Hello there Athletes and Warriors! On this week's show we bring you more training ideas from home, as we push to get our gyms and fave' workout spaces open for biz; we press on during these whacky times. (Because we are tired of hearing about how 'unprecedented' these times are!) :( The Strengthcast PowerShow 9 brought to you by BBcom- http://bbcom.me/2WVg0aC and Volt Athletic- https://apple.co/3aX7eRH
Strengthen Your Core Through Yoga
Author
Yogi Vishnu Panigharhi
Yoga is
an amazing way to lose weight or belly fat. In all of the postures, if
done correctly, you are activating your entire body and strengthening
your core. Most of the postures massage or stimulate your digestive
system, which helps to increase the removal and waste in toxins from the
body.
Yoga is part of a holistic approach to your well-being meaning that
this is achieved through a proper and balanced diet, physical exercise,
and breathing as well as meditation techniques.
Now, the physical part of yoga by itself is not enough to help you
lose weight and trim belly fat. What you put into your body is just as
important as what happens on the outside. Try to not eat processed
foods, genetically modified foods or anything with high amounts of
sodium or sugar. Treat your body as a sacred temple. The best types of
foods to put into that sacred temple are wholesome grains, fresh, live
organic fruits and vegetables, and plenty of water to stay hydrated.
There are some gentle twisting postures which helps you increase your
metabolism and move the digestion process forward. When you bring your
knees into the belly, you are giving your ascending colon a gentle
massage.
Practicing yoga will help you eliminate stress and anxiety, which are
major causes of unhealthy eating and influence people to either overeat
or choose non-nutritious foods.
If you practice regularly, you will absolutely be able to see a
difference in your body, giving it a tighter and more youthful
appearance. By sweating, all of the accumulated toxins in your body are
released in a natural and healthy way.
If your desire is weight loss, choosing more dynamic, faster-paced
classes such as Vinyasa Flow or Ashtanga would be perfect for you. Surya
Namaskar is a great set of asanas for building up core strength. Doing
plank and side plank along with Chaturanga Dandasana will tone all of
the muscles in your abdomen, legs, arms and lower back. Finding
stability in the core will keep your spine straight and entire body
balanced.
Here are examples of two asanas that will directly get your core engaged and help you lose belly fat when practiced regularly:
Boat Pose (Naukasana)
Lie down on your back. Breathe in deeply and lift up your legs, arms,
shoulders, head and trunk off the ground. Lift your sternum up and lean
back slightly. Your arms need to be stretching forward and your legs
can be either slightly bent or straight. Try to stay for 10-20 and
repeat for 5 rounds.
Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)
Lie on your stomach and spread your knees hip-width apart. Grab the
outside of your ankles with both hands. Breathing in, lift your chest
and legs up and back. Continue to take deep breaths in this pose. With
each inhale try to lift a little bit higher. After holding for 15-20
seconds, bring your chest and legs to the ground and relax.
Remember that creating a healthy lifestyle which includes eating
healthy, getting the right amount of sleep and drinking enough water is
just as important as the physical practice. Try to practice some of
these postures mentioned and you will notice positive changes in your
core and belly in no time.
After practicing yoga from very early age of 12, he
decided to leave his family and friends behind to pursue the yogic path
and meet his first Yoga Master - Narayan Muni at Jharsuguda Muni Samaj
Yoga Ashram. It was here he took his first steps into the Himayalan
Tradition. In 1988 he met his second Yoga Master - Swami Niranjan ji to
learn the wisdom of the Vedas
Yoga school in Rishikesh:https://vinyasayogaacademy.com
Probiotics
promote intestinal health by regulating host mucosal and systemic
immune function or by regulating the balance of intestinal flora. When
the number of probiotics in the intestine is sufficient, the body's
digestion, absorption, detoxification, and immune functions are all in a
normal state. The intestines can fully absorb various nutrients to
ensure the normal operation and repair of various organs, and provide
strong immunity to the human body. (Continued below......)
Did you know that fermented foods are key to fueling the body and preventing cancer? Or that 80% of your immune system is located in the gut? In the brief video, you'll learn our top 5 fermented foods and how they promote a healthier, happier life. Learn more.......
(.....Continued.....)Probiotics and harmful bacteria have a placeholder struggle in the
intestines. Whoever has more quantity will be in a dominant position.
Therefore, taking probiotic supplements can increase the amount, so that
it can take nutrients with harmful bacteria and inhibit the growth and
reproduction of harmful bacteria.
The main effects of probiotics are as follows:
Maintain normal intestinal function. Probiotic strains produce
digestive enzymes in our gastrointestinal tract, helping us to better
digest and absorb nutrients.
Help lactose intolerance to promote digestion. Probiotics can help
lactose intolerants produce galactosidase-active bacteria, thereby
solving the adverse reactions such as abdominal pain and flatulence
caused by lactose intolerance.
Enhance human immunity. Active probiotics can colonize the gut and
regulate the balance of various flora in the gut. Probiotics can also
directly affect the immune system of the intestine and enhance the
immune function of the intestine. It also works against stomach acid.
