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Prescription Strength Laughter
By Meg Scott November 2010
Stressed? Need a lift? Just open wide and say HA...ha ha ha! We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine…well, that’s no joke! A hearty laugh boosts the immune system reduces the effects of stress, lowers blood pressure, eases anxiety, lifts mild depression, improves circulation, helps reduce pain, and most of all increases the intake of oxygen. Laughing exercises the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. It’s been called “jogging” for your insides. It’s energizing. It even burns calories. Wow! Isn’t it wonderful that something so fun and easy is also healthy?
Preliminary studies have shown that even anticipating laughter helps raise our endorphin levels, promotes relaxation and reduces stress levels. All we need is to give ourselves permission to let go and laugh. Laughter helps us connect with our playful side, our little inner five year old. We can now laugh as an exercise just for the health of it. The concept is Laughter Yoga, the brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria, a family physician from Mumbai, India. In1995, Dr. Kataria was researching material for an article he was writing for a health magazine on the benefits of laughter. One morning about 4 o’clock, he woke with the idea of starting a laughter club so he could witness the impact of laughter first hand. Three hours later, he visited his neighborhood park and recruited four people to
join him. The group quickly grew to over fifty members in a few days. It was good. At first they shared jokes and funny stories but within a couple of weeks their repertoire of jokes ran thin and off-color jokes started filtering in. This was not good. This was not the direction the club members wanted to go, so Dr. Kataria reviewed his materials and learned that anyone can laugh without jokes or comedy. We don’t need a reason to laugh. Pretend laughter has the same health benefits for the mind, body and spirit whether the laughter is spontaneous or simulated. When participating in a group, simulated laughter usually turns into real laughter because it’s so fun and contagious. With help from his wife, Madhuri, a yoga instructor, Dr. Kataria combined playful laughter exercises with
Pranayama, (gentle yoga breath work) to create Laughter Yoga.
Once we open our “laughter channel”, laughing becomes easier and we start to laugh more often. Laughter Yoga sessions consist of rhythmic clapping, deep breathing, laughter exercises and playful group activities all practiced in a safe non-judgmental atmosphere. Sessions with Laughter Yoga Leaders last between 30-60 minutes.
When we breathe, especially when under stress, we typically replace only about a third of the air in our lungs. At times, we even unwittingly hold our breath. Practicing Laughter Yoga helps expand lung capacity to increase the amount of fresh oxygen ingested and trains us to be more conscious of breathing. This renewed air supply feeds the brain, bloodstream and every cell in the body. It helps with detoxification.
Intense laughter can also help unlock pent up emotions stored in the body. Suppressed emotions and negative feelings can affect your well being and peace of mind, causing chronic mental or physical pain and diminished performance. Laughter is an example of the mind-body connection. Laughter sends messages: relax; be happy; be present. It also improves our skills for coping with life’s challenges by reminding us not to take our minor problems so seriously. Laughter, a natural expression of joy, creates positive energy that flows out into the world having a favorable effect on others.
Studies in the workplace have shown that a fifteen minute group Laughter Yoga session before work, boosts morale and efficiency and promotes better interaction among employees. These studies also show that benefits gained from the three-week laughter study continued for over forty days after the program ended. This technique is being seriously considered as a tool to improve productivity. Performing laughter exercises prior to public speaking, taking an exam, interviewing for a job or any stressful situation can help reduce tension and build confidence.
Laughter Yoga is an ideal addition to yoga and aerobic classes, physical education, adult day care, after school programs and corporations. Anywhere people connect to promote health is a good place to share Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga is beneficial for people of all ages. You’re never too old to enjoy a good chuckle. There are now thousands of laughter clubs and Laughter Yoga events worldwide. Visit www.laughteryoga.org for information.
Laughter Clubs have been featured in The New Yorker, Time magazine, newspapers around the world and on Oprah, as well as NPR, CNN, ABC, BBC to name a few. The mission of Laughter Yoga is to promote good health, joy and world peace through laughter.
Meg Scott trained as a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher in 2007 with Dr. Madan Kataria. She trains Laughter Yoga Leaders during 2-day workshops where participants earn Leader Certificates from Dr. Kataria’s School of Laughter Yoga. www.laughteryogawithmegscott.com |
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