Ever since we started the Laughter Club scores of people attending the laughter sessions have reported improvement in their health conditions especially those suffering from long term chronic diseases. But, is laughter really a healing force?
From a medical point of view any disease has two components:
a) Organic cause due to pathological impairment in the body, which manifests as different signs and symptoms of the disease
b) The second is a psychological reaction to the disease. This is the mental part which makes people apprehensive and anxious about what’s going to happen to them with that disease. A series of negative thoughts keep coming to the mind especially to those who suffer from long term chronic diseases.
As a medical doctor I would say that Laughter Yoga exercises help in both the components. First, it makes your mind positive and brings hope. As most diseases have more than 50% psychological element it is taken care of immediately and the person feels an improvement in their health condition very quickly.
The kind of thoughts we get depends upon the type of hormones circulating in the blood which are released depending upon the state of mind – When one is under fear more negative chemicals are released in the blood resulting in more negative thoughts and feelings. Laughter Yoga exercises fills up the body with positive chemicals, a kind of joy cocktail, which makes one more optimistic and brings hope to get over the disease process.
To take care of the organic element of the disease, Laughter Yoga helps by increasing the net supply of oxygen to the body cells thereby healing at the cellular level. Laughter Yoga also strengthens the immune system, a very important factor for healing of any disease.
In a nutshell Laughter Yoga not only prevents the illness but also has therapeutic value which helps to heal faster from a variety of illnesses.
Most benefits of Laughter Yoga (LY) can be explained under 5 categories that are easy to remember
| 1 | Health Benefits: | |
 The health benefits of laughter come in 2 categories: 1. For people who are not sick and want to stay healthy. 2. For those who have some illness, LY helps to heal faster. People come regularly to the laughter clubs because it helps them to stay fit. It strengthens the immune system and one does not fall sick easily. Laughter Yoga is a powerful cardio workout and just 10 minutes of hearty laughter is equal to 30 minutes on the rowing machine. It increases blood circulation and relaxes the muscles. It is also a powerful antidote for depression, reduces blood pressure, reduces symptoms of allergies, asthma, arthritis and helps in chronic illnesses like cancer. Stress today is the number one killer and more than 70-80 percent of illnesses are due to stress. Laughter Yoga is a single exercise routine which reduces physical, mental and emotional stress simultaneously and brings an emotional balance. People can feel the benefits from the very first session. |
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| 2 | Personal Life: | |
| Your mood states determine the quality of your life. Laughter Yoga has the power to change your mood within minutes by releasing certain chemicals from your brain called endorphins. If your mood is good, you feel good within and will remain cheerful through out the day. Laughter Yoga also helps to develop a sense of humor and you will laugh more in real life. You will always have a smiling face, a positive outlook towards life and very few negative thoughts. | ||
| 3 | Business Life: | |
| Laughter Yoga is most economical, less time consuming and scientifically proven technique to reduce stress in the workplace. Science tells us that the brain needs 25% more oxygen than other body organs for optimal functioning. Laughter Yoga increases the net supply of oxygen which helps in optimal performance. One feels energized and fresh throughout the day and can work more without getting tired. | ||
| Group laughter can create a happy and motivated workforce which includes a strong team building element. For those in marketing and sales it enhances self confidence and communication skills. In H R trainings Laughter Yoga is a very effective tool for increasing attention span during prolonged sessions. Also, when you are laughing and playing, you are more creative in your business. | ||
| 4 | Social Life: | |
| The quality of life and life satisfaction does not depend on how much money, power, position and success you have in life, rather it depends on the number of good friends with whom we have a caring and sharing relationship. Laughter is a powerful tool to connect with people easily. | ||
| After the basic survival needs what we all need is appreciation and acknowledgement for our emotional development. Laughter clubs provide a rich social network of people who care about one another. This provides a sense of emotional security which resists stress and helps to fight depression which is number one sickness today. | ||
| 5 | Laughing in the Face of Challenges: | |
| In times of difficulty, it is not easy to remain calm. By imbibing the essence of Laughter Yoga and its characteristics, one can learn to handle any situation effectively without losing their composure. It will keep a positive mental attitude so that you can cope with negative situations and deal with difficult persons in a much better way than a normal person can. |
News Articles
- A Good Healthy Laugh by Liz Kearney
An article on Alicia presenting Laughter Yoga to the Park County Senior Center. - Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient by Norman Cousins
This is an excellent book and was an integral resource in the creation of current day Laughter Yoga.
- Effect of Workplace Laughter Groups on Personal Efficacy Beliefs by Beckman, Regier, and Young
- How Do You Feel? from Laughter Yoga International
- Inverse Association Between Sense of Humor and Coronary Heart Disease by Clark, Seidler, and Miller
- Learning the Yoga Way of Laughter by Alex Perry in Time Magazine
- Norman Cousins interview with James Day, James Day’s series of conversations with prominent thinkers, Day at Night.
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World Laughter Day First Sunday in May
Mission: World Peace Through Laughter
We are pleased to provide a website with information about supplemental treatment’s for mental illness. However, please remember that the internet is a dynamic resource and that we cannot guarantee that all of the outside links provided will work or that the content will not have changed over time. As a result, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or availability regarding these resources. It is important that you do your own research to seek out further information and to consult with your professional provider for your unique circumstances. If you, a family member or friend is suffering from mental illness and/or in crisis please seek appropriate professional help.