The probiotics adhere to the surface of the epithelial cells of the
intestine, and a protective membrane is constructed to prevent harmful
bacteria from entering the intestines, protecting the gastrointestinal
mucosa from damage, and blocking the toxins from entering the other
organs of the body for destruction.
Prevent cancer and inhibit tumor growth. Metabolites such as
polysaccharides, bacteriocins, and lactic acid that inhibit tumor growth
can be obtained from probiotics, which activate the body's immune
system, reduce the pH in the intestine, and stimulate intestinal
peristalsis by inhibiting the production of enzymes that convert
carcinogens. It eliminates pathogenic toxins and carcinogens in the
intestines, thereby reducing the possibility of carcinogenesis.
Alleviate allergic reactions. In general, the more probiotics in the
human gut, the less likely you are to suffer from allergic diseases.
Lower serum cholesterol. Probiotics have the action of a bile salt
hydrolase. It can reduce the absorption of cholesterol by the body's
hydrolyzed bile salts and cholesterol.
Precautions:
The human flora should be kept in balance, so the probiotics are not
the more the better. Excessive intake and supplementation of probiotics
not only can not have a positive effect on the human body, but also may
cause the human organs to be overloaded, causing negative effects and
disturbing the intestinal environment. In general, probiotics are mainly
found in fermented foods such as yogurt, cheese, natto, soybean meal,
fermented bean, and kimchi. Fresh fruits and vegetables also contain
various prebiotics. It is now also made into a variety of dietary
supplements (capsules, tablets, powders). People should focus on eating
foods that contain probiotics, rather than relying too much on probiotic
supplements.
The term,
‘Special Operation Units’ is used to refer to highly specialized and
extensively trained military operation units who are known to perform
highly volatile military operations. These forces are specially trained
to participate in unconventional warfare tactics, reconnaissance as well
as counter the highly dangerous terrorist activities. Around the world,
in various countries, these ‘Special Operation Units’ are also termed
as ‘Special Forces’ or ‘Special Operation Forces’.
Specialty of special operation units
Special Operation Units typically comprise of small teams of highly
trained military personnel. These units are unique because unlike other
military platoons, they operate on the principles of self sufficiency,
speed, stealth and are extremely dependent on team work. These elements
are what make these special operation units highly desirable for
volatile and dangerous missions. The units are usually trained in using
exclusive armament and special equipment to aid in their equally special
operations.
Special Operation Units are called upon by the government to handle
specialist situations like terrorism activities and other such dangerous
activities both on the international and domestic front. On some
occasions, such units are also termed as ‘force multipliers’ when they
are used to train indigenous military forces in the specialist technique
of guerrilla warfare.
Historic account
Special Operation Units have played a significant role in the shaping
of nations and their respective militaries, the world over, since time
immemorial. History has abundant accounts of the heroic tales of Special
Forces across the world, who have played an important part in changing
the destinies of nations. The special operation units are known for
their sabotage and surprise ‘hit-and-run’ warfare techniques. They do
not indulge in traditional face-front combat. Such units act as a single
entity during the operation, which is the secret of their success.
History has tales of ancient Chinese and Japanese Ninjas. These were
special troops skilled in Martial arts, who indulged in espionage and
specialist guerrilla warfare.
Special operation units in the world wars
Many such special operation units were part of World War I and World
War II as well. The Italian "Reparti d'assalto" was famous for their
shock attack techniques in World War I. In World War II, Winston
Churchill also formed various specialist British operation units like
Long-range Desert Unit, Special Naval and Air Service, various Raiding
Forces etc.
Special operation units in the 21st century
In the early 21st Century, Special Forces were using by both sides in
the effort to win sub-military operations. Examples can be cited from
the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, War in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka
etc. The most recent accounts of the special operation units can be
cited from the recent war on Iraq, launched by the US to counter
terrorism. The specialist force called the "Navy SEALs" were an
important part of this operation. Using their shock and awe techniques,
they defeated the Iraqi forces.
This Article is written by James Kara Murat from USNavySEALstore.com, the contributor of US Special Forces Store. A longer version of this article is located at Special Operations Units of the World and related resources can be found at US Navy SEALs Store.
The act of giving is something the world doesn’t understand. A willingness to give generously is an important part of being a powerful and influential Christian. Giving with the right attitude demonstrates selflessness the way Jesus modeled it during His earthly ministry. Financial giving is uncomfortable for people trapped by worldly influences; however, the knowledge of how God’s grace toward us affects our finances enables us to give joyfully and without reservations.
There’s a mistaken notion floating around that says when we give, we get blessed. The truth is that because of the finished works of Jesus, we’ve already been blessed. Believers understand this; we give out of gratitude and thanksgiving, with the aim of blessing others the way God has blessed us. We could never outgive God; He so loved the world that He gave the most expensive gift heaven had—His only begotten Son.
The amount of our financial gifts matters less than the spirit in which they’re given; a joyful, thankful heart is the main prerequisite for the type of giving that pleases God. Each of us must give as we’ve decided in our hearts, not reluctantly or grudgingly, because He loves a cheerful giver. Relying on God in every area of our lives, including in our finances, lets Him abundantly bless us. The blessing of the Lord makes us rich, with no sorrow added to it.
