Fun for a Change

From FFAC friend and Denver area pastor Kathleen Kegel, who also brought me in to her workplace to lead a session for the Denver Hospice staff. Here's what she said about FFAC:

"I lead a monthly spiritual discussion group. One of the members connected me with Barry, who came to lead our group for an evening. Here are a sample of the comments from people after Barry’s evening with us …. “I enjoyed the meditation we did when we remembered playing as a child.” “It was liberating.” “My laugh muscles loosened so it became easier to laugh.” “Refreshing.” “I feel like I will sleep well tonight.” “I changed my perspective. I was closed off when I walked in. This changed my outlook.” “This helped me focus on possibilities, expansiveness - what I have vs. what I don’t have.” “I appreciated reaching my deepest, deepest laugh.”

"Busting Through the Paradigm that Work is No Fun.....7 Days a Week."

Fun for a Change Playshops are a unique combination of laughter yoga, applied improvisation, chi gong, breath work, and hatha yoga, designed to evoke creative flow state, improving the quality of all action and increasing authenticity in relationships.

Re-awaken your natural playfulness! Enjoy the lasting emotional and physical benefits of long and hearty laughter. Learn the power of taking your life seriously by keeping it lighter (!) and being fully present in the company of others. Build skills in listening, paying attention, and building on others' ideas. Improve creative problem-solving and productivity, gain deeper and more rewarding relationships on the job, in places of worship, and in schools.

Here's what participants in my weekly sessions at NREL have to say about Fun for a Change:

"How refreshing to laugh so much at work! The endorphins kept going all afternoon and I was uber-productive. Thanks Barry!" – Karlynn

"This was the best hour I’ve spent at work in a long time! It was so much fun – my cheeks were sore from laughing so hard. My whole outlook was better afterwards, and I was a nicer, happier person at work. I wish I could bottle up your “class” and take it with me every day! Thank you, Barry!" – Suzanne

“Barry: Thanks so much for starting the Laughing Yoga class here at NREL. I have never been very athletic but laughing is something I can do. I enjoyed the games and camaraderie of the group and the relaxation exercise at the end. I don’t think I could do all the regular yoga exercises but when you stressed that there is no wrong way to do the games and relaxation exercises I was willing to try it. I’ve known for a long time that laughter is the best medicine. I think with our work environment that we can all use an hour of fun and laughter each week so count me in.” – Janet

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." - Joseph Campbell

March 2014

Evoking the relaxation response ! Shift to a creative flow state, ready for play and spontaneous interactions, responsive to creative impulse. Who knows what could happen ?? Together we learn to trust life. "The readiness is all," said Shakespeare.

Summers out and so are we! Go outside and PLAY, it's Summer holiday! Watch this space for events around the Denver area this Summer, and please note for now, classes at Blue Sky Cafe are on hold for the Summer. Hugs and Ha-Ha's to you all! ~ Marina & Barry

Happy World Laughter day everybody! Now that you saw this post, you can begin to let out a little laugh right now... Go ahead, you can do it! Laughter is the universal language of peace, joy and relaxation! Give yourself a laugh, even if alone, or in a room full of people, for no reason at all. It's good for you and the World! :-D

Who knew we were also a health class? Improve your mood, elevate your cardio function and boost your immune system... all included in play and laughter! Next class May 4, 4pm at Blue Sky Cafe & Juice Bar! Looking forward to seeing you all there!

"Being happy is the best cure for all disease" :)

On the leading edge of guerrilla crowd-funded theater happenin. Boldness in beginnings. Insert applause here.

A World Premiere Multi-Writer Play of Epic Proportions! Help us discover what happens when 5 writers create a single script brought to life by 2 directors & 7 actors in May 2013.

A great little article about the benefits of LOL's! In our class, there are no stifling the big HA HA's! In fact, they are fully encouraged! Next class to bust it all out is April 6, 4:00-5:30pm at Blue Sky Cafe & Juice Bar!

10 Reasons You Should Always Laugh Out Loud I watched a silly movie last week with my seven-year-old son. At one point he was rolling around the carpet, clutching his stomach while tears of laughter rolled down his bright red face...

Thank you to everyone who made it to our class on Saturday. It was wonderful, fun, energizing, funny and even healing (as some have reported right after class

Many people who have studied improvisation have noted that the guiding principles of improvisation are useful not just on stage but in everyday life.

"...Well, you are about to start the greatest improvisation of all. With no script. No idea what's going to happen, often with people and places you have never seen before. And you are not in control. So say "yes." And if you're lucky, you'll find people who will say "yes" back." - Stephen Colbert (commencement speech)