JOHOR BAHRU: It is said that a good laugh can cure anything. It definitely helps you slip away from anxiety and stress, get over troubles and is the best way to bond with anyone. And for the city’s laughter club, it was definitely an opportunity to spread cheer, the way they know best.

The Johor Bahru Happy & Joyous Club (JBHJC) held its 15th Annual General Meeting together with a Chinese New Year luncheon at Marina Seafood Restaurant.

“Together We Transform, Together We Thrive” is the motivating theme of this lively event, which reflects the club’s dedication to harmony, development, and camaraderie.

Prior to the celebratory lunch, the Annual General Meeting took place, offering a crucial forum for reviewing the club’s accomplishments, talking about future objectives, and fostering deep conversations among members.

The gathering, which drew about 100 members and friends, fostered a spirit of solidarity and friendship.

In addition to being a noteworthy milestone for the club, the memorable occasion fortifies the ties that bind its members together, encouraging a mood of happiness and change.

Through a variety of events, such as laughter yoga, social gatherings, and wellness initiatives, the Johor Bahru Happy and Joyous Club aims to foster happiness, wellbeing, and community relations.

The goal of the club is to establish a happy, vibrant community where everyone is motivated and feels appreciated.

In her address to the audience, the club’s president Koh Mui Cheng said that 2024 had been a transformative year of immense growth, collaboration and impactful initiatives.

She said JBHJC has been fostering happiness, promoting well-being, creating meaningful activities through strategic partnerships, empowering programs and community events.

She also mentioned that two important event which is scheduled to take place this year is the World Laughter Day which falls on May 4 and the 2nd Malaysian Laughter Yoga Conference to be held from 25-27 July at New York Hotel.

According to Koh some 16 countries will be participating in this three-day event.

She also mentioned that many schools have approached JBHJC to bring more joy and happiness to their students especially when many of them are stressed out.

In recalling events that took place last year, Koh said in recognizing the value of collaboration, the laughter Yoga, Clown & Drum Circle workshops were held in partnership with both governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

She said these one to two hours workshops addressed challenges such as stress management and mental health awareness.

She explained that for governmental organizations, the sessions focused on enhancing workplace morale and fostering positivity among employees.

“NGOs benefitted from workshops tailored to support their beneficiaries, helping them cope with challenges through the healing power of laughter,” she stressed.

A notable partnership was established, she said with Hospital Sultanah Aminah, during which we organized workshops at the Wellness Hub in Johor Bahru. These sessions offered vital stress relief for frontline workers, allowing them to rejuvenate and persist in their critical roles with enhanced energy and resilience.

She also went on to say that in the corporate sector, their sessions addressed workplace stress, improved team dynamics and boosted employee engagement.

“By incorporating laughter yoga into wellness programs, companies experienced increased productivity and a more harmonious work environment,” she said.

She explained that their engagement with schools, colleges, and universities aimed at cultivating self-assurance, improving communication abilities, and addressing academic stress.

For educators, she mentioned that laughter yoga emerged as an effective tool for promoting positive educational atmospheres.

A particularly noteworthy occasion was the coordination of a laughter yoga workshop during a university’s mental health awareness week.

The enthusiastic participation from both students and faculty underscored the profound ability of laughter to overcome obstacles and foster connections.

The event for the day included an impromptu Drum Circle led by the members themselves and a few guests were invited to join in.

A cake cutting for those celebrating their birthdays in January and February with the audience joining in the singing of the ‘Happy Birthday’.

A table mind-boggling game brought the program to an end. The best dressed contest also saw participants winning prizes.