In this modern world that we live in, full of medicinal remedies and medical breakthroughs, who would ever dream that something as simple as laughter could induce such amazing benefits to our health that could even rival highly scientific compounds found in drugs of today?

Life can sometimes be serious and tiring but a good and hearty laugh is not only welcome by the people around you but also by your mind, body and soul.

Keeping in mind today’s lifestyles and demanding schedules it seems almost impossible to find a genuine smile on anybody’s face. Laughter knows no cultural boundaries. You don’t have to speak the same language to laugh together. Laughter helps break the ice when you’re in a group. It is one form of communication to which everyone can relate. Finding humor in a situation and laughing freely with others can be a powerful antidote to stress. Our sense of humor gives us the ability to find delight, experience joy, and to release tension. This can be an effective self-care tool.

Scientific evidence on the effectiveness of humor as a therapy is overwhelming. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. A healthy sense of humor is related to being able to laugh at oneself.

Laughing at oneself can be a way of accepting and respecting oneself. Lack of a sense of humor is directly related to lower self esteem. Humor and laughter can cause a domino effect of joy and amusement, as well as set off a number of positive physical effects.

We usually keep popping in pills to get rid of our usual ailments but never think that a thing as simple as laughter can significantly contribute to cure various diseases with our own healing system.

An enthusiastic laugh can help to reduce stress, maintain the right blood pressure, elevate mood, boost immune system, improve brain functioning, protects the heart, fosters instant relaxation, and the list is inexhaustible.

For some people laughter is a serious business because they literally believe in the adage ”laughter is the best medicine.”

A study demonstrated stress-related hormones are decreased during laughter, which provides support for the claim that humor can relieve stress. Laughter has a number of direct affects on the overall physical health of an individual.

It stimulates production of endorphins, a natural painkiller and euphoriant, and reduces levels of the stress hormone, which contributes to high blood pressure and other conditions.

Laughing also exercises a large number of muscles, with substantial benefits for cardiovascular health.

LAUGH YOUR WAY TO GOOD HEALTH

The idea behind this therapy is a healthy and cheerful laugh that can make a person feel better, to relieve stress, combat diseases and strengthen the immune system. It is said that even one minute of laughter can give the body up to 45 minutes of therapeutic relaxation. It stimulates appetite and digestion and also expands the blood vessels and sends more blood racing to the extremities. This process sends more oxygen to every cell in the body, it also serves to speed tissue healing and stabilize many body functions. Laughter even produces a feeling of well being.

LAUGHTER YOGA AND LAUGHTER CLUBS

Somewhat similar to traditional yoga, laughter yoga is an exercise which incorporates breathing, yoga, stretching techniques along with laughter. The structured format includes several laughter exercises for a period of 30 to 45 minutes facilitated by a trained individual. It is practiced as a supplemental or preventative therapy. Laughter yoga can be performed in a group or a club. Therapeutic laughter clubs are extension of Laughter Yoga, but in a formalized club format. This form of laughter from the Laughter Clubs is about self generated laughing - not telling jokes or apparently about anything except laughing. Laugh till it hurts your belly, until tears are streaming down your face. We very often spot a large group of people standing in a circle and laughing hysterically in a park in your locality. Many people have formed such laughter clubs across the globe.

LAUGHTER MEDITATION

In laughter meditation there are some similarities to usual meditation. However, it is the laughter that focuses the person to concentrate on the moment. There are three stage process of stretching, laughing and/or crying and a period of meditative silence. In the first stage, the persopn places all energy into the stretching of every muscle without laughter. In the second stage, the person starts with a gradual smile, and then slowly begins to purposely belly laugh or cry, whichever occurs. In the final stage, the person abruptly stops laughing or crying, then with the eyes closed, breathe without a sound and focus concentration on the moment. The process is approximately a 15-minute exercise. This may be awkward for some people as the laughter is not necessarily spontaneous. This is generally practiced on an individual basis.

CLOWN THERAPY

Somebody once said, “A clown is like an aspirin, only he works twice as fast.” In some hospitals “clown rounds” are made. The clowns perform various fun acts, share jokes etc that make the patients (usually children) laugh. For hospitalized children, clown therapy can increase patient cooperation and decrease parental and patient anxiety. In some children the need for sedation is reduced. Other benefits include pain reduction and the increased stimulation of immune function in children.

This use of clown therapy is not limited to hospitals. They can transform other places such as nursing homes, orphanages, refugee camps, war zones, and even prisons.

The presence of clowns tends to have a positive effect. It was noted that 10 minutes of belly laughter can help the patients with two hours of pain-free sleep.

HUMOR THERAPY

It is also known as therapeutic humor. Using humorous materials such as books, shows, movies, or stories to encourage spontaneous discussion of the patients own humorous experiences. This can be provided individually or in a group setting. The process is facilitated by clinician.

There can be a disadvantage to humor therapy in a group format, as it can be difficult to provide materials that all participants find humorous. It is extremely important the the clinician is sensitive to laugh “with” clients rather than “at” the clients. Go ahead and laugh. Do it with pride, do it for your health!