Laughter is a universal human language, it may be high-pitched, quiet or muffled but we all laugh…babies laugh even before they learn to speak.
Have you observed children? How they can laugh out loud at non-issues! Laughter is a natural gift, an innate emotion to keep us healthy.
We forget to laugh as we grow up…groomed to put up controlled and civilized demeanor, told — to avoid giggling, just smile, laugh softly. That is why probably… laughter therapy was invented!
I remember very clearly that as a growing adolescent, I was sternly warned by one of my aunts to laugh in a decent manner!!
Now what is decent laughter always remained an enigma to me and I could never learn it!
Laugh aloud and enjoy its effects! We all know ‘laughter is the best medicine’!
When I read this adage in Reader’s Digest, which has been regularly giving us this medicine, I scoffed at the benign advice of my aunt, all the more.
It was much later in my life that I realized how blessed I was to be endowed with this gift of laughing out louder.
“A day without laughter is like living in darkness; you try to find your way around, but you can’t see clearly.”—Emily Mitchell
The Power of Laughter:
I didn’t know anything about laughter therapy till I saw a group of men laughing loudly. I was walking with all those morning walkers who compete with each other to demonstrate their energy and enthusiasm…a regular, silent race to keep fit.
I was shaken out of my reverie by this sudden burst, shattering the peace of morning bliss…very rarely felt in my city, Delhi.
There was a laughter coach who gave directions how to start with a forced loud laughter and go on and on till it slowly turned into natural. I kept looking and wondering what was so funny.
Everyday when I passed by those persons laughing away to glory, their laughter trailed me…I kept smiling to myself and I must confess it added a special glow to my day. I could smile more naturally; I remained in good mood till some unruly student met me in the corridor.
Later, one day I happened to meet one of these laughter gurus, who enlightened me about this practice of laughing, which is called—Laughter Yoga.
It forms a part of yoga lessons, designed to be stress busters.
Laughter has got therapeutic value and has been accepted by doctors because it is a natural form of medicine. It provides physical, emotional and social benefits.
Dr. Annette Goodheart, a psychotherapist and inventor of laughter therapy has been using laughter to treat cancer, AIDS and depression for thirty-six years.
“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.”—Bill Cosby
How Laughter Therapy works:
- It relieves our stress.
- It opens our mind and heart.
- It strengthens our emotions.
- It helps us handle our hurts calmly.
- It increases blood circulation.
- It decreases stress hormones.
- It stimulates the production of alertness hormones
- It releases endorphins to relieve pain.
- It boosts immune system.
- It hastens our recovery.
- Strengthens relationships.
- Improves team-work.
When we laugh, we gain the capacity to step backward and reassess the situation. When we laugh, we forget all our worries for a moment…that is the moment of resurrection, the moment of reviving lost hopes!
”The burden of the self is lightened when I laugh at myself.”–Rabindranath Tagore
When are you joining laughter therapy course? It is absolutely free!
Just stand before the mirror and laugh at yourself! Just hold the hand of your spouse/partner and laugh together—loudly…as loud as your lungs permit! Remember an old dumb act of yours? Drag it out of your memories and make others laugh!
It is so easy, if we try! Have you tried laughter therapy? Did it relieve your stress?
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Balroop Singh.
Picture credit:notable-quotes.com
Emotional Shadows 