It’s God’s will that we’re generously supplied with all we need, so that we can be the light of the world and stand out from the crowd in every way. Because we’ve received freely from Him, we can freely give to others. A lack of understanding of this principle makes people afraid to give. Applying this principle to our financial giving makes God’s Word on it resonate with others.
Christians are servants, just as Jesus was on earth. Sowing into others’ lives demonstrates the heart of a servant. Giving is a powerful form of ministry to others.
Prayer:
Lord, one of the things Your Son did was \teach on money and financial giving. Your Word in this area shows us how to give so we can bless and minister to others. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
John 3:16
2 Corinthians 9:7
Proverbs 10:22
Matthew 5:14
Matthew 10:8
For more on how generous financial giving with the right frame of mind enriches all aspects of our lives, click on the link for the midi-book, Help! I’m Afraid to Give.
There is one very critical issue that needs to be settled before you
can ever begin to deepen your relationship and fellowship with God. Do
you have a reconciled personal relationship with God ? What are the
requirements and details of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ ? (Continued below.....)
Todd White was a drug addict and atheist for 22 years. In 2004 he was radically and miraculously set free when a gun fired at him and he should have died but instead heard God speak to his heart, “I took that bullet for you, now are you ready to live for me?” Learn more.......
(.....Continued.....)It is often said about the various religions of the world that there
are "many ways to God" or "the various religions all lead to the same
God." Is this true ? What does God’s Word the Bible have to say about
Salvation & Gospel of Jesus Christ ? Is Jesus one of many ways to
God, or is he The Way to salvation and a reconciled relationship with
God ?
True Salvation And the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Step 1: God loves you and wants you to have a personal relationship
with Him, and to experience peace and life. Abundant and eternal life
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." – Romans 5:1
(peace with God means to have a restored or reconciled relationship with
Him)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." –
John 3:16
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." – John 10:10
God offers peace with Him, a restored relationship with Him, and
eternal life in heaven as a gift. Many people think they need to earn
these things from God by being religious, or being a good moral person,
or by doing more good than bad in their life.
Romans 6:23 – "… the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord." Even though God offers these wonderful things as a gift, and
He wants everyone to have them (1 Timothy 2:4), sadly most people today
do not have these things and they are far from God. Why ?
Step 2: The Problem – Our Sin & Separation From God
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." – Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God), but the
gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." – Romans 6:23
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have
hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." – Isaiah 59:2
Our sins cause us to have a broken relationship with God, and to be
far and separated from Him. Many people try to fix this problem
themselves in various ways.
Our Attempts To Reach God
People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap and separation
between themselves and God. Good works, religion, philosophy, morality,…
None of these work.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to
death." – Proverbs 14:12 (death in this verse means to die and forever
be separated from God and His love, and to forever be under punishment
for your sins)
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one may come to the Father except through me." – John 14:6
Because God loves us and He knows we cannot fix this problem of sin & separation from God ourselves, He sent the solution.
Step 3: God’s Solution To Our Problem
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." – I Timothy 2:5
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." – I Peter 3:18
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
Jesus is God’s answer and solution to our problem of sin, eternal separation from God, and eternal punishment for our sins.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." –
John 3:16
God solved our problem of sin & separation from Him by sending
His Son Jesus. In order to receive these wonderful gifts from God, the
Bible is clear about what we need to do in response to God’s solution.
Step 4: Our Response: Repent from sin, Trust Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior, and Receive Him by Faith and Commit Your Life to Him
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice
and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." –
Revelation 3:20
"That if you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord", and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." –
Romans 10:9
"Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time
has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and
believe the good news!" – Mark 1:14-15
"Yet to all who did receive him (Jesus), to those who believed in his
name, he gave the right to become children of God." – John 1:12
You Need to Make Jesus Your LORD and Savior
Nearly everyone wants Jesus to be their friend. Nearly everyone wants
Jesus to be their Savior and save them from their sins and the eternal
punishment of hell. But many people do not really want Jesus to be their
Lord. The Lord of their life. Which means to give up control and the
rights to their life to Jesus.
It may mean you need to give up your dreams and goals and plans, and
accept Jesus’ will and plans instead. It may cost you a lot. Their is a
cost to follow Jesus as Lord & Savior and be His disciple (a
disciple is a learner & follower of Jesus).
You need to commit your life to Jesus, and commit to follow Him as
your Lord and Savior. If you have never trusted and received Jesus
Christ as your Lord and Savior, but you are ready to do so, then you can
do it right now.
Repent, Believe With All Your Heart, Receive Jesus As Lord & Savior
Admit your need ("I am a sinner and I need a savior") 2. Be willing
to turn from your sins (repent -Mark 1:14-15). 3. Believe with all of
your heart that Jesus loves you and died for your sins and paid the
price for them. Believe also that Jesus rose again from the grave after 3
days, and later ascended back to heaven. (Mark 1:14-15 & John 1:12)
4. Through prayer, invite and by faith receive Jesus Christ to come
into your life and be your Lord and Savior, and commit to follow Him
(John 1:12)
Talk to God If You Are Ready to Repent, Believe Jesus, and Commit Your Life to Him
"Dear Lord, Thank you for loving me very much, and for sending Jesus
to die for my sins. Lord, I have sins in my life. Please forgive me for
all of my sins. And dear Lord Jesus, please come into my life, and be my
Lord and Savior. I commit my life to you, to follow You and Your ways.
