Laughter is an international language. Pedaling a bike is excellent exercise. Put these two together and travel to the land of ha ha he he health.
Instructions
- Sit in a chair or lie on your back.
- Bend your arms and legs like you are riding bicycles in the air.
- Pedal forward: laugh.
- Pedal backward: laugh.
It might be hard to really laugh at first, but once you get started, you won’t be able to stop. Have fun and be silly with this pose!
Notes for Parents and Teachers
Laughing is a great way to lighten up an intense mood or situation. If tension is mounting and bad moods are escalating designate a laughing break. Remind yourself and your children to look at the lighter side of things.
Activity Ideas for Home or Classroom
Math Medley/Awesome Anatomy
Count out loud or use a timer to see how long each person can maintain their pedal laughing. Time pulses and heart rates too. Make a chart or graph to look at the comparisons.
Body Benefits
Laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, boosts immune function and produces a natural body chemical called endorphins, which make you naturally feel good.
Musical Musings
Form a Pedal Laughing chorus or choir. High tone laughters are sopranos, low tone ones are bass. Medium low laughers are tenors and medium high are altos. Take turns being the conductors to bring in different voices, get louder or faster and to stop.
Nutrition Tip
Have fun with your food! Many of us have a “love-hate” relationship with food. It is a necessary part of our daily lives but is often confusing, time consuming and takes us away from other activities we would rather be doing. This week bring laughter into your life with the Pedal Pose and bring that laughter and feeling of play into the kitchen.
- Have family members create their favorite meal – participate in the menu planning, preparation and cleaning.
- Play music in the kitchen.
- Keep fresh flowers in your eating area.
- Practice cooking different types of foods – get the children involved in cooking new foods and new recipes.
- Connect Food to cultures or countries your children may be studying in school.
- Have family members select a vegetable or fruit of the week – something you have never tried – they find a recipe(s) and help with the preparation.
- Try to sit down and eat as a family at least a couple of times a week – no TV, no phones, no computers. Enjoy a fun relaxed meal together.