Laughter Yoga

Smile ups

and not in our cups

laughter is our shoutout

breath in, breath out

trees are at their peak

with some falling in the creek

Laughter in Minnesota

not yet a Minne snow da

One especially beautiful tree

so wonderous to see

frost on the ground

and all around

Laugh for a minute or so

fifteen minutes and time to go!

Authors Note: I attend laughter yoga on the phone many a Monday at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Many weeks it starts with hearing who is on the phone and from where. Calls come in from all around the country. The laughter yoga coach Sarah lives in Minnesota.

After introductions, she will often move on to smileups, and then breathing. Laughter and breathing are very good for depression, anxiety and panic when practiced regularly. If you want a better day practice smileups in front of your bathroom mirror.

It doesn't matter if you are in the mood. You will have a better day. Our brain doesn't know the difference between real and fake smiles or laughs. It kicks out our bodies' own feel-good chemicals.