And I repent and turn away from my sins, and I turn back to you. Please
give me peace with God and eternal life in heaven. Please teach me your
ways, and help me grow closer to you. In Jesus name. Amen."
You Can Know For Certain That You Are Saved
If you have done these things in your prayer to God – you truly
repented of your sins, put all of your faith and hope in Jesus Christ,
and received Him as your Lord & Savior and committed your life to
Him and meant it with all your heart – then you for sure have a
reconciled relationship with God, peace with God and eternal life, and
new life in Jesus.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." – Romans 10:13
"Those who have the Son (Jesus) have life. Those who do not have the
Son do not have life. These things have I written, that you may know you
have eternal life." – I John 5:12-13
You can find more information and articles about your relationship with God at the Pursuing Intimacy with God site.
Patrick is a 3.820 GPA, three-sport student athlete. He has excelled as a freshman, sophomore, and junior varsity track and field starter, as well as a freshman and sophomore wrestling starter and junior varsity football starter. Patrick's events in track and field consist of 110m High Hurdles, 300m Low Hurdles, Long Jump, and occasionally the 4x400m relay. Due to COVID-19, Patrick's sophomore season was cut short, so sadly he was unable to race and does not have any times recorded for that season. Coaches and recruiters. Click here to contact this student-athlete
Presented on US Sports Net by Game Planner Pro! Enter Code USSports to save 10% off the annual subscription. For Football Coaches, By Football Coaches Learn More...
The Horizontal Jumps: What`s Important and How to Implement
In this course, Coach Nic Peterson delivers different drills, techniques, and breakdowns to improve speed, long jump, and triple jump. Learn more......
18 Individual Men’s and Women’s National Championships (14 by Gators)
19 Individual Men’s and Women’s SEC Championships
85 Men’s and Women’s USTFCCCA All-America Honors (65 by Gators)
7 University of Florida School Records Broken
4 IAAF World Championships Qualifiers
3 USATF Outdoor Championships Gold Medals
3 USTFCCCA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year Awards
2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships Gold Medalist (Marquis Dendy)
2015 The Bowerman Winner (Marquis Dendy)
2008 Olympian (Dusty Jonas, Nebraska)
Nic Petersen, who finished his seventh season as a men’s and women’s assistant coach for the University of Florida track and field in 2019, has made his own imprint on one of the nation’s historically elite jumps programs.
Petersen was also named to USA Track and Field’s coaching staff for the 2019 IAAF World Championships, where he will serve as the men’s assistant coach for jumps and combined events.
The Gators have continued their extraordinary run of success in the jumps under Petersen, as they rank second nationally with 14 men’s and women’s NCAA titles since his arrival in 2013, with two from Yanis David in 2019, three from KeAndre Bates in 2017, and seven from Marquis Dendy (2012-15).
Here’s where the Gators rank among all Division I programs in terms of individual jumps national titles since Petersen’s tenure began:
14 men’s and women’s NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships – 2nd (three off lead)
11 men’s NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships – five more than any other program
7 men’s NCAA Outdoor Championships – four more than any other program
4 men’s NCAA Indoor Championships – tied 2nd
2 women’s NCAA Indoor Championships – tied 5th
He also oversaw Bates and then-freshman Grant Holloway as they became the second pair of teammates in Division I history to post a 1-2 finish in the men’s long jump at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Petersen-coached student-athletes have combined for nine marks or performances on the indoor and outdoor collegiate all-time top 10 lists, including Whitney Gipson’s tying of the indoor long jump record while at TCU. Learn more......
Hey there warriors. Time to bring it hard. Pandemic or not! On today's show we visit once again with the "Dean" of bodybuilding Kris Gethin with a smoldering pre-exhaust leg workout that sure to bring on the latter gains in a big way.
Also we take a look at a cool often abused exercise for sports performance, explosiveness, and power. Done the right way from Coachtube Strength and Conditioning.
So get a leg up on the competition. Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay up to date on the latest in strength, conditioning, fitness, and sprinkled in fun on the Strengthcast PowerShow!
Calves
used to be the bugbear of bodybuilders all over the world, this changed
with the introduction of the standing calf machine enabled bodybuilders
to use very heavy poundage's each leg work out that the lower legs
really started to blossom. Today we also have the seated calf machine
and the leg press apparatus to help keep the calves growing, so it is no
longer considered "impossible" to develop the calf muscle to any great
degree.
There are many ways to achieve calf size and definition, individuals
will structure their workouts in a manner which suits them, an example
on how to remodel the calf can be performed on a daily basis, with ever
increasing weight loads on a standing calf machine. If you are unable to
use the calf machine, then consider performing donkey calf
raises with two heavy training partners sitting across your back.
Way back in the last century when men wore tights, it was common
practise for men to wear false calves, just as today we wear jackets
fitted with shoulder pads to give the visual appearance of added width.
