The Echo of a Laughing Meditation

The first time I sat in a Laughing Meditation is among the most uncomfortable experiences I’ve ever had. I had moderate relationships with the people in the room, but we were not close, and I most certainly was not prepared to be vulnerable in front of them.

I wasn’t sure what to expect- Zen Meditation had become a daily practice for me, and I’d even tried  Walking Meditation, but this was a whole other level that felt silly and uncomfortable.

The instructor exuded a calmness and confidence. I can’t explain exactly what it was, but she had a peace about her, and moved in a way that she was free from the judging eyes that evaluated her every move.

I’d read about laughing meditation, so I was willing to let my guard down and give it a go. It is a practice that promises:

• Increased Presence in the Moment
• A Feeling of Lightness
• Deep Connection in a Way that Only Vulnerability can Cultivate
• Stress Reduction
• Emotional Release

I could not have begun to anticipate the connection it created. I don’t want to rob you of your experience by setting expectations, but I will tell you that when the instructor first started laughing, deep rolling belly laughs that shook the room, we nervously glanced at each other. “She doesn’t actually think we’re going to make fools of ourselves in that way, does she?”

It was one of the Engineers who first joined in. He caught us all a little off guard. He was the last one we expected to throw caution to the wind. Then a couple people on the sales team, and slowly, but surely, each of us joined. Our laughter roared through the office, our hearts raced, our breath with liberated, and we embraced the Laughing Meditation.

The practice was transformative. We all shared a small piece of ourselves we’ve been taught to keep guarded, and in the months that followed when we found ourselves in disagreements or advocating for different things for our respective departments, the tension felt a little lighter, the camaraderie a little more solidified

I am grateful our Leadership was willing to think outside the box and deploy such an unconventional method to rejuvenate our organization. If you can find the courage to give it a shot, I am sure you will find The Echo of a Laughing Meditation will stretch much farther than the pain of vulnerability.

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