Every two months, all staff members of LifeLine/Childline Western Cape gather together for a team meeting. These are usually dedicated to learning about new projects that the organisation is involved in, as well as hearing about the work of the various departments and centres. It is a regular opportunity for all of the staff members to gather together and to connect in the busy-ness of their regular routines.
Every now and then, however, the team meeting will take a different format, with the emphasis being on “fun”. In October 2008, the team meeting was just that – fun! We invited someone from the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) to talk to us about the importance of exercise, as well as to tell us about their programmes that they offer in numerous communities. It wasn’t all talk, though, from Ricardo Siljeur – he soon had all of us exercising and getting a taste of a workplace fitness programme that they also offer to various companies and organisations.
- OptiFit Outreach is offered twice a week to individuals between the ages of 18 and 55 at a venue central to the community.
- OptiFit Outreach members participate in walking, running, aerobics and indoor circuit training.
- Community leaders who volunteer to be trained by the CHIPs project conduct the exercise and manage the programme in line with the needs of the community.
- The education component focuses on disease prevention, lifestyle management and diet.
- Impact: 30 trained leaders and 600 participants exercising twice per week in 12 communities.
To find out more about this and other community outreach programmes offered by the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, go to www.ssisa.com
And, as if that wasn’t enough, we then had an hour’s session of laughter yoga! Martin Combrinck, of Laughter for Africa, very kindly offered to facilitate the session as he believed it would be helpful and beneficial to us all, as we work in the caring industry.
In brief, laughter yoga is a combination of easy laughter exercises and simple breathing and relaxation exercises (derived from yoga). There is no other connection to yoga. It is designed to teach the body to laugh without depending on comedy, jokes or humour. This is a simple, yet very effective body-mind technique that is scientifically proven to counter stress and boost the immune system. (Taken from www.laughter4africa.org.za)
Here are some comments from staff members about the morning’s events:
“Thank you for organizing those people for us, first of all it was good for me to do those exercises, I don’t normally exercise. And OH! The laughter it was so amazing, after the laughter exercise my energy was high, there were some muscles that were stretched at the back of my head, I felt good, the next day I was really tired.”
“I think it was funny as I was laughing and I completely forgot about everything.
I enjoyed myself and I witnessed different kinds of laughter. And I didn't know I can laugh for so long.
Thank you again for bringing something that I usually don't do much.”
“If I did not say “Thank you” I am saying it now, because what a wonderful gesture to take with me for the rest of my life. I cannot even allow myself to think before, then, and after. Laughter is now part of me, and amazing I can laugh when I am alone, and think about something and laugh.
LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE. To be able to share this knowledge with my family and friends is fantastic. THANKS, THANKS.”
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