To get the best from your calves, it is recommended to spend at least
twenty minutes each workout stretching your calves. This can be
done by standing on a high block without any weights, stretching as
high as you can, and then lowering down to maximize the effect. By this
stage you should only be interested in getting full and complete
stretching action. Later in the workout, you can train the lower legs
with resistance exercise (calf machines) and follows the traditional
pattern of working them with about 5 sets of 15 to 20 reps.
The following are specific calf exercise which should be seriously
considered when developing well defines calves. The Donkey Calf Raise,
there is no doubt that the bent over position one adopts for the donkey
calf raise exercise does something very special for the lower legs. This
exercise is a great favourite of many Mr. Olympia contestants. Lean on a
bench or table top so that your upper body is comfortably supported
parallel to the floor. Have a training partner sit on your lower back,
over the hip area. Rise up and down on your toes until you cannot
perform another rep. Use a 4 - inch block under
your toes to give greater range to the foot movement. You should always aim to perform at least 20 reps in this exercise.
The Standing calf raise, it is important that calf machine you use is
capable of loading on heavy weights. The apparatus should either carry a
huge stack of weights or else be set up with a leverage benefit, so
that comparatively small weights give a considerably increased overall
load. Rise up and down on your toes without excessive knee bending and
without bouncing at the bottom of the movement. Finally there is the
Seated calf raise; this exercise too, is performed on a special leverage
machine. The principal muscle worked in this movement is the soleus
rather than the gastrocnemius. Perform as many heel raises as you can,
concentrating on maximising total calf stretch with each
repetition.
For more information, please visit the Smart Physical Workout
website, although often neglected, the well-developed calf is an
overlooked asset.
The concept of Smartphysicalworkout was developed by
Daniel Green who has been involved with the Health and Fitness industry
since 1999, providing health and fitness products, services to both the
local and online community.
After a slow start, the Smartphysicalworkout.com has grown into a
well received site for the Health and Fitness community and the team
strive to offer the best quality products available, customer service
and satisfaction will always be the key to their success.
The New College Course of the Future Gelotology 101 (The Study of Laughter): A Perquisite is Laughing for No Reason.
Ed.D Haynes, Gene.
1 Training Manager
2 Adjunct Instructor
3 Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher
4 Ed.D Educational Leadership and Management, Capella University
Abstract— There is a new elective course needed in all colleges.
Gelotology 101 (The study of laughter) it is course designed as a
certification in what is known as Laughter Yoga. The course is a fun
interactive course that does not use jokes or comedy. It is a course
that engages students to use fake laughing that becomes contagious and
real laughter. The course teaches students how to reduce stress through
laughter. It also educates students how to start their own laughter
programs in their professions. The growing body of research proves there
is a need for colleges to implement this course as part of any college
curriculum. (Continued below......)
Have you ever considered that your spiritual and emotional wellbeing may be directly tied to your physical health? In this video from TTAC LIVE! 2019, Dr. Zubin Marolia walks us through his experiences with healing and the 3 things you can do to promote better health. Be sure to watch the whole clip to learn why you must learn to lose control before you can gain it. Learn more.......
Gelotology has played a role in health improvement for many years.
Most of its significance in the health field was unrecognized. Today the
growing body of research has led to the development of a capstone
project that proves studying gelotology can play an important role
college curriculums. According to Steinberg (2016), every day we must
change, innovate and re-think learning. Amazon, Google, and Apple are
companies that have used this approach to become successful. Companies
in any industry can become successful if they follow this method. The
gelotology course is an example of change by offering something new and
innovative. The course is built upon existing practices and the course
re-thinks learning by its interactive exercise which is different than
traditional courses. The course on gelotology is like no other college
course. It involves laughing and child-like playfulness in every class.
Today, businesses thrive on innovation; in a competitive market, it
is innovation that is the key to an organization’s survival. Almost
every year various companies strive to be on top. To be number one and
gain as much market share as possible, a company must constantly seek
new ways of conducting business. The design of a course on gelotology is
an example of thinking outside of the box and thinking innovatively in a
rapidly changing world. The course on gelotology is innovative because
it is something new and different than the traditional courses offered
at the college. The assignments, lesson plans, group work, and class
activities; are designed to create a unique course that educates
students on a practice that is not offered in many colleges.
The uniqueness of the course is designed to make class fun and
interesting to students. At the same time they will learn how something
as simple as laughing can have an affect on stress.
According to Ting and Lee (2012), several authors cited the
importance of offering elective courses of interest to students. The
more interest students have in the content, the greater the impact on
student learning. According to Morreall (2014), education is supposed to
be preparation for life. It should foster the intellectual and personal
attributes needed to be a successful, well-rounded human being, but
traditional education either ignores or actively suppresses one of the
most important of these attributes – humor. The new course on gelotology
includes humor and provides students with new tools to help cope with
stress.
