Whether or not the medical profession will agree that laughter is really God's medicine, most doctors now accept that laughing is good for our health. My own observations tell me that there is simply not enough laughing going on, so let us think about what can be done.
It was Henry Ward Beecher who said that 'Mirth is God's medicine - everyone ought to bathe in it', while an old Irish proverb says ' a good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book'.
I have to say I agree with both and consider them a great introduction to a discussion of laughter yoga.
Firstly, just what is it about laughing which is so good for us? Well, laughter relaxes your muscles, reduces stress hormones, lets you forget about bread for a while and encouraged the cleansing of the lungs. Isn't it a wonderful thing that something which is such fun does us so much physical good too?
If laughter is so wonderful, shouldn't can't you be doing more of it too? Laughter Yoga is an exercise which includes breathing, yoga and stretching techniques, alongside the laughter. So you laugh when you breath, do yoga and stretch.
You do not need to have a limitless supply of comic books or pay for a comedian to entertain you. All you need to do is to follow a series of laughter exercises for about 30 minutes. It is great if you can find a well-trained teacher to take you or you group through these exercises, but you could also begin to practise alone or with your family, if you cannot find an official group.
When you are practising laughter yoga, you will be asked to do a lot of 'fake' laughing. Do not let this put you off at all, it seems that the body cannot tell the difference between real and fake laughter, so you can get the same benefits from each.
Here are some of the more points for laughter yoga therapy.
It is fun and easy, there are no skills to learn, no. special clothes or equipment required.
It is fast and powerful and provides a no.-sweat heart workout.
What was surprising for me to learn was that laughter yoga can boost self-confidence and improves communication skills!
When you are working on laughter yoga alone, you might try including an inanimate object in the room in the fun. You can interact with them and they can be your group. Some might think that is a bit crazy, but hey - no one else is there to think anything!
Here are three exercises to try which can be fun, alone or in a group.
1 Balloon blowing out blow.
In the most dynamic way possible, claims to blow up a party balloon, as if you are in a race against someone. When the 'balloon' is fully blown up, laugh heartily and let the balloon go. As it buzzes around the room expelling the air, follow it around in an exaggerated manner laughing as you turn.
2. Model Girl Glide.
You are a top fashion model and you are walking along the catwalk at the Paris fashion show. But the clothes you are wearing are a huge joke. Pull yourself up to full height and along strut model girl. You shoulders and hips rotate as you laugh, showing the imaginary clown clothes to the audience, who think they are funny too.
3 Here is a great exercise to do as you are cleaning. It could also be imaginary cleaning, if the real thing is too much.
Duster Laughing.
Using an imaginary, real gold duster, stretch up to you highest shelf and dust with both arms, laugh and breathe out as you do it. Look at the mess on the duster as you breathe in and then let out a huge gust of laughter as you breathe out.
Who said house work can not be fun?
There is only one thing which is important in all of this - have fun laughing, stretching and breathing, whether alone or in a group.
This really could be one example of the old maxim about the best things in life being free.
Why not find out more about how laughter yoga might help you release some stress and feel better?
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