LAUGHTER YOGA IS THE BEST MEDICINE Ho Ho - Ha Ha Ha Presented by: Erin Langiano, R/TRO and Kellie Halligan, CTRS
WHO ARE WE? WHERE DO WE WORK? Royal Ottawa Place is a unique long term care facility, providing care to individuals who are challenged by a chronic, persistent mental illness. Average age 64 (Youngest 34 Oldest 91) 33 Male / 31 Female This is Erin This is Kellie
LET S BREAK IT DOWN: OBJECTIVES Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to identify key components and theories of laughter yoga. 2. Participants will actively participate in a laughter yoga session for 30 minutes and be able to identify 2 benefits 3. Participants will be able to identify benefits discovered through research implemented with individuals living in LTC with mental illness at ROP. Take a minute to fill in the BEFORE measure of HOW DO YOU FEEL
WHAT IS LAUGHTER YOGA Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise routine which combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing. During a session we start with a gentle warm-up (stretching, clapping, body movements). Laughter exercises and breathing techniques are introduced (approx. 20 minutes). Session is finished with a laughter meditation/cool-down/relaxation exercises
5 WHYS OF LAUGHTER YOGA 1. Laughter Yoga is a unique concept where anyone can laugh for no reason without relying on humour, jokes, or comedy 2. We initiate laughter as an exercise in a group but with eye contact and childlike playfulness it soon turns into real and contagious laughter 3. The reason we call it laughter yoga is because it combines laughter exercises with yoga breathing. This brings more oxygen to the body and the brain which makes one feel more energetic and healthy. 4. Laughter Yoga is based on scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between real and simulated laughter if done with willingness. One receives the same health benefits whether laughter is real or fake. 5. It was started by a medical doctor, Dr. Madan Kataria supported by his wife, Madhuri Kataria, a yoga teacher from India with just 5 people in a Mumbai park in 1995.
A BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE HISTORY OF LAUGHTER YOGA There have been a number of individuals to contribute to the development of therapeutic laughter Norman Cousins, celebrated writer Dr. William F. Fry, psychiatrist, Stanford University Dr. Lee Berk, PhD, Loma Linda University Medical Centre Dr. Patch Adams, MD Dr. Madan Kataria Dr. Madhuri Kataria
HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND: THE BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER YOGA Laughter Yoga is a complete package for physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing of an individual Laughter Yoga brings more Laughter and Joy Laughter Yoga for fitness Oxygen levels Increase blood circulation Stress buster Self-Confidence Communication Skills Maintains Emotional Balance Boost Immune System Depression and Anxiety
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM LAUGHTER YOGA? What population does everyone work with?
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A SESSION https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tga6wrgliss Fill in the AFTER measure on your handout Feedback
OUR ROCKY ROAD TO RESEARCH: HOW WE GOT STARTED Becoming certified Program Outline Development of research question Literature review Proposal outline Consent Forms Measures (Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, Sleep Rating Scale, PRN use) Ethics Approval
PARTICIPANT SELECTION PROCESS Group size- 8:1 ratio (RAI/MDS Therapy groups) Cognitive Performance Scores Focus (ability to focus for 30 minutes) Ability to understand/answer measurements Commitment/Willingness to participate Short-term memory Interest Diagnosis
METHODOLOGY: OUR BIG BLOCK Measure PRN Use Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Sleep Rating Scale Original Timeline 30 days prior, during, after 1 prior to the start, halfway through (2 weeks), following last session, and 30 days after Every day during study Actual Timeline 14 days prior, during, after 1 day prior to start, following last session (2 weeks), and 2 weeks after last session Every day during study
PRN USE Participant PRN Use 2 Weeks Prior During (14 2 Weeks days) After Maragaret Atwood 3 2 2 Jim Carrey 0 0 0 Bryan Adams 4 12 4 Drake 0 0 0 Mike Myers 0 0 0 Pam Anderson 0 0 0 K.D. Lang 0 0 0 Celine Dion 1 0 1 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 PRN Use 2 Weeks Prior PRN Use During (14 days) PRN Use 2 Weeks After
OXFORD HAPPINESS QUESTIONNAIRE: THE CHOSEN ONE How do we choose? Other options: PANAS, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Subjective Happiness Who administered questionnaire PROS Measured variety of benefits directly related to LY CONS Difficulty with wording (Eg. #23) Standardized Interpretation of statements Used within our field Emotional for participants Easy scale to follow Easy to calculate
OXFORD HAPPINESS QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Results Participant Name Initial Score End Score Post Score Margaret Atwood 5.30 5.41 5.27 Celine Dion 4.90 3.69 5 Mike Myers 4.34 4.82 4.38 Jim Carrey 2.75 4.24 3.41 Pam Anderson 5.34 5.21 5.72 Bryan Adams 4.66 5 5.59 Drake 3.34 4.14 3.51 K. D. Lang 3.38 3.48 4.17 Averages 4.25 4.50 4.63 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Results Initial Score End Score Post Score
SLEEP RATING SCALE Sleep Rating Scale 1 2 3 4 5 (No sleep) (Woke occasionally) (Slept all night) 1- Awful 2- Not very good 3- Good 4- Really Good 5- Brilliant
STATISTICS: A.K.A THE WORST PART Determining data analysis Anova: Single Factor SUMMARY Groups Count Sum Average Variance Initial Score 8 34.01 4.25125 0.9606125 End Score 8 35.99 4.49875 0.511183929 Post Score 8 37.05 4.63125 0.810441071 ANOVA Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Between 0.595233 Groups 33 2 0.297616667 0.391216953 0.68106 3.466800112 Within Groups 15.97566 25 21 0.760745833 Total 16.57089 58 23
STATS CONTINUED t-test: Paired Two Sample for Means Post Score Initial Score Mean 4.63125 4.25125 Variance 0.810441071 0.9606125 Observations 8 8 Pearson Correlation 0.926287305 Hypothesized Mean Difference 0 df 7 t Stat 2.909581008 P(T<=t) one-tail 0.01133704 t Critical one-tail 1.894578605 P(T<=t) two-tail 0.02267408 t Critical two-tail 2.364624252 Future recommendations for research
PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK I have more energy. ~ K.D. Lang I feel more creative immediately following the group. ~ Margaret Atwood I feel more relaxed, calm, cool, and collected ~ Margaret Atwood I want to laugh more. I feel happier when I m laughing. ~ Mike Myers I feel more at peace. ~ K.D. Lang I feel like I m in a better mood ~ Drake I feel more relaxed, I enjoy the relaxation at the end. ~ K.D. Lang I like being silly, it feels great. ~ Pam Anderson
FOLLOW-UP Difficulties and challenges Questions, comments, feedback Contact Information Erin Langiano: erin.langiano@theroyal.ca Kellie Halligan: kellie.halligan@theroyal.ca