CRIS Pop talks about his career which wouldn’t exist without laughter, writes Rebecca Miller.
How I got here: I worked as a public servant for seven years but wanted to try something new. I started doing laughter yoga as a hobby and one day got a call asking me to run a laughter session; I really enjoyed it. So I decided to train with the founder of the world laughter movement, Madan Kataria.
A typical week: Each week involves researching studies around laughter as a form of therapy. This is where I came across the scientific fact that the body doesn’t differentiate between fake and real laughter. In my sessions, fake laughter often becomes real. During the week I also teach groups of people how to be happy.
As a child, what job did you dream of doing? I wanted to be an astronaut, to see what it was like on another planet — and because I missed the lunar landing when they were showing it at school. Or a cat burglar — I watched a lot of James Bond movies!
Career highlights: There was a really shy guy who always held back in my laughter sessions and I didn’t think he was getting much out of them. One day, I said I couldn’t run them any more, and he said, ‘Whaddya mean?’ He ended up running some sessions and bought everyone coffee. The change in him during six weeks was incredible. And the woman who, finding out her mother was sick with cancer, invited me into her home to run a one-on-one laughter session with her mum.
What advice would you give to workers? I grew up thinking I have to go to work so why shouldn’t it be fun and enjoyable? I advise people to do a job they love, then it’s easy to get through each day. Keep work simple, stay focused and always keep a long-term goal in mind.
Hobbies: I enjoy bushwalking, hiking, and socialising.
