Laugh More: Soar In Your Health, Career and Relationships

By Sam Rehan

Why do we laugh? What is a genuine smile? Why do some people laugh in sombre situations?
Unlock how both smiling and laughing can have a beneficial effect on your health, while reducing stress and increasing your confidence and likeability. Rediscover what is already within you... laughter! How to extend it, cultivate it and utilise it for inner strength as a powerful tool to connect with yourself and others.
On this nine-step journey, explore your unique laugh, embrace laughing with others and learn new skills. Access the natural power of laughter to improve your life and enjoy healthier, happier ageing.
Professional Laughter Facilitator Sam Rehan shares straightforward science, and short, easy exercises to increase your physical and mental well-being. Her experience, and that of others from many walks of life, demonstrates how laughter and smiling are powerful aids for your wellness, career and relationships.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sam Rehan
• Release date: Dec 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781838281717

Sam Rehan

Sam Rehan is a wellbeing trainer and motivational speaker, born and based in the UK but globally active. Her book Laugh More and Soar in your Health, Career and Relationships was born from the results of her wellbeing and laughter yoga work.Sam is passionate about providing wellbeing support for all—all groups of people, workplaces, charities and communities. She works with flexibility and inclusion for any age, ability level, health status or background. Her top strengths are kindness, fairness, gratitude, creativity, teamwork, excellence, leadership and last but not least, humour!Sam began sharing her ultimate wellbeing techniques 30 years ago. Now she works to enrich the happiness and health of people from all walks of life, sharing fast, easy, accessible ways to help you find more relaxation. She only teaches the methods that she uses to support wellbeing for ALL: to generate more happiness, relaxation and natural energy. She shares strong mind and strong body strategies using straightforward science and simple language.Sam grew up in the north of England and moved to the south of England in 1989 to pursue her studies in science. Her heritage is a mixture from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. She is the mother of two children.After completing a science degree in 1993 (London, England), Sam worked as a development scientist in the city of Oxford. She then found her passion in training professionals and working with groups.Sam has spent 8 years as a global trainer and taught in over 44 locations worldwide. She has worked as a part-time carer for people with dementia and has supported individuals experiencing health challenges. She is also a qualified holistic health practitioner and well-being coach, supporting individuals and teams worldwide.Thank you for reading. More support can be found at: www.samrehan.comLet's get LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/samrehanwellbeing

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Copyright © 2020 by Sam Rehan

All rights reserved.

Cover & design by SpiffingCovers Ltd.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from author or publisher (except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages and/or show brief video clips in a review).

www.samrehan.co.uk

Published by

Love of Life Publishing

Papperback ISBN - 978-1-8382817-0-0

epub ISBN - 978-1-8382817-1-7

CONTENTS

About Sam Rehan

Feedback for Sam

Dedications

Disclaimer

Foreword

INTRODUCTION:

How Laughter Helped To Save A Man’s Life

PART ONE:

Welcome To Laugh More

Chapter 1: Why Laugh More?

Chapter 2: What Is Laughter And How You Can Make It A Choice

Chapter 3: Start Your Laughter With A Smile

Chapter 4: Your Unique Laugh

Chapter 5: Laughter And Play

Chapter 6: Laughing With Others

Chapter 7: Making Laughter A Daily Habit

Chapter 8: Laughter, Workplace Performance And More

Chapter 9: Happy Ageing

PART TWO:

Support

Final Words

Quotes By Sam Rehan

Get In Touch

Acknowledgments

Chapter Notes

Research, Resources And Recommended

ABOUT SAM REHAN

Sam cares about laughter and has witnessed its far-reaching power to provide people from all backgrounds with the momentum to move forward, whatever their life situation. A mother based in the UK, but globally active, Sam is a workplace trainer. She supports teams and individuals to access more calm, de-stress and gain more energy. Energised people are more effective, excel at work and in their relationships and are motivated to uplift others.

Sam loves travel, the outdoors and nature. Her top strengths are kindness, fairness, creativity, excellence, leadership and lastly, but not least humour! Sam has a science background, with 30-years-plus work experience and previously delivered training to professionals in over 30 countries. Sam is a motivational speaker with a keen obsession in supporting all people, to access a stronger body and stronger mind, whatever their abilities.

Get in touch, if you would like Sam to provide an energising talk or health boosting workshop. Her clients span financial organisations, law, education, health and many other sectors. Sam shares to uplift and energise everyone, with ultimate well-being techniques and straightforward science. Sam is a Professional member of The International Stress Management Association [ISMAUK], the lead professional body for workplace and personal Stress Management, Well-being and Performance.

