Hello my friend,
Thank you so much for being here with me today.
I hope that you are hearing the smile on my face because I am so excited to help you with this practice today,
Which is a pranayama practice,
Aka a breathing exercise,
To help you relieve stress through laughter.
I know it sounds really silly,
How can we relieve stress just by laughing?
It's really magical actually.
As we know with breathing practices,
The whole goal is to shift your mind state,
Whether that's for trying to get sleepy or for trying to reduce stress,
Because it doesn't really matter.
The goal is the same.
We are shifting ourself into a different space.
So are you ready to feel happier?
It all starts with contracting these muscles in your cheeks,
Drawing the sides of your mouth up.
Yes,
I'm describing a smile.
Go ahead,
Smile big,
Feel goofy.
If you can,
Look at yourself in the mirror and laugh at yourself because it's silly.
We are silly.
We are looking at ourselves with a great big grin.
If you don't have a mirror,
You're imagining it in your mind and it seems silly.
Why are we smiling?
There's nothing to smile about.
I argue there's everything to smile about.
So let's smile.
Let's feel silly.
Let's let out a laugh.
Try it.
It doesn't have to be a big one,
But let's do it.
Inhale big.
Oh my gosh,
It's so silly.
Oh,
The more we try,
The more it becomes authentic.
Let's go again.
Take a deep breath in.
Ready?
Is it working for you?
Because it's working for me.
Let's try again.
Deep breath in and laugh.
Oh my gosh.
My cheeks are starting to hurt.
How about you?
Are you starting to think of things that really are silly?
Are you still laughing at yourself like I am?
Ready?
One more time.
Deep breath in and laugh.
Oh my gosh.
Oh my goodness.
All right,
Let's calm down.
Ah,
Come back to normal breath.
Wow.
Do your muscles feel tired in your cheeks?
What about your forehead,
Your neck,
Your shoulders?
Let's shake that out.
Let it go.
Feel free to move your body however you want to.
Maybe you're rolling your shoulders.
Maybe you're clasping your hands behind you in a fist,
Drawing your fist down,
Opening up through your chest.
Oh,
That feels nice.
Oh,
Opening up through the chest is like giving your whole body a smile.
Your clavicle is smiling here.
Your collarbone is opening up.
Oh,
Feels much more open.
Feels much more relaxed just from having a laugh together.
Anytime you want to join me for this silly practice,
I'll be here for you anytime,
My friend.
Thanks for coming here today.
Namaste.