II. Background
"Yoga" is derived from a Sanskrit root word ‘Yuj’ (join), hence
"yoga" means and includes, joining of the body, mind and the
‘Self’(soul)” (Setty, Pailoor, and Mahadevan, 2016, p. 89). Yoga
promotes self-knowledge and understanding.. Having this understanding
will allow the individual to cope with the daily stress of everyday
life. Through its practice people have been able to live a more
refreshing life, filled with happiness and good health. As an exercise
yoga has been able to help heal the body and reduce stress. Galantino,
Bzdewka, Eissler-Russo, and Holbrook (2004) conducted a pilot study of
participants with lower back pain. Results found that participants
experienced a decrease in disability and stress; and an increase in
flexibility. Over time yoga has transformed into an exercise that
originated from ancient rituals.
Yoga is a practice that many have used for centuries. The history of
yoga dates back to ancient religious text that describes techniques of
yoga. According to Kumar and Aanand (2015), it is believed to have
originated in India. Some date yoga back 3000 years. Ancient stones show
carvings of people in yoga poses. Many years ago, it was believed that
people worked long hours and needed time to rest. The rest allowed their
bodies to relax and regain its energy. As people rested in these
ancient times, they discovered the harmonious effects of sitting still.
The mind body and soul connection became a tradition that many used as a
way to remove themselves from their busy lives. While there are many
different forms of yoga. The most popular categories of yoga divided
into four broad sections the vedic period, pre-classical, classical and
post-classical. Each of these periods has evolved over time changing
yoga into many different forms.
Today, the United States became one of the biggest markets for Yoga.
The recognition of yoga received attention, the United Nations
General Assembly has declared June 21st International Yoga
Day. People all over the world celebrate this day by honoring the
traditions that have been practiced for centuries. The actions of yoga
help to reduce stress and improve the mind body and soul through
relaxation. As yoga developed over the years, new forms of yoga were
created.
Gelotology is a term coined in 1964 by Edith Trager and William Fry.
The practice was formed from the Greek root gelos (to laugh) Butler
(2014). Madan Kataria, a general practitioner in India,
————————————————————————————————————–
coined the term laughter yoga in 1995 while researching an article he
was writing for a health magazine (Kataria, 2002). Kataria began the
first laughter club at a park in Mumbai, India, and these laughter clubs
have now spread worldwide. Laughter yoga combines laughing with the
yogic breathing exercises used in yoga. What makes laughter yoga
different is that it involves laughing followed by periods of
meditation. There are no jokes, humor or comedy used. Research has found
that the body does not know the difference between real laughter and
fake laughter. Kataria developed this concept to trick the mind into
happiness. The process of fake laughing releases endorphins into the
blood stream causing a chemical reaction to reduce stress. Kataria’s
movement is established through the development of free laughter clubs.
Participants attend the free clubs to laugh, learn about gelotology
and reap the health benefits of the saying laughter is the best
medicine. According to Khatchadourian (2010), Kataria concentrated his
energies on promoting the therapeutic and health benefits of his
exercises. The works of Kataria started in India and have now spread
worldwide. According to ‘Yoga,’ (2011), laughter yoga is practiced in 60
countries.
In India, Kataria conducted exercises in maximum security prisons, at
schools for homeless children, and at institutions for the blind. He
encourages his acolytes to share laughter yoga in similar venues.
According to Butler (2014), Fry published studies of the physiological
processes that occur during laughter supporting the claim that laughter
is equivalent to exercise. Wagner, Rehmes, Kohle, and Puta (2014)
conducted a study comparing the activation of trunk muscles during
laughter yoga in comparison to exercises such as crunching and back
lifting exercises. Results found that during the highest intensity of
laughter yoga, the action of the laughter was comparable to those
produced by traditional exercises. Therefore, not only is laughter yoga a
great method for stress reduction, but it is also a form of physical
exercise.
III. The Need for a Gelotology Course
Laughter therapy is a something that can be taught to students in a
college setting.. According to Dolgoff-Kaspar, Baldwin, Johnson, Edling,
& Sethi (2012), instructors can be certified through Laughter Yoga
International. The founder of the organization, Dr. Madan Kataria trains
individuals in the laughter therapy principles (Dolgoff-Kaspar, et al,
2012). After students complete the course on laughter yoga, they can
pursue more education about the program to enhance their skills.
Currently this training is available outside of academia, however there
is a need to expand this within college curriculums. Students will learn
a new skill in a collaborative space and gain new knowledge to apply to
their profession and personal lives. The new course would teach
students leadership abilities by helping students to learn how to design
programs on gelotology which can be applied outside of the classroom.
e.g medical students could use what was learned in the course to help
patients recover. A business could also benefit by starting a laughter
program at their work place to reduce employee stress.
A new course on gelotology can help bring about change within
academia and the allied health field. According to Grogan, Donaldson,
and Simmons (2007), leaders who can challenge accepted methods have the
most chance of promoting learning for their members. Taking the
initiative to identify problems and develop solutions shows a leader’s
ability to take action and solve complex problems. The course on
gelotology is a
practice that more nurses need training on as laughter therapy gains recognition in the allied health field.
IV. Problem Described
The design of the new course helps the institution review new content
and innovative ideas that may bring about change. As one of the faculty
at a for profit college, the design of the new course is a suggestion
to help meet the needs of students as observed during sample laughter
sessions during class time. As a faculty member that teaches freshman
students, often students complain about the elective courses offered by
the college. Seeing this as a problem led to the development of a new
course to address the students complaints about the current curriculum.
