Not long ago I was jogging through a park and past a children’s playground. As I approached I could hear what seemed like an orchestra of giggles, screeches of joy and chatter! It made me smile. There were dozens of kids playing, skipping climbing and living in the moment…
The parents were mostly sitting on the outskirts, checking Phones, still, with perhaps the occasional grin amidst a sea of dull expressions… full of the stresses that modern life can bring. So, understanding the proven scientific benefits that laughter can bring… I continued to jog… thinking and Smiling and laughing can have a positive effect on your well-being, but as we make the transition from child to adult, we often tend to lose the habit of indulging in these behaviors. Adults can benefit from taking a lead from children and making more room in life for smiling and laughter.
The benefits of laughter
A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. I remember that feeling after my son tickled my feet for 5 minutes non stop as a bet!!! It was a cross between torture and nirvana … I got through it ( anything to win a bet) and felt elated and relaxed all at once! I love you endorphins!!!
Laughter reduces the level of “stress hormones” (cortisol, epinephrine, adrenaline) in the body, while stimulating “feel good” hormones like endorphins. It helps to boost the immune system and can help relieve pain! Studies have shown that even a “fake” laughing can elevate your mood.
It can be contagious and even if you don’t get the joke, the joy, the thing, laughter can still effect your system profoundly!!!i still vividly recall a n amazing Yogalates session in a studio….my mind was calm after an hour of vigorous exercise and deep breathing. The people around me were still and the room was quiet, save for the sounds of slow, gentle breaths and an amazing g soundtrack….It could be the final moments of any yogalates class. But then the man next to me suddenly lets out a thunderous flatuation ( Fart) followed by laugh…. Across the room, a woman giggles in response. Soon the entire room is alive with sound—chuckles, hearty laughs and howling hoots. It’s not a standard class yet the community laughed and shared their story for weeks. We felt fab!
Smiling and Laughing work!
1. Neurotransmitters called endorphins ( feel good hormones) are released when you smile.
2. Endorphins make us feel happier and less stressed.
3. While the release of endorphins is increased, the stress hormone cortisol is reduced.( thus reducing our stress levels)
4. Laughing expands the lungs, stretches the muscles in the body and stimulates homeostasis.( not to mention the abdominal workout)
5. A good laugh can be an effective way to release emotions, inner thoughts and doubts
6. Smiling is an attractive expression, which is more likely to draw people to you rather than push them away. It’s also great role modeling for peers and family
7. A happy, positive expression will serve you well in life. As the energy you give out is the energy you get back!
How on earth do I
Smile and Laugh More?
There are simple ways to bring more smiling and laughing into your day;
Smile and laugh regularly. As mentioned, your brain does not know the difference between a fake or real smile, and by doing so more often you will feel better, and become more likely to smile and laugh more spontaneously. Quality of Life. Is the real point here;
Laughter is a positive energy which helps people to connect with other people quickly and improves relationships. If you laugh more, you will attract many friends
Watch funny films, feel good films, comedy, TV, and theater shows. And YouTube…
Anyone remember ‘ funniest home videos” ?!
This is a excellent way to inject some instant humor into your life. By avoiding negative programs and news broadcasts, you can make viewing more positive and lighthearted, with more opportunity for a laugh..
Spend time with friends and family that make you feel happy. Surrounding yourself with happy, fun-loving, optimistic people will bring out your happy side, and their behaviour will rub off on you! It’s that energy attraction thing!
Find things to smile and laugh about. Once you start consciously looking at all the things that are funny and uplifting, you will be more aware of them, in tune with them, and more ready to engage in a spontaneous smile or laugh. It’s a mindset thing!!!
Laughter yoga sessions…
lets Laugh together!
Look out for our beyogalates ‘ laughter yoga’ sessions on the workout page or as a live broadcast!!
Laughter yoga is a modern exercise involving prolonged voluntary laughter. This type of yoga is based on the understanding that voluntary laughter provides similar physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. It can be done alone or in groups, with eye contact and much playfulness between participants.
It started in 1995, an Indian physician cal Dr Madan Kataria brought together the deep cleansing breaths of yoga with playful exercises that simulated laughter. …. Dr Kataria found that laughter soon became natural and real. He also found that when hearty belly laughs were sustained for a period of around 20 minutes (interspersed with the deep breaths), there was profound changes ( scientifically proven) health benefits!!!
From a handful of people at the first session in Mumbai, Laughter Yoga is now practiced in more than 110 countries worldwide.
Start by smiling and then slowly begin to laugh with a gentle chuckle. Increase the intensity of the laugh until you’ve achieved a hearty laugh. Then gradually bring the laugh down to a smile again.
How do you laugh when nothing’s funny? Just open your mouth into a wide smile and force the breath out. You may feel silly at first, but when you’re in a group of people committed to laughing, the make-believe version often transforms into the real thing. A typical Laughter Yoga session involves some warm-up breathing and chanting (“Ho, ho,Ho ho ha, ha”), a few deep breaths with prolonged exhalation, followed by 15 to 20 minutes of laughter exercises interspersed with deep breathing, and an amazing feeling of relief, calm and knowing!
It’s a must for all of us at least once!!
Laughter is wine for the soul – laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness – the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living.
Sean O’Casey
