Laughter Clubs and Laughter Yoga

Here is some more information about the Laughter Clubs I mentioned yesterday. You can also pursue the subject by going to www.laughteryoga.org.

People attend Laughter Clubs for various reasons. These include and are not limited to:

• Health improvement
• Learn to better manage stress and/or anger issues
• Boost Happiness
• Foster Inner Peace
• Overcome sadness and depression
• Break social isolation and create new friendships
• Develop self-confidence
• Alleviate physical pain

WHAT IS LAUGHTER YOGA?
Laughter Yoga is a physically-oriented technique that uses a perfect blend of playful, empowering and otherwise “tension-releasing” laughter and breathing exercises. These exercises are simple, structured, and based on the philosophy of “acting happiness”. They are appropriate and beneficial for all, regardless of their cognitive, sensorial or motor abilities and limitations You do not need to have a sense of humor, be happy or have any reason to laugh.

Laugh yourself healthy: we all know that laughter makes us feel good. A regular 20 minute laughter session can have a profound impact on our health and well being. Laughter is gentle exercise. It fill your lungs and body with oxygen, deep-clears your breathing passages and exercises your lungs. This is really important for people who don’t get regular aerobic exercise. When we laugh our bodies release a cocktail of hormones & chemicals that have startling positive effects on our system. Stress is reduced, blood pressure drops, depression is lifted, your immune system is boosted & more. Western science is just starting to discover the great effects of laughter.

A number of years ago I heard that a local charismatic church was engaging in a service of “holy laughter.” At the time I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it but perhaps they were also exploring the value of laughter in their spiritual life. Laura Gentry, who I mentioned yesterday, is exploring various dimensions of the use of laughter in her Lutheran church. Tomorrow, I will give a brief description of what I learned from watching a video of Dr Madan Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga leading a session.