Why is Laughter Important?
Laughter is a natural process that is a unique and valuable human skill. Laughter reduces tension, builds self-esteem, enhances relationships, and feels really good.
Benefits of Laughing include:
– Reduces heart disease, cholesterol, blood pressure
– Natural pain killer, enhances endorphins
– Improves breathing
– Helps you lose weight, burn calories by simply laughing
– Makes for better sleep
– Decreases stress, reduces the stress hormone cortisol
– Fights aging and wrinkles
– Stronger immune system, increases T-Cells
– Have more fun, find humor in daily circumstances
Who benefits from Laughter Yoga?
Everyone. Really, anyone who laughs benefits. Even if you don’t laugh, but watch others laugh, you still get benefits! You have reduced cortisol (the stress hormone), lower blood pressure, more smiling (which leads to healthier skin), and a more positive attitude. These ripple effects
then impact every other area of your life. If you are happier, you tend to be more creative which can enhance the time spent with your family and coworkers.
Do I have to lay on the floor and stretch?
Nope, not at all. It is called Yoga because of the breathing elements that laughter naturally initiates. Breathing deeply has numerous benefits – blood pressure, heart health, tension release, etc.
No yoga mat required.
These classes are upbeat, fun, and enjoyable. They tend to get loud and then quiet again.
What happens during laughter yoga?
It is simply guided laughter. We make the choice to laugh, and then do it. You can have “fake laughter” or genuine laughter. It all counts. We often say, just fake it till you make it. We play fun games to keep the laughter going.
One favorite is:
Step 1. Put your finger on your nose.
Step 2. Now laugh!
And that is laughter yoga. The instructor will lead the games and the breathing in between the games. It’s pretty impossible to leave a laughter yoga class unhappy.