Get in touch...be happier, more relaxed and energised to achieve more - whatever your circumstances.

[e-mail]

www.samrehan.com

FEEDBACK FOR SAM

I can’t recommend Sam and her laughter sessions enough. I was sceptical about how helpful they would be, but after one session I was hooked. They are so therapeutic; they really help wake up my body and emotions. They are very releasing. Sam is very knowledgeable on the science behind laughter therapy and is doing some great work with the young, the elderly and the sick.

- Mother

Felt more relaxed and felt connection with team.

- Family Lawyer

Felt empowered to be given strategies to reduce stress and tension and ground one-self. Thank you.

- Sales Manager

Loved seeing my boss belly laugh… never seen it before!

- Communications Manager

Liked Sam’s interaction with the group and of course the laughter, absolutely brilliant.

- Training Facilitator

I went to several of Sam’s laughter sessions. Although I have a chronic pain condition, these sessions always raised my mood. I could be having a bad day and go to one of the sessions and come out genuinely smiling. Giggling and humming were good at times when full laughter was not possible. The other people at the sessions also seemed to be happier at the end of the sessions than at the beginning of the sessions. I would recommend that everyone tries it.

- Jo K.

Really uplifting experience, a great mix of exercises for improving feeling of well-being. Highly recommend Sam.

- Language and Behaviour Consultant

It was great fun. A great release of endorphins. Highly recommended.

- Care Home Manager

Sam came to our offices and provided a well-being talk. We get a lot of speakers, but Sam’s talk was well received. She made us laugh and learn.

- Regional Director, Finance

I enjoyed being free to express myself. I feel very relaxed.

- Director

The laughter was infectious, and I could feel the effects on my body, mind and mood.

- Training Manager

It was fun, very different and relaxing too.

- Teacher

Felt empowered to be given strategies to reduce stress and tension and ground one-self. Thank you.

- Accountant

I attended a few of Sam’s Laughter Club sessions. The sessions were great fun and, although challenging for me at times, I felt that anything was OK. That in itself is so refreshing … to be able to be yourself whatever. Then to laugh so much … my cheeks started aching from not using those muscles that much for a long time … even my tummy muscles felt different. Sam facilitates the sessions in a gentle and encouraging way, often by being playful herself so giving permission for you to also ‘let go’. When I remember her classes and all the useful tips, I start to smile. I feel so good laughing just to laugh and feel great. Thank you for your enthusiasm and inspirations.

- N. W., Health Practitioner

I had so much fun at Sam’s laughter workshop. Sam’s interactive activities lifted our hearts and our minds. What a fabulous start to our day. Thanks, Sam, for an amazing time.

P. M.

My partner and I had a couple’s laughter session with Sam. It was incredible! N. was really apprehensive at first but within a few minutes he was proper belly-laughing! It was deeply connecting, fun and I’m so glad we did it! Highly recommend it.

- Singing Teacher

DEDICATIONS

This book is dedicated to YOU my reader. Thank you for spreading goodwill and good cheer through the power of YOUR genuine smile and laughter. Keep going.

To my two children. Eshan and Roma, who inspire me, make me smile, laugh and help me do better every day. For Steve, Once upon a time there was a girl who loved a boy and his laughter was a question, she wanted to spend her whole life answering (Nicole Krauss). With great gratitude to my mother, who shares her joy and smiles widely.

DISCLAIMER

Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals who have shared their stories in this book.

The author is not a medical practitioner and does not purport to give medical advice. The information is this book is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or to replace medication or treatment. If a reader is in any doubt as to whether to adopt any recommendations made in this book, on account of an existing medical condition or health concern, they should seek advice from a health practitioner. The reader should consult a medical practitioner in matters relating to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

Although the author has made every effort to ensure that the information in this book is correct at the time of going to press, the author does not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

FOREWORD

If there was one very simple technique you could use to create contentment and happiness; to improve your mental health and lower stress levels; to enhance your performance and career; and to build stronger teams that connect with each other and work collaboratively to achieve common goals and increase productivity – how much would you pay to get your hands on it?

Now, if someone says that you can have all of the above just by understanding the power of a smile and laughing, would you believe them? Well, when I first met Sam Rehan and she spoke about laughter yoga I wasn’t sure what to think. Laughter was not something that I had associated with achievement or success and it was something that belonged in one’s personal life that occasionally saw the light of day. I certainly wasn’t consciously aware of how powerful a resource it is. The truth is, that it is one of the hidden keys that helps us to connect with ourselves and other people and enables us to form strong bonds with each other.

