Comedy / laughter yoga
Laughter guru and Wim Hof instructor join forces for Laughter Yoga
Bristol’s self-styled ‘Laughter Guru’ Joe Hoare is an author, yoga specialist and founder of The Joy Conference.
He has been teaching laughter yoga for 20 years, and is also the founder of the Bristol Laughter Club, which is the longest-running series of laughter yoga workshops outside India.
“Back in the 1880s,” he says, “William Hold said that we don’t laugh because we are happy, we are happy because we laugh! It’s incredibly simple and beautiful at the same time.”
is needed now More than ever
Session with laughter guru – photo: Joe Hoare
Dedicated to extolling the virtues of laughter to improve health, mitigate stress, and foster social connection, his work appears regularly in the national media.
On January 16, to coincide with Blue Monday (often said to be the gloomiest day of the year), Hoare is joining forces with functional breathwork coach and certified Wim Hof instructor Gus Hoyt, for a one-off laughter and breathwork evening at The Hideout in St Judes.
Formerly a chef, then an environmentalist and a local politician for a decade, Hoyt is no stranger to high stress jobs, and suffers from anxiety and depression – both of which he has treated through breathwork and deliberate cold-exposure.
Gus Hoyt and Joe Hoare at Watershed – photo: Gus Hoyt and Joe Hoare
The pair first met at a corporate business event, and found synergy in one another’s work.
“I’ve wanted to work with Joe for years,” says Hoyt. “Now it just feels like the right time. And it’s the perfect time of year – combining forces to beat away the blues!
“Hopefully it’s the start of other great things to come, too.”
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The 90 minute Blue Monday session is designed to walk people through the basics of laughter yoga, before they are guided through a deep breathwork sequence.
The evening will culminate in further deep laughter techniques.
The practice can be done seated or lying down, with yoga mats and blankets recommended to maximise comfort.
Beat Blue Monday with Laughter and Breathwork (18+) is at The Hideout on January 16 at 7pm. Tickets are available from www.yuup.co. Follow Joe Hoare @laughteryogawithjoe and Gus Hoyt @breathandice on Insta.
Main photo: Gus Hoyt
Read more: Bristol Mind presents Blue Monday comedy fundraiser
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