Laugh For No Reason--It's Good For You!

You've heard it many times-laughter is the best medicine. And people all over the world are experiencing the healing effects of laughter through laughter yoga, the brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria from Mumbai.

Just what exactly is laughter yoga and what are its benefits?

According to Sebastian Gendry, World Operations Director of Laughter Yoga, founder and manager of the American School of Laughter Yoga, "laughter helps us keep healthy by enriching the blood with ample supplies of oxygen, the lifeline of our system. It helps to remove the negative effects of stress, acts as a pain killer and boosts the immune system. Native and traditional healers have long believed that without an uplifted spirit there is not enough energy or vital force for a person to completely experience healing."

But there is more to laughter, he claims. "Laughter puts us intensely in the moment. The ability to fully live and experience the 'now' is of utmost importance because it is the only moment where we can experience happiness." In essence, laughter is something that can be done any time of the day, by any one. Simple, unrestrictive, it is an activity that has truly democratic values. And the positive effects of laughter are numerous.

Laughter is a stress buster. It reduces levels of stress hormones epinepherine and cortisol. Laughter strengthens the immune system. Recent research into the effects of laughter by Dr. Lee S. Berk, Professor at Loma Linda University, California, demonstrates that laughter increases the count of natural killer cells and antibody levels. Laughter therapy also helps to increase antibodies( immunoglobulin A) in the mucous of the nose and respiratory passages. Healing can be promoted through laughter.

Laughter is also anti-ageing. Laughing contractions tone facial muscles and expressions. They increase blood supply to the face, which is why people look flushed when they laugh. The influx of blood supply and nutrients nourishes the skin and makes it glow. People look younger and more approachable when they laugh. By the same token, their laughter can be infectious and generate more laughter.

Laughter is aerobic exercise; it stimulates heart and blood circulation. Dr. William Fry of Stanford University claims that one minute of laughter is equivalent to 10 minutes on the rowing machine. It contributes to a sense of well-being because more oxygen is taken in during laughter. It is also an exercise suitable for all, including those confined to a bed or wheelchair.

There is no doubt that laughter is an universal tonic .According to Henri Bergson in his essay on the meaning of the comic, laughter is not only the great equalizer, it is the great masseuse of emotions: "It is the business of laughter to repress any separatist tendency. Its function is to convert rigidity into plasticity, to readapt the individual to the whole, in short, to round off the corners wherever they are met with."

We have all experienced the cathartic effect of a good laugh. Think of the last time you had a deep belly laugh and think of the way your laughter dispersed whatever tension you had in your body. An internal massage, laughter restores us to holistic wisdom-everything, even the worst and most unacceptable becomes soft and approachable within a comic perspective.

The upshot of it all is: laugh and the world laughs with you. Live life laughing. You have nothing to lose, except your grumpy corners!

Copyright 2006 Mary Desaulniers

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Health And Fitness" article category.

People interested in the above article "Laugh For No Reason--It's Good For You!" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

 

How To Get Taller By Naturally Boosting Your Human Growth Hormones

How to get taller is now possible even if you have passed puberty. A sure-fire way to get taller is to naturally induce your body to release human growth hormones (HGH) that promote muscle and height growth in your body. HGH tends to be released during the early parts of the sleep or after a heavy workout.

How A Polish Immigrant In The USA Directed Major Victory Over Hepatitis B

Medical research may seem a rather dull, tedious occupation; however, some of the people who engage in it have extraordinary tales to tell. Dr. Wolf Szmuness, who helped develop the first hepatitis B vaccine, is an outstanding example. The story of how he came to New York City from Poland to carry out his life-saving work reads like high fiction.

Why Am I So Tired? How To Overcome Tiredness’ Top 3 Culprits

Why am I so tired? That seems to be the universal question, isn’t it? I soon realized that I’m not the only one suffering from this fate. Millions of people all over the world also find themselves feeling exhausted all the time. Because a lot of people are now asking themselves and others why they are so tired, experts have taken the time to study different people and their habits. Finally, they came up with these culprits.

Natural Acne Remedies

Even if modern treatments are complex and expensive, not few times, in the fight against acne, natural treatments are preferred. Located on the face, chest, back and shoulders, acne affects both men and women, both young and adults, appearing, in general, as a consequence of general metabolism fats disorder.

Why Healthcare Is In Bad Shape and the Government Can’t Fix It

Most people in the United States are upset with the state of our healthcare system, and I have heard many different explanations why it’s this bad. The main complaint about our healthcare system is the price tag because the cost of health insurance has gone through the roof. In addition, healthcare providers have become more distant and less responsive to Americans questions about how to take care of themselves.

The Argument Against Universal Healthcare

The idea of a nationalized healthcare system has been around for a long time, and like most other social ideas, it sounds good when you first hear it. Healthcare for everyone in the United States would be a dream come true for lots of families but the problems with universal healthcare far outweigh the benefits. Many countries have tried this and failed because of some basic ideas that aren’t even being considered.

Why Use Automatic Defibrillators in Schools?

Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone at any time, no matter their age or health status. Schools need to be prepared to respond to cardiac events in the same way that they are able to provide emergency care for cuts, contusions, and burns. With early defibrillation through an on-site AED, the chances that a student or faculty member will survive a cardiac emergency are higher.