Last year I was introduced to something wonderful called Laughter Yoga. I have to say that my interest was definitely peaked, and I immediately Googled it to find out more, joining an online session as soon as I could.
After the session I knew I wanted to be able to take others through this wonderful activity, so I looked at the next trainer intake. The next workshop was fully booked, so I booked in for the following month hoping that somehow, I could join the earlier workshop. My wish came true, and I joined the September workshop.
The workshop was amazing, and I felt wonderfully energised afterwards. I started playing around with it on my own, trying the Daily Breathing Routine myself. I had full intentions of running classes when I was suddenly diagnosed with Breast Cancer (that’s a whole other story!).
While I didn’t feel I had the energy to run the classes, I did continue with the Daily Breathing Routine and found it was a wonderful addition to my healing tool kit.
Now, as start to return to a new normal, I have started running classes for the public… and I’m loving it!
Why is laughter so good?
Laughter has many benefits. Whether it’s a giggle or a loud raw of laughter, our brain is flooded with a cocktail of chemicals including –
- Dopamine – which is our reward drug;
- Oxytocin – which is our love drug;
- Serotonin – which is our mood stabiliser;
- Endorphins – which are our body’s natural pain reliever; and
- Melatonin – which is our sleep
When we laugh, we also increase the activity in our heart, lungs and circulation system which boosts our immune system and lifts our mood. Who wouldn’t want a bit more of that in our lives today?
Studies have also shown that laughter helps us cope in times of stress, trauma and grieving. And those of us with a sense of humour tend to be more optimistic, seeing challenges as positive opportunities for growth and change. A daily dose of laughter may also reduce anxiety and depression.
In a business setting, Laughter can help boost morale, improve attitude and performance, and encourage healthier relationships.
So, what is Laughter Yoga?
Firstly, it is not an exercise program, and we don’t just sit around telling jokes. We also don’t need to bend ourselves into different positions making it accessible for most people of all ages.
Laughter Yoga is a fun and effective program that can be adapted for anyone and everyone’s wellbeing. Sessions are usually between 30 to 60 minutes, starting with some warmup exercises that include gentle stretching, clapping, and chanting. It then progresses to a series of playful laughter exercises combined with deep slow breaths and ends with a guided, relaxation technique.
When we laugh out loud, the mechanics of laughing forces more stale air out of our lungs, requiring deeper replenishment. The brain doesn’t differentiate whether a laugh is intentional (‘fake’) or natural—when a person willingly laughs, the benefits will be the same.
Laughter yoga also promotes breathing activities in-between laughter exercises which is very important because when we deepen our breath, we calm both our body and mind.
Stress less, play more
I am such a huge advocate in playing more. It’s something that as adults, we forget to make time for (see my previous blog Don’t Forget to Play ). As someone that suffered from depression for years, went through corporate burnout and more recently had a breast cancer diagnosis, I know our stressful life can be. I also know from personal experience how powerful spending some time in play and laughter can be and how it can help us navigate through whatever life throws at us!
5 reasons to love Laughter Yoga
Good Mood and More Laughter – Laughter Yoga helps to change our mood within minutes. It also helps us to remain cheerful and in a good mood throughout the day, naturally increasing our ability to laugh more easily.
Healthy Exercise to Beat Stress – Laughter Yoga is a gentle aerobic exercise which brings more oxygen to the body and brain, making us feel more energised, relaxed and boosts our brain power!
Health Benefits – Laughter Yoga reduces stress and strengthens the immune system. This will help us to feel healthier and stronger in our body and help us to heal faster.
Quality of Life – Laughter brings about a positive energy which helps us connect with others quicker, improving relationships.
Positive Attitude in Challenging Times – Everyone can laugh when life is good, but how do we laugh when faced with challenges? Laughter Yoga helps create a positive mental state to deal with challenging situations and challenging people. It gives hope and optimism to help us cope with difficult times.
So, in a nut shell, laughter not only helps us to feel good, but also has real health benefits. Please reach out if you would like me to run a Laughter Yoga session for you or sign up to my mailing list to be notified when I run my free sessions.
And remember, Happiness Starts with a Smile and Empowerment Starts with a Choice!