The changes that would occur consist of the following:
An additional elective course
An innovative course of interests to students
A unique course that is not offered at other colleges
New knowledge to medical professionals as part of a growing body of research
A one of a kind course offering that may attract new students
Educate students on new career choices
Additional content to be added to the students' portfolio
What is most important is that the new course will create a change to
your institution by offering a one of a kind course that is not offered
at other colleges. A literature review indicates, there is a lack of
nurse education in the field of alternative therapies such as
gelotology. The course can help to attract new students seeking to learn
more about laughter and how it can help improve the quality of life of
patients. ‘Academic Programs’ (2014) states the importance of
institutions to maintain and achieve financial success. By continuous
improvement, colleges will build its brand of keeping up with the
changes in healthcare and academia. According to Papandrea (2014), Mount
Ida College used a different approach to branding by highlighting its
academic programs vs. the institution as a whole.
The development of a new program will allow the colleges to market
its new program to new students and possibly use this new approach to
branding. O’Brien and Deans in Ting and Lee (2012) stated the importance
of students being more diverse within their education. Employers prefer
graduates who have diverse skills vs. being too narrow and focused on
their majors. Electives give students the opportunities to learn
additional skills which can make them more marketable when they are
seeking employment. The approval of a new course on gelotology would
allow the colleges to teach students new skills that help to enhance
their skills and their portfolios. Students are awarded certificates at
the completion of the course, which could also be placed into the
student's portfolio. According to d'Erizans and Bibbo (2015) After the
term is over, students typically take the contents they have learned and
either dispose of it or place the items in storage. Without much
thought or reflection, the student does not realize how the content
could be used to enhance their education. Providing students with a
tangible item such as a certificate; the students could save the
document electronically or store the item in their professional
portfolio in one central location with easy access.
V. Benefits to the Allied Health Field
The development of an elective course on gelotology helps to improve
the allied health field by teaching nursing students additional skills
to help improve the quality of life of patients. Sometimes medicine
alone is not the solution to healing the sick. According to Pressman and
Cohen (2005), despite Self-help books, popular magazines, and Sunday
newspaper supplements that have suggested that positive affect (PA) can
improve people's health, a search of PsycINFO revealed there are twenty
times more studies on depression vs. happiness and health. There is a
need for continued research and education on other alternative therapies
such as gelotology and laughter yoga.
The effects of laughter yoga have improved the quality of life of
patients. According to Foley, Matheis, and Schaefer (2002) in Quoidbach,
Mikolajczak, and Gross (2015) research tested the use of simulated
1-minute laughter exercises. It was found that fake laughter led to
increases in positive emotions. The basis of these findings has provided
strong evidence that the use of these alternative therapies can help
improve one’s positive experiences. It is important for health
professionals to be knowledgeable on these alternative therapies.
Students learning about gelotology will be exposed to new careers
which have an impact within the allied health field. According to Warren
(2001), clown doctors are in hundreds of hospitals and healthcare
settings in at least a dozen different countries around the world
(including Canada, Britain, France, Brazil, Austria, Germany, Italy,
Switzerland, Spain and The States). As more people are educated on this
approach to improving health, it may shift the direction of health
care. Many hospitals have seen the changes in patients as a result of
the care and entertainment of clown doctors. Spitzer (2006) stated how
clown doctors helped a twelve-year-old patient in the burn unit, to stop
screaming and become settled. Also, clown doctors are not only for
children. Adult patients also benefit from seeing clown doctors. “Our
society tends to dismiss play for adults. Play is perceived as
unproductive, petty or even a guilty pleasure. The notion is that once
we reach adulthood, it is time to get serious. Between personal and
professional responsibilities, there’s no time to play” (Tartakovsky,
2012, para 1). It is the objective of this research to educate more
people, so they are more aware of the research on gelotology. The
knowledge learned can greatly impact the allied health field by the new
course offering.
III. Benefits to the Workplace
The design of a gelotology curriculum can have a great impact on
society as well. The more people that are educated on the principles of
gelotology; the more knowledge of its importance in society will become
known. The benefits of a course on gelotology do not only help
individuals in the allied health field, but it also helps the general
population. Workplace stress has become a growing concern for employers.
According to Hirsh (2005), the American workplace has seen an increase
in stress due to decline in resources and added competition. The lack of
resources has led people to work more hours and risk an increase in
their stress. The development of laughter programs can also be used to
help reduce employee stress. The results of stressed employees have
revealed that employees will more than likely be unhealthy, poorly
motivated, less productive and less safe at work. The results of this
can affect an organization's ability to succeed in a competitive market
Mani, Sritharan, and Gayatri (2014). Addressing the problems of stress
can help improve society and the productivity of business, which has an
impact on the economy.
A study conducted by Mani, Sritharan and Gayatri (2014) found that
job stress affects productivity, absenteeism, workplace errors and job
dissatisfaction. They also suggested more employee training and
knowledge of information about job stress. The
education on this topic can address the problems and provide valuable solutions for improvement in the workplace.
