No joke

Anyone who doesn't think working out is fun should have been at our house for laughter yoga last week. Sure, it weirded out Mike and Kevin when they came up the walk and saw, through the window, a group of girls inside walking in a circle high-fiving each other and laughing hysterically ... but it really was physically and emotionally therapeutic!

Like regular yoga, there are names for certain moves. Check it out (from the AU Laughter Club handout -- which also explains the laughter yoga philosophy):

• Hi-5 Laughter: Raising both the hands up, go around giving each other high fives while laughing heartily.

• Appreciation Laughter: Join your pointing finger with the thumb to make a small circle while making gestures as if you are appreciating your group members and laughing simultaneously.

• Milk Shake Laughter (a variation): Hold and mix two imaginary glasses of milk or coffee and at the instruction of the leader pour the milk from one glass into the other by chanting Aeee...., and then pour it back into the first glass by chanting Aeee..., after that everyone laughs making a gesture as if they are drinking milk. (Repeat 4 times).

• Silent Laughter (without sound): Open your mouth wide and laugh without making any sound and look into each others' eyes and make some funny gestures.

• The Bald Eagle Swinging Laughter: Stand in a circle, spread your hands wide and move towards the center by chanting Aee....Ooo....Eee...Uuu...

• Lion Laughter: Extend the tongue fully with eyes wide open and hands stretched out like the claws of a lion and laugh from the tummy

• Cell Phone Laughter: Hold an imaginary mobile phone and try to laugh, making different gestures and moving around in the group to meet different people.

• Gradient Laughter: Gradient laughter starts with bringing a smile on the face, slowly gentle giggles are added and the intensity of laughter is increased further. Then the members gradually burst into hearty laughter and slowly and gradually bring the laughter down and stop.

• Heart to Heart Laughter (Intimacy Laughter): Come closer and hold each others hands and laugh. One can shake hands or hug each other, whatever feels comfortable.

I mean, seriously -- I'm laughing just writing this post. And because I just found this video of a laughter club in California:



Go ahead, laugh at me or with me -- either way, it beats 30 minutes on a treadmill any day.