We have witnessed and experienced the power of laughter within two of our organisations. The first was at one of our Connectionsb2b Business Lunch Clubs where a group of around 40 people came together – many of whom were attending for the first time – and after a session of laughter yoga the commonality shared by the group during the session remained with them and they were able to network with confidence and as friends, rather than strangers meeting for the first time.

We were so impressed with the impact and success laughter yoga had at the networking group that we wanted to test it to see whether it would have the same powerful impact within our law firm when we brought two teams of 35 junior and senior lawyers together for the first time. The introductory meeting was important as we had recently acquired another law firm and we were keen for the new team to feel part of our organisation and that this was their new ‘work home’.

Sam Rehan delivered her workplace laughter yoga session to an initially apprehensive group of lawyers where laughter was not part of their daily work routine. What we witnessed and experienced as Sam guided us through the exercises was a tangible sense of us all opening up from being rather reserved and feeling a little self-conscious to embracing and owning our commonality of laughter. The invisible barriers that had been in place at the start of the meeting were lowered (and in many cases removed altogether) allowing relationships to develop and the foundation of the new larger team was formed. In the workplace, building great teams is essential to the success of a business and laughter helped us take a big leap forward in creating this new team.

This book shines a light on the well-kept secret of the role laughter plays in our lives – from the benefit of a smile to the impact laughter has on team building and productivity in a business environment. Sam shows the practical benefits and steps to take to achieve more laughter in our lives and also explains the science behind why it works – from the impact laughter has on our breathing, to the chemicals released in our brain which regulate our mood and emotions.

Understanding and implementing this powerful, freely available resource will help you create the happiness and success you seek in your personal and business life. It’s a foundational pillar that supports and enhances the relationship you have with yourself and others which leads to us having the life and business we desire.

Teresa J. Payne

Solicitor and Owner of Parfitt Cresswell

(www.parfittcresswell.com)

Director at Connectionsb2b and Connections Radio

(www.connectionsb2b.co.uk)

Author of The Later Living Guide and The Good Divorce Guide.

INTRODUCTION:

HOW LAUGHTER HELPED TO SAVE A MAN’S LIFE

A book is like a piece of rope; it takes on meaning only in connection with the things it holds together.

Norman Cousins

How much did you laugh yesterday?

How much did you laugh last week?

Let me share two true stories, where laughter helped play an extraordinary part in aiding physical and mental health.

In the winter of 2015, a single mother buried her face in her hands. In the space of exactly one week a young close family member passed away unexpectedly, her young son suffered a concussion on a school trip, and she was informed that she was going to lose her job (her sole source of income) through redundancy. Adding to that, she was living as a single mother with two young children (one with regular medical needs) in temporary accommodation. She sought to seek a way to manage her overwhelming emotions after she put the children to bed. Clambering to feel lighter, she found some comedy clips but they didn’t help her racing frantic thoughts. It felt like too much work to decipher the humour. The canned (taped) laughter sounded jarring to her anxious tired mind. She searched the internet and came across clips of a very young baby’s gurgling and chortling. It was a magical, life-changing moment. Her whole body began to relax as she began to smile alongside the baby’s beautiful natural laughter. She replayed the video clip and then played more similar videos. It was astonishing to her, how much better she felt laughing. Her mental tension lifted and she felt less stressed and more relaxed.

The single mother was me

I sought more laughter as the days progressed. Smiling and laughing helped me to distract from my worries. The laughter supported me to access a more positive headspace so I could manage life better and stay strong for me and my children. It was astonishing to me how something as simple as laughter helped me feel so much better

With a science background, I was naturally interested in research behind laughter. Decades of research and hundreds of studies showed the wide-ranging health benefits of laughter. Even smiling creates positive changes in the body. I was hooked on accessing this emotion for a better life. I sought ways to lengthen my laughter, as the research showed 15 minutes of laughter was needed for your health to benefit. During times of anxiety, I forced a smile. On one occasion, I could not smile, but I found getting up and walking around the room helped. Moving helped me raise a smile and my laughter emerged and I felt mentally and emotionally better. Once I began to laugh more and more, the laughter came easier and easier. Even thinking about laughing improved my mood. I knew that if laughter could have this impact on me, then it could on others and I needed to proactively put it in front of more people who could really benefit from it. Laughter helped me feel less stressed