The Pursuit of Happiness
Is it possible to ever be truly content with ourselves and lead the carefree life we've always dreamed of? WT chats happiness and wellbeing with three of the speakers at this June's Wealden Times Midsummer Fair Priceless People Wellbeing Festival...
Joe Hoare
Joe is a
laughter and wellness coach. He helps people access their zest for life so they
experience life to their full potential. He works with various organisations,
teams and individuals, to energise, inspire and connect. Joe also runs courses
to teach people how to use these skills themselves, both personally and
professionally, to become more optimistic, mindful and resilient. Visit www.joehoare.co.uk
What is laughing yoga?
The
basis of laughter yoga is that laughter is highly beneficial for us physically,
emotionally and psychologically. Laughter yoga and my own brand nls: natural laughter skills
promote laughter exercises as a practice, in the same way yoga and ante-natal
breathing techniques are practices. It can be done both in groups and
individually, indoors and outdoors. It is a powerful and effective way of
generating mood-enhancing hormones without adverse side effects.
What are the benefits of laughing yoga?
The benefits are enormous. It’s a cardiovascular and
pulmonary workout, ie good for your heart & lungs. It’s a natural
de-stressor, it’s physically relaxing and it boosts the immune system. It aids
with type 2 diabetes and even eczema. It helps people connect, communicate better, and improves morale. It can train
us to become more optimistic, mindful and resilient people.
Does
laughter make you happy?
Laughter practices can help us become
happier. The 19th century American psychologist William James observed
‘We don’t laugh because we’re happy, we’re happy because we laugh.’ It is
definitely true that laughter practices can help us become happier. The
documentary ‘The Best Medicine’, on vimeo on laughter practices shows how these
practices help someone cope with their tumour. Visit www.bristollaughterclub.com
Sadhguru, The Isha Foundation
The Isha foundation is an international non profit
organisation, run by over 2 million volunteers worldwide, headquartered at the
Isha Yoga Centre in Southern India . Alongside
the various courses they run, designed to increase physical, mental and
emotional wellbeing, they implement large scale human service programs,
offering medical care and community rehabilitation for rural villages in India , and
massive public reforestation projects. Isha was founded by Sadhguru, a yogi and
contemporary, prominent spiritual leader.
Isha offers its participants the opportunity to achieve
physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Is wellbeing essential to happiness?
Different people have
different ideas of wellbeing, but everyone is seeking wellbeing. So wellbeing
or when we really feel well in our lives is when you are very happy. Even if
you are medically ill, today if you are very happy, still there is an
experience of wellbeing within you. So when you say I am in pursuit of
wellbeing, in one way you are in pursuit of happiness.
Yoga is at the heart of your philosophy, how can
it improve wellbeing?
As there is a science
and technology for external wellbeing, there is also one for
inner wellbeing. Yoga is an inner technology. When I say
yoga, don’t think in terms of impossible physical postures. This is a deeper
understanding of your own body, mind and energy, and about creating an inner
situation where you are naturally joyful and peaceful. If you just make your
life energies function in a certain way, you are peaceful
and joyful by your own nature.
Are your principles and teachings consistent
with finding happiness in the modern world?
Unfortunately, people have created a situation where their
happiness depends on external factors that are never going to be completely in your
control. True fulfilment and wellbeing won’t happen by fixing this.
As there is way of engineering the outside the way we want it, there is also a
whole inner engineering technology. Through this, peace, joyfulness and an
inner balance are attained so that life is not a pursuit of happiness but an
expression of joyfulness.
Suzy
Greaves
Alongside her role as Editor of Psychologies, Suzy is a writer, journalist, author and business owner, She was previously Health Editor for OK! Magazine and New Woman and also worked as a freelance health journalist for monthly glossies. In 2007 she became a life coach, founding The Big Leap Coaching Co.
Why are you so passionate about happiness?
When I was a teenager, I lost my parents to cancer so I
learned there is a lot about life that you can't control. But you can control
the way you react to it. That decision is the difference between a happy life
and a miserable one. I believe that -with support - we can find a way back to
happiness and don't have to be defined by our past. There is always a way out
of the darkness.
What is a Happiness Club?
We've joined forces with charity Action for Happiness and we
are encouraging our readers to create a ‘happiness club’ once a month in their
own homes where you can tune in to what lights you up and discuss how you can
put happiness – ours and other people’s – at the heart of your life philosophy.
It’s about working together and being the change we want to see in the world.
How do I get involved?
Invite people you like or you’d like to know better, arrange
a date and time suitable for all of you and arrive having read the article in
Psychologies (It should take around 90 minutes to host a session but allow more
if you want to chat afterwards.) The host reads out the ‘Happiness Club’
Psychologies article to the group and then you discuss the five questions set
by Action for Happiness and commit to one ‘action’ a day, week or month. Take it in turns to host
and register your happiness club at www.psychologies.co.uk/happiness-club-registration
We're very excited here at WT to announce that Joe, Suzy and members from the Isha Foundation will be appearing and speaking for us at the Priceless People Wellbeing Festival in June. So hold on tight for more information and get your tickets from our website now for a discounted price!
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