Chemwell: Laughter Yoga and Movement Meditation with Gigi Otalvaro

Chemwell: Laughter Yoga and Movement Meditation with Gigi Otalvaro
Date
Thu August 6th 2020, 4:30 - 5:30pm
Location
Zoom

**Effective March 26, 2020, please note that ChemWell is in Zoom format until further notice**

Chemwell will be hosting Gigi Otalvaro on Laughter Yoga and Movement Meditation

Thursday, August 6

4:30-5:30pm PDT

Zoom 

In this session, Gigi Otalvaro, Ph.D., Associate Director of the Division of Health and Human Performance, and Head of the LifeWorks Program for Integrative Learning, will guide you through gentle qigong movements and a body scan to cultivate relaxation and body awareness. She will also do a brief talk about and lead a session in laughter yoga, a modality that was developed by Dr. Madan Kataria and his wife Maduri (a traditional yoga instructor) in Mumbai in 1995. Laughter yoga combines yogic breathing and laughter exercises. No need to bring yoga mats, but feel free to bring your inner child and a water bottle.

Benefits to you: 

  • Helps to reduce stress: laughter as a form of deep breathing increases oxygen to the brain
  • Deep breathing helps release endorphins and other anti-stress hormones
  • Laughter yoga can also boost the immune system, by increasing the flow of the lymphatic system
  • Laughter yoga can cultivate joy, by helping you connect to your inner child, and your ability to be playful and imaginative 
  • FUN! 

Highly recommended videos (please try to view at least one of these before the session):

TedMed Talk with Dr. Kataria (18 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hf2umYCKr8

 ChemWell aims to be your inspiration to health and well-being.  Together, let us explore the intersections of mental, physical, financial, emotional and environmental well-being.  

**A collaboration with WINGS (Wellness Information Network for Graduate Students) - Thank you Dory DeWeese and Ioannis Kipouros!**