here are my five ways, my reasons, for not stopping. What are yours? Or, what will they be? I encourage you, give it a try.

Until next time, I'll be laughing!

Barbara