Beckman, Regier, and Young (2007) conducted a study (Fig 1.) that
focused on the elements of laughter yoga on personal efficacy in the
workplace and found a 100% positive change in a control group of
laughter participants.
Figure 1. Laughter Yoga on Personal Efficacy in the Workplace
From Effect of Workplace Laughter Groups on Personal Efficacy
Beliefs, by Beckman, Regier and Young. Copyright 2007 by The Journal of
Primary Prevention with permission.
For 14 days a laughter yoga session was conducted for 15 minutes.
(Fig. 1) shows the results of the laughter groups based upon their
changes in assertiveness, optimism, motivation, adaptability, self-
regulation, self-actualization, self-acceptance, and self-awareness.
The positive outcomes seen in this study lead to the preliminary
conclusion that a workplace laughter groups can appeal to a diverse
range of employees, can be effective with minimal investment of time,
and may have sustained positive effects on self-beliefs that have been
shown to correlate with positive workplace behaviors (Beckman, Regier
& Young, 2007).
Studies like what is depicted in (Fig. 1) need further research and
should be implemented within the workplace. Kataria, the founder of
laughter yoga, has introduced the concept of laughter yoga worldwide. He
speaks at various conferences to spread the word of using laughter to
reduce stress. Using his studies Kataria has found implementing a
laughter intervention in the workplace has benefits such as: improving
team building communication, innovation, creativity, increasing
attention spans in meetings, and improving peak performance (Kataria,
n.d.).
Laughter therapy programs create fun in the workplace. Work has been
known to be a serious place. However, fun in the workplace is now
becoming more common. “As kids, we go out to ‘play.’ Later in life, we
‘play’ sports or ‘play’ music,” he writes in one posting. “But then in
sharp contrast, we leave our homes each day and go to work. The term
implies doing uninspired, often boring and yucky things” (Alsop, 2010,
p. 50). However, this has changed in recent years.
Companies like Google, which is ranked one of the best places to
work, understand the concepts of work and play. Also, when employees are
happy it can have a direct impact on sales. According to Baldonado
(2015), workplace fun is an important topic in business; laughter yoga
was named as one effective method of having fun in the workplace.
Popular companies such as Pike Place Fish, Southwest Airlines, FaceBook,
and Google have all incorporated these practices into their culture.
These organizations have realized how much time is spent on the job.
According to
Everett (2011), we spend more than 90,000 hours at work and with the
downturn of the economy staff must now accomplish twice the work with
half the resources. The amount of time spent at work led to a greater
deal of stress on employees.
When corporations adopt a culture of fun in the workplace,
performance improves. Yerkes (2003) cited several benefits of using fun
in the workplace, including stimulating creativity, fostering
commitment, improving employee relations, and reducing stress. The
capstone project, shows the benefit of laughter programs in the
workplace. The positive changes of developing a course on gelotology,
benefits the specialization of education and management by improving
learning and fostering change.
Today businesses thrive on innovation; in a competitive market, it is
innovation that is the key to an organization's survival. Almost every
year various companies strive to be on top. To be number one and gain as
much market share as possible, a company must constantly seek new ways
of conducting business. Even during poor economic times, research and
development efforts must not stop. According to Jaruzelski and Dehoff
(2010), more than 90 percent of executive’s surveyed said innovation is
critical as they prepare for an upturn, and a majority have maintained
or expanded their portfolios and are pursuing new products to improve
growth and margins.
A course on gelotology is an innovative course that is designed to
engage students. As an educator within the specialization of education
and leadership, it is important to understand the importance of
designing courses that engage students. Yearwood, Cox, and Cassidy
(2016) stated student engagement should be designed into three parts:
student engagement with the instructor; student engagement with their
peers; and student engagement with the content. Combining the three will
ensure the highest level of achievement for student learning. The
course on gelotology uses the three forms of engagement by teaching
students to interact with each other, engage with the instructor by
following guided interactive instructions and engaging with innovative
educational content.
The negative effects of not actively engaging students can lead to
withdrawing, academic failure, boredom, passivity, absenteeism,
aimlessness, avoidance, and apathy. The gelotology course provides an
engaging class that entertains students while at the same time teaching
them new skills. Today’s courses should involve some form of fun in
learning to further grasp students’ attention. Argan and Sever (2010)
describes this form of learning as edutainment which combines
entertainment and learning. Argan and Sever conducted a study on
edutainment in marketing communication courses using a questionnaire as a
data gathering tool. Findings of the study indicated that the use of
edutainment can help to improve students’ attention and participation.
The study also suggests other disciplines should extend edutainment into
their specialties as well. It is my objective to one-day have courses
on gelotology offered at all colleges. For further details on
implementation of a course on gelotology in your college or a workshop
on stress reduction through laughter at your workplace please contact
Dr. Gene Haynes at info@learn2laugh.com.
IV. References
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Dr. Gene Haynes has a Bachelors in management, MBA in
Business Administration/ technology management and has a Doctoral Degree
in Education. Since receiving certification as a laughologist in 2011
Gene has focused his mission to improve company
moral, enhance the corporate culture, build team work, elevate
communication, increase workplace productivity, improve schools
retention and increase individual’s health through something as simple
as laughter.
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