Reviews
"The Giggles Laughter Workshops is one of the Seminar Series we run as part of our Wellness Programme at Southern Cross. Hannah has facilitated these seminars at our Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch offices over the last three years. Our employees really enjoy the opportunity to participate in a workshop that is fun and interactive. The opportunity for taking a break and laughing with team mates during the work day, definitely creates a real buzz for our employees and renews energy levels."
Sam Williamson, Local Business Manager
"The Canterbury Local Business Banking team of Westpac NZ recently had the pleasure of taking part in a giggles workshop with Hannah. Despite initial trepidation the team very much enjoyed the experience and had a lot of fun and laughter throughout. Afterward spirits were lifted immeasurably and we all felt great. We would recommend a giggle session to any group looking to have fun, build comradery, relieve stress and reinvigorate."
Jason Donnelly, Regional Customer Services Manager - Southern, Tower Insurance
"Staff are still laughing about the sessions three days later and the atmosphere seems much more relaxed, with staff smiling a lot more. My personal thought is that the sessions were an opportunity to throw off the shackles and to not take ourselves too seriously, but the afterthought is about being able to enjoy yourself, have fun and laugh.
I would recommend these workshops to anyone who is experiencing stress as they are thoroughly enjoyable." Su McCoy, People, BNZ
"Our team enjoyed the laughter workshop. Hannah's introduction set the scene with a short and informative presentation on the researched health benefits of laughter and then it was straight into the fun and interactive session. Each activity was clearly explained and easy to follow. We had requested a short session but Hannah managed to pack a lot in! The session lifted energy levels noticeably. Great fun!"
Anna Dalzell, Programme Coordinator, Anxiety Support
"Hannah provided an informative and highly enjoyable "Laughter for Wellness" workshop for us. I found the afternoon a delight. My stress dissipated and my endorphins surged, what a lovely feeling. It was a huge thrill to see our clients laughing and connecting, banishing their anxiety and the barriers it creates. Seeing some of those clients in the following days, and discussing the positive benefits they have continued to enjoy, made it a thoroughly worthwhile afternoon."
Peter Coker, Angelman Society
"There is a absolute truth in the saying "laughter is the best medicine". Hannah gave her time to provide the ice breaker at this year's conference of the New Zealand Angelman Society. People from various professions attended the conference including teachers and medical practitioners along with families, carers and angels. It was a most amazing experience that provided, in my view, the best ice breaker that I have ever attended. From the start Hannah had us participating and engaged and pretty soon literally rolling around the floor in laughter. Many people still talk of the fun time we had, describing the experience as heartwarming, relaxing, amazing and inspirational. The enjoyment seen in our young "angel's" eyes was true testimony to the way Hannah was able to engage the diverse group. I would recommend Hannah and Giggle Therapy to anyone."
Ainslee Coates, Education Co-ordinator, Mental Health Education and Resource Centre (MHERC)
"Honalee Hunter was contracted by MHERC to provide workforce development/training for the NGO Mental Health Sector on the benefits of laughter to people's wellbeing and mental health. Honalee presented this information in an extremely practical and fun way. She engaged the audience well and provided a good balance of theory and practice using laugher yoga as a tool. The participant's were actively engaged and gained great benefit from this workshop. As one participant stated in her evaluation. "Absolutely fantastic - what a gift you have given us - many thanks." As a participant myself, I felt energised and invigorated following the session and am extremely pleased that I had the opportunity to participate. Laughter yoga is a wonderful vehicle for de-stressing, calming and focusing on the moment. I also consider this approach a useful strategy for development group culture and team bonding. Honalee's passion and enthusiasm for her work is clearly evident and I especially appreciated her professionalism, reliability, flexibility and commitment to what is, I believe, an important contribution to a flourishing society. I would have no hesitating in recommending "The Giggles" to any organisation. We will certainly be engaging the services of Honalee again." Jane Bruning, National Coordinator - Positive Women Inc.
"Fake it till you make it" is what Hannah said when she started the session at the HIV+ Women's Retreat in April 2010. And true to her word, it only took a few self conscious "Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha's" before we were rolling around the floor in real belly aching laughter ... some of us laughed till we cried and others sat with expressions of near pain while desperately crossing their legs for fear of wetting themselves ...
At the end of the 90 minute session it was clear to see why laughter is so affective. At times it can be difficult to find things to laugh about when living with something as stigmatising and isolating as HIV so learning techniques such as those shared by Hannah in her Laughter Workshop, enables one to focus on 'the bright side' of life and to experience a sense of fun and joy ... Thank you Hannah for your warm, bubbly and sensitive approach and for sharing this amazing technique with us ... Highly recommended!" Arif Matthee, Subud Conference
"I invited Honalee Hunter to organise three laughter sessions during our international conference attended by 1800 of our members from all over the world in Christchurch in January 2010. Many of our members were full of praise for Honalee's sessions. The energy she created through her exercises was electric and contagious. Honalee's laughter workshops create an interaction between participants. When you open yourself up to her playful exercises and their innocent and spontaneous spirit, her sessions can be life changing." Familial Trust
Graeme and Karen Watson "In November 2008, the Familial Trust invited The Giggles in to facilitate a laughter workshop for staff and clients of the service. The reaction of both staff and clients was so positive that we decided to offer a weekly laughter session at the Familial Trust. Over the past several months we have seen people who have attended move from an attitude of this is something that I will never do again to I can’t get enough of this. By attending laughter workshops on a regular basis all staff report many benefits both physical and psychological. In these times of economic recession, laughter yoga is the perfect antidote and we would recommend this form of exercise to anyone young, old, male, female basically if you are able to get to a venue for a laughter yoga session do it. To any business owners/employers who are looking for an innovative way of breaking the doom and gloom and getting through the winter this is it and we are sure once implemented, laughter workshops will become a regular must do by your staff and clients. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our experience with The Giggles and their laughter workshops (0064 (03) 9811-093)." Selwyn House Pre-School
Amanda Diehl, Head of Selwyn House Pre-school "Recently our pre-school children and teachers had the opportunity to participate in a laughter workshop with Hannah Airey from The Giggles. The experience for our children and teachers was amazing and we would like to thank Hannah for her well planned and invigorating class which supported our children to further engage with their feelings. Hannah prepared the children for the session by explaining the science behind ‘laughter’ in a child centred way that was informative and easy for both children and adults to understand. We loved the fun activities and the fast pace of the session which ensured our children remained engaged and interested. We all left the session feeling much ‘lighter’ having laughed out any negative feelings we may have been holding onto, leaving us feeling cheerful and relaxed and ready for anything. I would highly recommend 'laughter workshops' for both adults and children. It was lots of fun." King's Education – Christchurch
Elsa Torres de Frood, Director of Studies "Our International students had a lot of fun doing the laughter workshop. The instructions were really easy to follow and fun to do. We had students ranging from Elementary to Advanced doing the workshop and they all benefited from it. Laughter Workshops are a great activity for international students in language schools." 
PORSE In-Home Childcare and Educator Training
Kylie Kennedy - Client Service Administrator, Christchurch "Hannah came to do a team bonding session with our team in the office and it was great! We laughed and laughed, no one was quite prepared for what it was about. We were all surprised how relaxed we were after an hour of non stop laughing!!! We would all highly recommend laugh yoga as a team get together and a great wind down at the end of a week. Hannah was fantastic, we were all amazed at Hannah's boundless energy and enthusiasm. Thanks Hannah!" |  |
