5 wonderful ways to laugh joy into your holiday season!

Laughter is a great way to de-stress during the holidays.  For many people, the holiday time means piling on shopping, decorating, parties, entertaining guests, and travel to an already busy schedule.  For those of us in the Northern part of the planet, it’s also the darkest time of the year.

Not so long ago, the rhythm of life slowed way down in the winter months. With artificial light so widespread, our productive time could be 24/7, and sometime it seems that’s what’s expected of us!  But humans aren’t built to function well that way.  While we can’t turn the clock back 100 plus years—nor would most of us want to--we can reclaim a more humane and connected way of life.

Here are five fun ways laughter can help:

1.      When your frantic brain lists all the things you need to get done, let yourself have a laugh at the anxiety.  Ask yourself—“do I REALLY need to do ALL these things?”  The holidays are meant to help us connect with love and joy. Take a moment to think about what is most important to you, and start prioritizing.  Check in with a significant other or good friend, if you need help. What can you cross off your list?

2.      Make a date with yourself to savor a long dark night.  Slow down. Take a deep breath. Snuggle in and have a cup of tea. Laugh at the shear decadence of it!

3.      Connect with the people around you—when you’re standing on line at a store, talk to the person next to you instead of fuming with impatience. Share a smile, maybe even a laugh.  Perhaps it will spread up and down the line! And when you get to the end, see if you can spread that smile to the most likely harried cashier.

4.      Get a small group together and laugh in sync with the holiday lights: every time the lights turn on, have a quick “ha”—most likely you won’t even make it through a minute of this without bursting into spontaneous laughter.

5.      At your next holiday gathering, greet each person with a hug and shared laughter before sitting down to eat. It may make all the difference in getting along with your loved ones.

May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility        -- Mary Anne Radmacher

WISHING MUCH LAUGHTER AND HOLIDAY JOY TO ALL!

Laugh away travel stress

Whether we are away for business or pleasure, travel can be stressful! Often we're going to unfamiliar places among unfamiliar faces. Delays and snafus are common. Want to keep the perspective of travel as a fun adventure instead of a nightmare? Laughter can help.

3 simple ways to use the power of laughter while traveling:

• This summer I visited the Boston area--a place notorius for difficult driving. It's super easy to get lost. Many roads are literally based on cow paths from hundreds of years ago! Congested narrow streets are poorly marked and wind about with no logic. Out of frustation, many drivers do dangeous and unexpected maneuvers. It's easy to feel stressed before I've even gotten behing the wheel! So before I set out for a new destination, I say in my best "announcer" voice: ADVENTURES IN DRIVING!" and have a good laugh. It helps me have a sense of fun instead of dread about the trip ahead.

• Airplane travel has so many opportunities for laughter! Whether you're stuck in traffic on the way to the airport, sitting on the runway waiting to take off, of getting a little nervous when the turbulence keeps the plane hopping, laughter is a great way to let off some steam. Tip: If you're worried about seeming strange, try silent laughter, or pretend you're on your cell phone.

• I was recently in the Big Apple and wanted to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My friend suggested going in the evening when it's usually less crowded. But it turned out to be the last weekend for a popular exhibit. The line was crazy long! We made it half way through when it started to rain--HARD. We almost gave up. But we decided to laugh about it! This was the quintessensial New York City experience--waiting on a long line for a cultural event in the rain! A vendor sold us typical black New York umbrellas for 5 bucks, and we settled in for a fun evening of people watching and art.

If you want more laughter to transform you life of workplace, contact Annie for Laughter Yoga workshops, individual or group sessions at 510-655-1433.

Annie's next blog: What to do when you get sleepy of restless at your desk? Add laughter!

Shapeshift Your Mood with Laughter!

In Laughter Yoga we say "emotion follows motion"--what we do with our body affects our mood. The simple act of laughing can literally change your body chemistry, shifting your outlook from negative to positive.

