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Laugha Yoga: Combining the Bliss of Yoga and the Joy of Laughter
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Preface to Laugha Yoga Book
If it isn't fun, it isn't yoga. ~Swami Satchidananda
Welcome to the world, and way of Laugha Yoga. Laughing Yoga is an ancient, new idea about how to find health, happiness and well-being. It is a simple, yet powerful practice that can produce profound changes in mood, confidence and health.
The first question you may want answered is, “Why should you get involved in this?” “Why Laugha Yoga?” I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to be happy. Do you? The way we go about getting happiness varies from person to person, but all of us want happiness.
Well, consider that medical science has discovered a session of prolonged, intentional laughter produces physiological changes that leave us feeling more confident, creative and happier.
It is my belief that most of us need to have our laughter rehabilitated. We’ve lost the childlike innocence we had early in life. As babies we didn’t get jokes. Yet we laughed and felt the joy of existence. This can be recaptured in laugha yoga.
I believe that Fun is Fun-damental, an irreducible term. I think you’ll also find that the more you laugh in life, the more fun you have, the more your life is enjoyable. And that you have the power to increase the fun and laughter levels in your life, starting now.
Pure and forgiving laughter is a vibration, an emotional carrier wave that everyone understands. It is international, inter-racial, inter-cultural: a universal language if you will. It can be communicated and understood by all people. To me, it is a call to the uniting of all humanity.
Yoga, in general is an ancient science of transformation and enlightenment. It’s teaching is based on the idea that we are here on earth to enjoy life. But, we have forgotten that, and forgotten who we are in our deepest core of being.
One of the great discoveries of ancient times is that we can use various activities to reach our true Self, The One Who takes None of this Seriously. The ancient eastern masters saw that some people were very dedicated, devoted to things. Others were extremely active, dynamic and outwardly focused. Yet others were studious and had a love of learning. Others loved cooking and preparing meals and eating. Some people loved to sing and dance.
So they showed people that through those activities they already enjoyed so much they could realize their true nature, find God within them. The only thing necessary was for them to perform those activities in a more conscious and purposeful way. And the primary purpose was to find God in themselves and others.
They developed for the devoted types, Bhakti Yoga, for the active, Karma Yoga, for the studious and scholarly ones, Jnana Yoga, and even for the meal preparers, the Yoga of Puja.
Well, they were even clever enough to see that some people really loved to laugh so they pointed them to Hasya Yoga (Yogic Laughter) practices. And for me that was the most attractive practice I could hope for. It almost didn’t matter what someone was interested in they could find a practice, a unique “yoga,” to help them go deeper within themselves. In other words, when we laugh and have fun we lose ourselves–and, it is said that in losing ourselves we find ourselves anew. "A man all wrapped up in himself makes a very small package."
The return to an understanding of our deepest inner self requires that we pick a way of living and acting in life, a lifestyle if you will, that is more consistent with the idea that we are here to experience abundant life, love and health.
The everyday reality we have been taught is real, is a “version” of what’s possible in life, but not the only one. It is possible to learn through a few practical and simple practices how to enjoy life more, solve some of its mysteries and alter for the better the way we perceive our reality. We can be happier, more loving and compassionate.
The science and practice of laugha yoga can take you from the ordinary, routine life, to a life of constant learning and wonder. For those who like to laugh, and even for those who don’t, it can offer a profound journey of discovery.
So we are dedicating this book to sharing with you the information, knowledge and methods of practicing a way of life that will profoundly alter your experience of yourself and others. As your experience of life and people changes for the better, you will find a world of infinite love and good.
In love and laughter,
Bharata Wingham
Preface to Laugha Yoga Book
If it isn't fun, it isn't yoga. ~Swami Satchidananda
Welcome to the world, and way of Laugha Yoga. Laughing Yoga is an ancient, new idea about how to find health, happiness and well-being. It is a simple, yet powerful practice that can produce profound changes in mood, confidence and health.
The first question you may want answered is, “Why should you get involved in this?” “Why Laugha Yoga?” I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to be happy. Do you? The way we go about getting happiness varies from person to person, but all of us want happiness.
Well, consider that medical science has discovered a session of prolonged, intentional laughter produces physiological changes that leave us feeling more confident, creative and happier.
It is my belief that most of us need to have our laughter rehabilitated. We’ve lost the childlike innocence we had early in life. As babies we didn’t get jokes. Yet we laughed and felt the joy of existence. This can be recaptured in laugha yoga.
I believe that Fun is Fun-damental, an irreducible term. I think you’ll also find that the more you laugh in life, the more fun you have, the more your life is enjoyable. And that you have the power to increase the fun and laughter levels in your life, starting now.
Pure and forgiving laughter is a vibration, an emotional carrier wave that everyone understands. It is international, inter-racial, inter-cultural: a universal language if you will. It can be communicated and understood by all people. To me, it is a call to the uniting of all humanity.
Yoga, in general is an ancient science of transformation and enlightenment. It’s teaching is based on the idea that we are here on earth to enjoy life. But, we have forgotten that, and forgotten who we are in our deepest core of being.
One of the great discoveries of ancient times is that we can use various activities to reach our true Self, The One Who takes None of this Seriously. The ancient eastern masters saw that some people were very dedicated, devoted to things. Others were extremely active, dynamic and outwardly focused. Yet others were studious and had a love of learning. Others loved cooking and preparing meals and eating. Some people loved to sing and dance.
So they showed people that through those activities they already enjoyed so much they could realize their true nature, find God within them. The only thing necessary was for them to perform those activities in a more conscious and purposeful way. And the primary purpose was to find God in themselves and others.
They developed for the devoted types, Bhakti Yoga, for the active, Karma Yoga, for the studious and scholarly ones, Jnana Yoga, and even for the meal preparers, the Yoga of Puja.
Well, they were even clever enough to see that some people really loved to laugh so they pointed them to Hasya Yoga (Yogic Laughter) practices. And for me that was the most attractive practice I could hope for. It almost didn’t matter what someone was interested in they could find a practice, a unique “yoga,” to help them go deeper within themselves. In other words, when we laugh and have fun we lose ourselves–and, it is said that in losing ourselves we find ourselves anew. "A man all wrapped up in himself makes a very small package."
The return to an understanding of our deepest inner self requires that we pick a way of living and acting in life, a lifestyle if you will, that is more consistent with the idea that we are here to experience abundant life, love and health.
The everyday reality we have been taught is real, is a “version” of what’s possible in life, but not the only one. It is possible to learn through a few practical and simple practices how to enjoy life more, solve some of its mysteries and alter for the better the way we perceive our reality. We can be happier, more loving and compassionate.
The science and practice of laugha yoga can take you from the ordinary, routine life, to a life of constant learning and wonder. For those who like to laugh, and even for those who don’t, it can offer a profound journey of discovery.
So we are dedicating this book to sharing with you the information, knowledge and methods of practicing a way of life that will profoundly alter your experience of yourself and others. As your experience of life and people changes for the better, you will find a world of infinite love and good.
In love and laughter,
Bharata Wingham