Tita Begashaw loves to laugh. In fact, she gives laughter therapy classes - encouraging people to laugh till their sides ache. But things weren’t always so jolly for her.
Originally from Ethiopia, Tita grew up witnessing the horrors of the war with Eritrea. In 1988, she managed to get out and relocated to the US, eventually settling in Seattle. Musfen, her younger brother and a cousin also immigrated soon afterwards and life became infinitely better.
A few years on and her cousin began to exhibit worrying behavior. It became apparent he had become mentally ill and he moved in with Tita's brother, so he could keep an eye on him - a move that turned out to be a tragic mistake. One morning, Tita's cousin picked up a knife and stabbed Musfen to death.
Depression
Tita fell into a deep depression - her new life in America had turned sour and even worse, her relatives now blamed her for encouraging the cousin to move to the US.
She decided that she needed to get out and help other people to get over her grief. So she started volunteering at Seattle's Harbourview Hospital, helping new immigrants navigate the system, and eventually it turned into a full-time job - photos below. She would also take fellow Ethiopians into her house until they got on their feet.
Healing process
In 2001, Tita found out about a seminar on Laughter Yoga and started attending classes. Eventually she qualified as a Laughter Yoga instructor. She says laughter has helped the healing process greatly.
Tita has now has taught Laughter Yoga in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, large companies like Boeing, the University of Washington, and even the Seattle Police Department, including the police chief himself.
She says, "You encourage yourself to laugh every day with whoever you can. It’s about feeling good, to enjoy life! It’s more than just laughing, you bring your good energy to whatever you do in life."
Taken from A Second Chance by The State We're In.
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
I loved this segment when i first heard it and was particularly amused at Jonathan's apparent mild discomfort when he practised spontaneous laughter. I thought you might like to know that the Australian national broadcaster is covering a similar theme but with a focus on the elderly:
The Smile Within will be broadcast on ABC 1 Compass Program, Sunday 4 March at 6.30pm. The SMILE study is the world’s first high quality large scale research project that examined the effects of humour therapy on older people with dementia. The primary aim of the SMILE study was to examine the effects of humour therapy on mood, social engagement and agitation. This film documents the study and follows comedian Jean?Paul Bell as he delivers the humour intervention to residents in aged care facilities. Staff from the aged care sector, family, members of the residents and researchers who ran the study, Professor Henry Brodaty, Dr Lee?Fay Low and Dr Belinda Goodenough will also appear. This humour intervention is now called the Play Up Program being introduced into RACFs nationally. More information about Play Up can be found on the Arts Health Institute’s website www.artshealthinstitute.org.auMore information about the film can be found on www.thesmilewithin.com.au
titay we are proud of u
That was a delightful interview. I am going to use this with my long-term care clients and hospice clients with whom I volunteer!
We just watched the movie Laughology last night. A good film that answers many of the questions on laughter. It's a very important part of the human (and animal, it turns out) experience that we tend to trivialize or take for granted. It's actually a very important, universal, social phenomenon, and appears to be the polar opposite to stress.
Thanks for the tip, will try and check out Laughology. Would be fascinating to find out which animals use laughter as part of their social behavior...
I love to laugh also, but I've never heard of a therapy class on laughter. So when I first heard this, I was skeptical (to put it mildly). Sometimes, something someone says gets me laughing, even if what the person is talking about isn't very funny; sometimes it's the way that person says it that gets me laughing, sometimes without reason or motive.
Sounds like you should teach a laughter class, Jason.
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.