Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise routine that combines laughter exercises with yogic breathing which brings more oxygen to the body and brain thereby making a person feel more energetic and healthy. This is a powerful cardio workout. In fact, 10 minutes of hearty laughter equals 30 minutes on the rowing machine. The main benefit of laughter is that one stays cheerful throughout the day. This feeling of well-being comes from the release of feel-good hormones called endorphins.
The benefits of Laughter Yoga are extraordinary. It reduces the negative effects of stress on your body which is the root cause of all diseases. Laughter Yoga is a single practice that treats physical, mental, and emotional stress all at the same time. It also strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, controls blood sugar and keeps your heart healthy. It is a powerful antidote against depression – the number one disease today.
Laughter improves heart health. When laughing out loud, there is dilation of blood vessels throughout the body. We’ve all seen or experienced this as a flushed appearance and a warm feeling. Pulse rate and blood pressure increase when the circulatory system is stimulated before settling below their natural level. In short, laughter helps tone the body’s circulatory system.
Laughter and breathing exercises help increase the breathing capacity of the lungs and increase the net supply of oxygen to the body. Laughter sessions, along with deep breathing, are like chest physiotherapy – especially for those who smoke and suffer from bronchitis and airway obstruction.
A weak immune system is the main cause of almost all diseases and ill health. Laughter boosts the immune system. Oxygen is one of the main catalysts for all metabolic reactions in the human body. Ongoing scientific studies show that lack of oxygen is the main cause of most diseases. Laughter Yoga flushes the lungs and fully oxygenates the blood and major organs thereby making a person full of energy and vitality and free from disease.
Diabetes is emerging as a major health hazard worldwide. The Japanese scientist Murakami’s experiments to determine the effect of laughter on blood sugar levels have confirmed that laughter has a lowering effect on blood sugar. Murakami identified 23 genes that can be activated by laughter. Apart from that, it also reduces the stress hormone cortisol which is responsible for increasing sugar levels and stabilizes the immune system, which, when weakened, can affect insulin production in the pancreas.
Laughter has a profound positive impact on allergies, with many practitioners reporting relief of all asthma, skin, and other allergy symptoms. While not an intervention to combat physical allergens; Laughter Yoga is a surefire tool for dealing with stress. It helps reduce risk factors by boosting the immune system, encouraging deep breathing and flushing the lungs of stale air and producing a feeling of well-being.
Those with life-threatening illnesses don’t just experience physical pain; they also face tremendous psychological trauma. Not just patients, but family, friends, and caregivers all need positive reinforcement. Having a positive mental attitude greatly influences the course of the disease. We have many members with cancer, immune disorders, multiple sclerosis and other chronic illnesses who have reported relief from their symptoms, reducing their medication accordingly.
Depression is often associated with physical pain, feelings of hopelessness, loss of appetite, immobility, insomnia and other cardiovascular problems. Regular practice of Laughter Yoga helps with most of these ailments as it is one of the fastest ways to increase heart rate, reduce blood pressure, provide an excellent cardio workout and reduce pain. Extended hearty laughter is a bodily exercise with powerful mind-body healing effects.
The combination of natural pain relief with the movement in laughter exercises makes Laughter Yoga a powerful tool for physiotherapy. Many practitioners have reported frozen shoulder inversions and other movement limitations from strokes, arthritis, and injuries. The endorphins released from laughter help reduce the intensity of pain in those suffering from arthritis, spondylitis and muscle spasms.
Scientific studies have proven that a few days of laughter and deep breathing exercises lower blood pressure thereby reducing the risk of heart attack. Having too much cholesterol in the blood can cause hardening and narrowing of the arteries in the major vascular system. A daily dose of laughter opens the arteries and allows blood to flow freely to all parts of the body thereby preventing heart failure.
Stress is the number one killer today, and most diseases are stress related. Laughter Yoga is an instant stress reliever that treats physical, mental and emotional stress all at once. It is scientifically proven that laughter reduces the level of stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine and increases positive emotions.
Laughter exercises are short and easy and can be added to your existing fitness program. This can be a plus for Yoga groups, Tai-Chi groups, aerobic centers, meditation centers, health clubs, sports and fun activities. Laughter Yoga is the latest health craze to hit the world where everyone can laugh for no reason. It is truly a life-changing experience for millions of people. It’s scientifically proven and lots of fun. People can feel the benefits right from the first session.
Image Credit : MsblissCoach
