Laughter really is the best medicine. So it’s no surprise that the benefits of laughter have been combined with yogic principles to create laughter yoga.
While we looked at what laughter yoga is in an earlier article, here we go deeper into the health and wellness advantages of having a giggle…
Laughter Yoga Perspective
When you smile, the world smiles with you. The same is true when you laugh. And that’s the central premise of laughter yoga – that a simple laugh can remove barriers, heal and create connections on a spiritual level.
How Does Laughter Yoga Work?
Laughter yoga started in 1995 by Dr Madan Kataria. It combines chuckling with yogic breathing (known as pranayama).
You begin laughter yoga by simply beginning! There are no jokes told or catalysts; simply start to laugh and soon the entire group will catch on. Laughter is incredibly infectious, which is what makes laughter yoga such an easy and effective practice.
What are the Benefits of Laughter Yoga?
Apart from providing a whole lot of fun, laughter yoga has been found to have plenty of other health and wellness benefits.
According to Laughter Yoga Australia, the practice creates brain wave frequencies that resemble those made during meditation. As a result, participants can think clearer, be more creative and even find focus and fulfillment.
These include:
- Less stress
- Boosted positive emotions
- Better mood, as "happy hormones" are released
- Improved immunity
- Better circulation
- Less depression and anxiety, as serotonin is released
- Better breathing, as more oxygen is inhaled
In 2013, Deakin University commenced research to find whether laughter yoga can improve the health of people on dialysis. Associate Professor Paul Bennett, who is leading the study, said laughter yoga could enhance lung health and function.
It’s clear that there are many health and wellness benefits of laughter yoga. So why not join a laughter yoga club, get your giggle on and enjoy this enlightening practice.
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