Laugh-in-the-Park - Laughter Yoga for Everyone

Bring your friends and family and try Laughter Yoga, for all ages and physical capabilities! We'll be meeting near the Band Rotunda, Daffodil Gardens, North Hagley Park (entrance off Riccarton Ave).

(BYO picnic for afterwards.)

This is our annual Laugh-in-the-Park and we're celebrating the 14th one! A chance to share laughter yoga with the wider community, outside, under the beautiful trees in South Hagley Park. Prior to August 2021 lockdown we would usually meet at the St Albans Laughter Club at the Scottish Society Hall at 11am on Sundays, but now we run online weekly laughter yoga sessions. See our FB page Christchurch Laughter Yoga for more details, or visit our website www.lotustrust.org.nz.

Laughter is our body’s natural antidote to stress. When we laugh it stops the fight and flight response, lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels, increasing endorphins and serotonin. Laughing helps remove stress, tension and trauma.

Laughter “Yoga” is a deceptively simple yet very powerful form of exercise, combining laughter exercises with yogic breathing (quite different from traditional yoga with postures). Ultimately, Laughter “Yoga” is about the cultivation of joyfulness. It teaches you to make happiness a choice and not a consequence.

Laughter is a universal language that transcends all barriers; age, gender, language, hierarchy, physical abilities, race, religion, political beliefs. Anyone can laugh without relying on humour, jokes or comedy.

Laughter has profound effects on our mental and physical state of being, including:
- The release of endorphins and serotonin;
- Decreases levels of stress hormones;
- Beats depression and anxiety;
- Boosts the immune system;
- Increases circulation;
- Floods the body with oxygen;
- Increases Killer T Cell production, which helps fight cancer;
- Is an aerobic exercise; and
- Improves communication and creativity.

Looking forward to sharing a laugh with you there!

If it's raining the event will be cancelled.

We will be social distancing and running this session within Covid restrictions.