3 Actions Happy People Do Every Day

I had the privilege of learning about Laughter Yoga at Harvard and then again at the 2014 ANMA Conference with Brittney. I asked her to write a post because I loved her energy and passion for educating others about Laughter Yoga, living life to its fullest and her great knowledge. We had a blast. Please enjoy her guest post and check out her info at the bottom. 

And keep on laughing!   

Laughter is truly the best medicine. Me and my husband. 

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You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning and you must make the decision – is today going to be good or bad?  I often awake with the thought, “How can today unfold better than I ever imagine?” Thankfully inspired by a dear friend and B.E.S.T Life Coach, Martha O’Reagan.  She mentioned that when we begin each day or each big event in our life with this question we open up the possibility to allow it to unfold as such – better than we ever imagined. 

One such day, I awoke and asked this question and later received the idea to create a 30 Days of Happiness online program that offers my clients the ability to receive inspiration into their inbox, daily.  I took action on this idea and am thrilled with the results.

Through the creation of this program I have been researching happiness and ways that we can incorporate it more into our lives.  Enjoy this list of three actions that happy people do everyday.

1. Happy People Are Grateful.

One of the unique aspects I have learned is that most people who seem naturally happy are genuinely grateful.  You may begin this simply by offering gratitude each day spoken to yourself while looking at your reflection in the mirror. Enjoy what you have now and express your gratitude. Write down three things about your life and all that you have in it - all that you are grateful for.  The more you show gratitude toward what you have now the more you will begin to want less and find that you have all you need in this moment.

2. Happy People Remember The Good Times.

Keep a journal of one positive event that happened each day.  This may be placed under your list of gratitude’s.  Often we make the mistake of giving the negative aspects of our day the most attention. Begin shifting your vision by writing down a positive experience. The act of writing makes the experience more real for us. We will have the simple pleasure of going back after a year and reading every good aspect of our lives.

3. Happy People Move and Laugh

When we move our body we open our mind. Exercise naturally releases endorphins that make us feel good.  Aside from the already spectacular benefits of exercise we begin to notice our physical body and appreciate it more as we move. Like exercise, laughter releases endorphins – which create a positive state of the mind and boost optimism.  When we laugh we not only feed our body with life giving oxygen, we help our body to heal through the boost in our immune system as laughter increases the levels of anti-viral cells. Laughter increases the levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) that is the first line of defense protecting us against viral infections such as the common cold.

A wonderful way to exercise laughter in a group setting is through Laughter Yoga.  Cardiologist, Dr. Madan Kataria in 1995, created Laughter Yoga.  What began with a small group laughing at jokes became a worldwide practice utilizing breath, child-like playfulness, clapping, and eye contact within a group. The simple act of unconditional laughter within a group helps activate compassion, connection, and helpfulness while participants actively seek the happiness of others. Laughter Yoga was developed as a simple and fun way to spread peace.

I invite you to attempt one of these steps daily and begin to notice how you feel after just one week.  I trust the simple act of awakening to a new day will seem brighter and happier.

Brittany Hiller

Brittney Hiller is known as one of the happiest yogini’s. Certified in Laughter Yoga and a Registered Yoga Instructor with over 1000 hours of teaching, she is delighted to share her love of yoga with others. As a Licensed Massage Therapist she offers a simple understanding of anatomy during her classes. Learn more about Laughter Yoga, 30 Days of Happiness, and Brittney here: www.brittneyhilleryoga.com

"Why I" Dance.

Another installment in the “Why I” series. 

Why I dance.

 

Ballet circa 1977?

     

Tap recital 1985ish

I think I shot out of the womb wearing tap shoes, or at the very least my mother put them on my feet as soon as she could. It was her dream as a child to dance but she was never able to take classes. So her dream got transferred to me. I took ballet and tap and gymnastics. When I was old enough I moved into a different dance school where I took ballet, moving into pointe, tap, jazz and acrobatics. I loathed being on pointe. My body just didn't enjoy doing it. I loved the jazz and gymnastics and that's what I really poured my heart and soul into. But it wasn't my passion at that time. I hated having to run to five dance classes a week. It took time away from so many other things that I thought I wanted to do was a child. When I got into college as a theatre major, I decided I would keep up with my dancing. If nothing else it kept me in good shape. I took jazz and tap classes at the theatre arts school where I attended. When I left college I left my dance career behind. After all, it was something you did as a child or if you were performing. Though I did a few musical theatre pieces where I had to dance, I didn't take a class any of the time I was in California.

     Until I got to Santa Barbara and I was trying to find something to do for exercise. I had joined countless gyms for the sole purpose of apparently paying and not going. I was at one time doing Curves pretty religiously. My husband came home from jury duty one day and told me he had met a woman that does hip-hop. I wondered about hip-hop. I loved watching it but it never tried it. He encouraged me to go to class. I looked it up online and a few weeks later found myself sitting in a parking lot scared to death to try to dance class again. I was talking to my dad on the cell phone as I waited for class and expressed my unease about stepping into a dance class after 20 years. He said, “Do the best you can, you'll be fine.” Encouraging as always. I showed up to the class and met the dance instructor Tamarr Paul who was amazingly energetic and somewhat intimidating. I made it through class without killing myself or hurting anyone around me. At one point he dragged me out of the back row saying, "You're kicking ass" and put me in the front of the room. Terrifying!

I called my dad after class sweaty, out of breath and with a headache starting and told him I finished. And he said "And what, it took 10 minutes for it to come back, didn't it?" Yes it certainly did.

Me, Tamarr and others in class

     I realized after that class how much passion I had for dance. It strengthens not only my body but also my mind as I struggle to keep up with the next 5, 6, 7, 8. Tamarr's choreography was complicated, intricate and so filled with energy there were times I could barely keep up. But I persisted. I went every Saturday for quite a few months. And then realized that once a week was not enough. And how did I ever live without dance in my life? When looking through my old dance pictures I found one of me in a T-shirt that said “To dance is to live.” I remembered that it was.  

I decided that I was giving so much to my clients and very little to myself. So I reworked my schedule so one or two nights a week I could go to do some more dance. Soon I was dancing five times a week. And I moved to the front row. 

Flashmob - Jabbawockeez

     Tamarr announced that we were going to dance in the local Solstice Parade and I jumped at the opportunity to once again perform in front of a crowd. It was a long haul up State St here in Santa Barbara but at the end I turned to the gal next to me and said, “Can we do it again?” She thought I was nuts.

Solstice Parade

Solstice Parade

We did a few flash mobs, another stint in the solstice parade and I realized dance is still a complete and utter passion of mine. I let very few things interfere with my dance classes now. The reason I do it is it keeps me young, it keeps me active, it keeps my brain working. It’s allowed me to meet some amazing people, some I’ve been able to help with a job, advice or just a listening ear. It's my drug, my church, my exercise. And never again will I let it fade from my life. I cherish every movement my body makes. I have had clients who have lost mobility to the point where they are bed bound. And sometimes in class I just grin, smiling at the freedom of movement and the knowledge that I can dance, free and liberated. Sometimes I dance for my mom, sometimes for my clients who are old or motionless. And sometimes it's purely for me. 

Find your dance, what makes you feel alive. And do it. Frequently.

For more information on Tamarr Paul and Rhythm.