3 simple ways to use the power of laughter:

Take a laughter break

• This simple Laughter Yoga exercise is an instant vacation from stress! Breathing in through your nose, raise your arms over your hear and hold your breath for 3-5 beats. Laugh, exhaling through your mouth, while bringing your arms down to your sides. If you are in a place where you can't laugh out loud, try silent laughter, or an out breath while smiling.

Laugh more easily with others

• We are more likely to laugh when we have a laughter support system! Ask a friend or co-worker (or several) to be a "lighten up" buddy. When you need to let go of stress or shift your mood, call your buddy and ask them to laugh with you for a minute. If you can't find a willing partner, you can find other laughter fans at Laughter Clubs around the world. Look at http://www.laughteryoga.org/ for the one nearest you.

You can choose laughter

• When minor stresses come up, you can make the decision to laugh instead of acting out of disappointment or anger. For instance, when someone cuts me off in traffic, my body tenses, my blood boils, and I feel the urge to curse at them loudly! But even if I do curse at them, it really ends up hurting me. I am left angry and wound up, with unhealthy stress hormones coursing through my body. I've decided to try laughing instead of cursing. It releases healthy chemicals in my body so I end up feeling good, and it inspires some of the drivers around me to laugh too!

If you want more laughter tips to transform your life or workplace, contact Annie about laughter programs for businesses, organizations or individuals at 510-655-1433.

Annie's next blog: Learning to laugh away travel stress

Laughter in the Workplace--Really?

What? Laughter in the workplace?!?! I can hear you thinking "Laughter at work will create chaos! It's just too silly. People will goof off." The truth is that laughter and play actually help people become more satisfied and productive at work! Laughing together creates a positive shift, facilitating cooperation and teamwork.

I've seen participants in my Lifefire Laughter Workshops begin the session stressed and burnt out. When it's over, they are energized, relaxed and upbeat!

A year after working with me, a company team reaported that the effects of the Laughter Yoga stayed with them. Whan a stressful situation comes up, they remember to look at each other and laugh together instead of tearing their hair out. Then they are ready to problem solve with clearer heads and a more positive outlook.

If you want more information about what Lifefire Laughter Workshops can do for you and your workplace, I am happy to offer a free consultation. I promise it will include laughter!

Next time on Annie's blog: learn 3 ways to use the power of laughter to shift your mood.

Hello Laughter Lovers--

Long time no blog! It's not a coincidence that my website went up right around the time of my last post. Plus I started posting my Laughter Club events on meetup.com. I've realized my blog wasn't so much a blog as aan announcement. Been mulling over the possiblity of a "real" blog for awhile. And here I am, dipping my toe in the water!

First, I wanted you to know the Oakland Lifefire Laughter Club is still alive and well.We meet the 1st Tuesdays and 3rd Mondays of the month. We'll be celebrating our 4th anniversary in early 2011!

When I was young, I got the message that if I wasn't great at something right away, there was something wrong with me. I felt I should just give up.

As an adult, I've been slowly learning to hang in there. To allow myself to "fail" some of the time. To learn from what I do, and not give up so quickly. Laughter and improvisation have helped me bring a lighter quality to my mistakes. Sometimes I'm even able to create something interesting from them! I'm noticing that the longer and more that I lead, the more ease I feel. It just gets better--and more fun.

Do you see somewhere this shows up in your life? When have you been able to hang in through the discomfort of making mistakes, learning from them and not giving up?

I'd love to know what your experience has been.

Warmly, Annie

Oakland Laughter Club 2-5-08--1st Anniversary Laugh-in

HA-HA-HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO THE

OAKLAND LIFEFIRE LAUGHTER CLUB

THE OAKLAND LIFEFIRE LAUGHTER CLUB MEETS

THE FIRST & THIRD TUESDAYS OF EACH MONTH

Dear Laughter fans—

It’s first anniversary for the Oakland Lifefire Laughter Club! I'm amazed that we’ve been spreading laughter and peace for a whole year. Very good, very good YAY!

