Today I am interviewing a woman from New Jersey who has a funky way of using laughter to reduce stress, and she teaches others her secrets in order to bring more joy into their lives.

Nicole Pontedandolfo and her husband, John, travel in a 2004 Tiffin Allegro motorhome without slideouts. But, they still have enough space to accommodate their needs as well as a dog and a cat.

To spruce things up and to stay with the funky theme, Nicole uses colorful skirts to cover the windows, which she calls “skirtins” instead of curtains.

A few years ago, the couple got bitten by a travel bug. Although they didn’t know where they wanted to go, they knew there was much more to do and see in other parts of America.

So, they decided to sell everything, buy an RV and hit the road in search of adventure. Nicole and John have been Workamping the entire time, most often by working at KOA Kampgrounds. They have also worked for a company called ID Plans, where they created detailed site plans for remote property managers.

However, their most recent job was volunteering at Safe Harbor Farm, an animal rescue and dog training facility in North Carolina. The farm also maintains bee hives and serves as an animal sanctuary.

To keep her limber and in good spirits, Nicole loves to do yoga and will often pop into a yoga studio in areas they are visiting. Not only does she do yoga, she is a certified laughter yoga instructor.

She’s absolutely right that simply laughing can change your entire perspective on any situation. Laughter strengthens the immune system as well as makes people more approachable and better able to go with the flow.

Most of Nicole’s classes take place online via Zoom; however, she will also conduct live classes at places she’s staying, if possible.

She trains people to look for laughter in any situation. And, if there is nothing particularly humorous or joyful about the situation, Nicole will force herself to laugh on purpose.

Our brains can’t distinguish between real and simulated laughter, so when it hears laughter it releases a calming chemical. Because laughter is contagious, other people can’t help but feel good in the presence of laughter.

Nicole and John are wrapping up their time at Safe Harbor Farm, where they have loved maintaining hiking trails and building shelters for animals staying at the rescue facility.

After a brief stop in New Jersey to visit friends and relatives, they’re planning to visit several farms to conduct laughter yoga classes. There are plenty of places left for Nicole and John to visit before they find the ideal place to settle down again.

In the meantime, they are taking their adventure one day at a time, and laughing along the way.

To connect with Nicole, visit www.funkybuddhayoga.love or email her at [email protected]. She also has a Facebook and Instagram page as well as a YouTube channel. Just look for Funky Budda Yoga.

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If you’re serious about leading a successful and enjoyable Workamping lifestyle, then a Diamond or Platinum membership is for you.  You can even get started with a free 30-day trial by visiting workamper.com/trial. Embark on new adventures today with the support of Workamper News behind you!

That’s all I have for this week’s show. Next time I will be speaking with a couple who runs a business creating custom home décor, shirts and other items – all from a workspace inside their 38-foot motorhome. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of The Workamper Show. If you like these interviews, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes. Thanks for listening!