Laughter for Health and Wellbeing

About Laughter for Health & Happiness Classes

Join our Laughter For Health & Happiness classes with Laughter Consultant and Health & Wellbeing coach Jo Bluett. We're delighted to have Jo lead these sessions and share her knowledge, skills and passion in a fun, healthy and accessible way with our community. Jo says "Therapeutic laughter gives us a total wellbeing workout and helps us to feel amazing on all levels - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually."

Laugh yourself happier and healthier!

The benefits of laughter include:

• lifts our mood
• reduces pain and inflammation
• boosts our immune system
• improves our breathing
• lowers blood pressure
• improves our heart (or cardiovascular) health
• boosts oxygen supply
• reduces stress and tension
• improves our social connection
• builds resilience and positivity
• builds confidence and self-esteem
• boosts our creativity

You can get a taster of what our Laughter for Health & Happiness classes might look like by watching this short two-minute video on the BBC website, which features Jo talking about a previous Laughter Club: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05lkp75

Class Cost - Please Read

Payments for these classes can be made here on Eventbrite, however, please be advised that Eventbrite adds its non-refundable fee to the ticket price that they collect. Alternatively, you can email us at events@duncanplace.org and we can send you a payment link without an additional fee.  After your first class, payments can be made in person each week at Duncan Place via card or cash.

£6 = Standard Class Fee (for people who have a steady income and can occasionally attend paid events or classes).

Alternative options

£3 = Reduced Class Fee (an alternative option for people who have an unsteady or lower income, and are not often able to attend paid events or classes).

£8 = Class Fee + (an alternative option for people who have disposable income and can regularly attend paid events or classes. This option also helps us sustain the reduced-priced option).

With these three options, it is also completely OK to pick different payment options for each class. You get to choose exactly what you pay according to what you can genuinely afford. We only ask that you do a little bit of self-reflection before choosing your price point. You may find yourself somewhere between price points and that is fine. You get to choose which price point fits most comfortably at any given time.

Signing up

Our classes are a great mix of folks who have been coming along regularly, and people trying it for the first time. As spaces are limited, this class is suitable for people who would be able to attend the class regularly. After you have attended your first class, if you intend to come back (which we're sure you will) you can let us know on the day to expect you at future classes.

Participant Information **please read**

• Please arrive five or ten minutes before the class starts - latecomers may not be admitted.
• Please wear comfortable clothing allowing movement - light layers are best as we can warm up and cool down quickly between different stages of the class.
• Part of the session includes laughter meditation where you have the option of lying down (or you can be seated in a chair). If you have a favourite yoga mat or blanket you'd like to bring along, please do, however, we also have a limited supply of them here that you can use on the day.
• These Laughter For Health & Happiness classes are inclusive and welcome everyone of all fitness levels and mobility; wheelchair users are welcome (as are Carers and Support Workers for those who need physical assistance) and people who find it difficult to stand or cope with moving around can do the whole class seated.
• These classes will include elements of Laughter Yoga which is an aerobic exercise that may not be suitable for people suffering from uncontrolled blood pressure, heart disease, epilepsy, any kind of hernia, severe back pain, abdominal surgery within the last 3 months and major psychiatric conditions. If these conditions do not apply but during the class you experience pain, discomfort or breathlessness then take a break - have a seat and take some time out to rest - and perhaps then continue with restraint or more gently. If you have any doubt about continuing then simply stop. If you are unsure as to whether you should participate - please consult your GP before attending.

About Jo

Jo Bluett set up Laughter For Health in 2012 after discovering that laughter profoundly helped her manage her own chronic health issues. Laughter for Jo became a daily tool to manage mood, reduce pain, build resilience, and boost health and happiness which she then wanted to share with others.

Jo ran Edinburgh Laughter Club for 10 years voluntarily to become one of the most successful laughter clubs in the UK (the first club to run weekly sessions and the first to secure funding from the NHS). Together with her regular members, they raised over £25K for local charities - doing good and feeling good!