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Humans were designed to laugh. Elementary-school children laugh 400 times a day while adults laugh only about 17 times a day. We’ve all heard the phrase, “Laughter is the best medicine.” But what does that mean exactly?
Laughing relaxes the mind, boosts the immune system, reduces blood pressure, clears your breathing passages, exercises your lungs and reduces food cravings. Laughter also reduces the levels of stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol. Laughter helps control blood pressure by reducing the release of epinephrine and cortisol and brings relaxation.
Laughter increases the levels of endorphins in our bodies. Endorphins are natural pain killers. Endorphins released as a result of laughter may help reduce the intensity of pain in those suffering from arthritis. Laughter is one of the best exercises for those suffering from asthma and bronchitis. It improves the lung capacity and oxygen levels in the blood.
Laughing doesn’t require special skills, so why don’t we laugh more often? As I shared in my January column, my 2007 New Year’s Resolution was simple: to laugh more. I’ve also shared in past columns that I earned the “funniest laugh” award at the senior awards night in high school. Like many adults, I don’t laugh as much as I did when I was a kid. But I sure became interested in joining a laughter club when I researched information for this column.
Dr. Madan Kataria of India began the first laughter club in a public park in 1995. Today, laughter clubs are a global phenomena. Kataria founded World Laughter Day, which is May 6, in 1998. She also started the worldwide laughter yoga movement. The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for world peace and is intended to build up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. Its popularity has grown exponentially with that of the laughter yoga movement and is celebrated in more than 50 countries around the world. Kataria said laughing is similar to internal aerobics.
Convinced of the medical benefits of laughter and yogic breathing exercises, she was searching for a way to bring these benefits to modern man. In a flash of inspiration, laughter yoga was born. Thanks to Kataria, countless people all over the world enjoy the benefits of a daily dose of laughter practicing laughter yoga at laughter clubs.
Laughter yoga combines laughter exercises and yoga breathing to give you the health benefits of hearty laughter. Laughter exercises almost always lead to real laughter, especially when practiced in a group.
Laughter yoga is practiced around the world at laughter clubs, laughter studios, in the workplace and in many specialized applications, including schools, government departments, military, police, hospitals and hospice organizations. There are more than 5,000 laughter clubs and studios in more than 50 countries with new venues opening daily.
When you are laughing in a group at a public place with your arms up towards the sky, it removes your inhibitions, and over a period of time you become a more sociable, unreserved and outgoing person. Admittedly, some people are initially a bit reluctant to join a laughter group, in spite of a strong inclination towards doing so, for fear of appearing absurd to onlookers. However, this is a passing phase and the decision to join a laughter club opens your mind. Gradually, it may also increase self confidence. It may also help to develop a stronger personality and leadership qualities. Laughing improves our behavior toward others because we feel better about ourselves. Based on the “law of attraction,” it is easier to attract happy people into our life when we feel happy.
In a laughter club, many members are encouraged to conduct sessions. People who are not able to speak a word in public often become very good public speakers. With the passage of time, some people even observe a transformation in their personality. Laughter is a gift that generates a more positive attitude towards life. Minor setbacks or irritants in everyday life no longer cause a serious disturbance, and you learn to deal with them much more effectively.
The magic that has worked wonders is the friendship and brotherhood gained from Laughter clubs. Laughter clubs are fast developing into close-knit communities. With the expansion of laughter clubs all over the world, each club has taken the shape of a small community, where members experience a sense of affiliation and belonging to the group. Clubs are turning into large laughing families.
So let’s see. Laughter doesn’t require any special skills. Laughter is easy and doesn’t cost anything. Young children laugh hundreds of times a day. Laughter doesn’t seem to hurt. Laughter doesn’t have any side effects, except of course, if you laugh too hard, then your sides will hurt. Laughter clubs create relationships and friendships and even laughing families. Count me in. Sadly, however, when I checked out the Web site www.worldlaughtertour.com, I noticed that the Dallas/Fort Worth area and surrounding cities do not have any laughter clubs. If you are interested in starting a laughter club in the Burleson-Crowley area, please send me an e-mail at applelady@themcguirecompany.com. Perhaps if we start laughing more, a club will come.
In the meantime, laugh until your sides hurt and share a good laugh with others. We all need a good laugh.
Readers are welcome to
contact the Apple Lady at
applelady@themcguire
company.com or visit her
Web site at
www.amytheapplelady.com
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