If that wasn’t cool enough, I’ve also launched my new website this week: www.lifefire.com. Yippee! Please check it out.

If you plan to attend this wonderful celebration of the Oakland Lifefire Laughter Club, please email or call me by Monday evening, Febrary 4th. (Scroll down for time and location)

RSVP to—

annie@lifefire.com or call 510-655-1433 or cell 781-526-6012 so I have an idea of how many people to expect.

Important! Photos of the laughter club will be taken to put on my website. If you don't want to be in them, please let me know...thanks!

I look forward to connecting with you all!

Warmly & in shared laughter,

Annie Goglia aka the laughter diva of Oakland

Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher

Life Coach and Storyteller

COME OUT AND PLAY!

OAKLAND LIFEFIRE LAUGHTER CLUB

Sharing laughter creates connection & makes us healthier. Medical studies show that laughter relieves stress, improves circulation/digestion, & strengthens your immune system. Plus, it’s a blast!

The evening will combine some easy warm ups for the entire body, some fun and stimulating laughter exercises and cool down relaxation time. Woo-hoo! I can feel those good vibes just imagining us laughing together!

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 7:30 – 8:45 PM

First Congregation Church of Oakland, Angel Room
2501 Harrison St @ 27th St. (near downtown Oakland)
(Enter through the blue door under the church tower

in back of building, off parking lot.)

Suggested donation $12, but $8 - 20 happily accepted.

Plenty of parking if by car. If you don't mind the walk, take BART to 19th St.

Please wear loose comfortable clothes for easier laughing!

Contact Annie Goglia for more info:

annie@lifefire.com or 510-655-1433

Annie’s website: www.lifefire.com
Annie’s blogsite: lifefirecoaching.blogspot.com
Laughter yoga website: http://www.laughteryoga.org

LET THE LAUGHTER FALL LIKE RAIN in 2008!

Dear Laughter fans—

If the OLYC New Year’s party was any indicator, 2008 will be a fabulous year!

We started the year off right with lots of playing and laughing at Suz’s wonderful and welcoming home. We became laughing balls dropping in Times Square to mark the beginning of the New Year, transformed ourselves to human noisemakers, let go of stuff we don’t want in our lives, gathered in what we DO want, and spread peace and goodwill into the world. Not bad for one evening.

If you plan to attend the next fabulous Oakland Lifefire Laughter Club, please email or call me by Monday evening, January 14th.

RSVP to—annie@lifefire.com or call 510-655-1433 or cell 781-526-6012 so I have an idea of how many people to expect.

Important! A reporter from the Oakland Tribune may come visit our Laughter Club for an article on Laughter Yoga in the area. If they come, they'll take a video--Yippee! If you don't want to be in it, please let me know...thanks!I look forward to connecting with you all!

Warmly & in shared laughter,

Annie Goglia, aka the laughter diva of Oakland

Certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Teacher
Life Coach and Storyteller

COME OUT AND PLAY!

OAKLAND LIFEFIRE LAUGHTER CLUB

JANUARY 15th

Sharing laughter creates connection & makes us healthier. Medical studies show that laughter relieves stress, improves circulation/digestion, & strengthens your immune system. Plus, it’s a blast!

The evening will combine some easy warm ups for the entire body, some fun and stimulating laughter exercises and cool down relaxation time. Woo-hoo! I can feel those good vibes just imagining us laughing together!

When: Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 7:30 – 8:45 PM

Where: First Congregation Church of Oakland, Angel Room
2501 Harrison St @ 27th St. (near downtown Oakland)
Enter through the blue door in back of building, off parking lot.Suggested donation $12, but $8 - 20 happily accepted.

Plenty of parking if by car. If you don't mind the walk,

take BART to 19th St.

Please wear loose comfortable clothes for easier laughing!

Contact Annie Goglia for more info: annie@lifefire.com or 510-655-1433

Laughter yoga website: http://www.laughteryoga.org