Laughter Medicine : 6 Laughter Yoga Exercises to Boost Your Mood and Health
Laughter yoga Exercises is a practice that involves extended, voluntary laughter. Laughter yoga is based on the idea that voluntary laughter has the same physical and mental benefits as natural laughter. Laughter yoga is done in groups, with participants making eye contact and being playful with one another. Forced laughter quickly turns into genuine, contagious laughter. Laughter yoga or Laughter Yoga Exercises are not about humor or comedy.
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A small amount of laughter per day produces “feel-good hormones and cells,” which help the body heal or repair itself. To reap all of these benefits, those who are ill must engage in the simple laughter yoga movements described below. Here are some of the 6 best laughter yoga exercises you can try:
Greeting laughter
Form a circle with your group. Make eye contact and greet them with a hearty laugh. Then move on to the next person and repeat. Continue until you have greeted everyone in the circle.
Lion laughter
This laughter exercise is based on the simha mudra yoga pose, also known as the lion posture. Participants open their mouths, widen their eyes, and extend their hands like lion claws while roaring.
Humming laughter
Hum, laugh, and cover your lips. The lips are closed during this type of laughter, and the person tries to laugh while making a humming noise that reverberates throughout the cranium. Make amusing gestures while looking into other people’s eyes.
Silent laughter
Widen your mouth in laughter while remaining silent. When doing this with others, you can also make amusing gestures and look directly into their eyes.
Gradient laughter
Begin by smiling, then gradually begin to laugh with a light chuckle. Increase the intensity of your laugh until you get a hearty laugh. Then gradually reduce the laughter to a smile again.
Heart to heart laughter
Move closer to someone, hold hands, and laugh together. If people feel at ease, they can stroke or hug each other. Visit Laughter Yoga University to learn more about the practice and find a club near you.
Here are some additional tips for making the most of laughter yoga exercises:
Find a group or class: Laughter yoga groups and classes exist all over the world. Taking a class can help you learn the exercises while also meeting other people who enjoy laughing.
Do it at home: You can practice laughter yoga exercises at home. Simply find a quiet place to relax and unwind.
Start small: If you’re not used to laughing out loud, start with just a few minutes of laughter yoga each day. You can gradually increase the amount of time you spend laughing as you get more comfortable.
Do it at home: You can practice laughter yoga exercises at home. Simply find a quiet place to relax and unwind.
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What are the Benefits of Laughter Yoga Exercises?
Laughter yoga exercises are fairly new practice. However, the proven health benefits of laughter may shed light on its efficacy. For example, laughing with others, as in a laughter yoga class, may boost feel-good chemicals in the brain and improve bonding.
In a review of laughter therapy, researchers discovered that both spontaneous and simulated laughter can benefit mental and physical health. This finding supports a critical theory in laughter yoga. Your body cannot distinguish between voluntary and involuntary laughter.
Research into the specific effects of laughter yoga is still in its early stages. However, preliminary research indicates that these benefits may exist.
Lower blood pressure
Laughter yoga could be one way to reap the heart-healthy benefits of laughing. For example, in one study, older adults who practiced laughter yoga for six weeks had lower blood pressure and a better mood.
There are many other reasons to laugh. According to studies, laughing frequently and having a sense of humor can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and help you live longer.
Better sleep quality
Laughter yoga may result in better sleep for some people because it reduces stress and anxiety. Researchers tested this with a laughter yoga program for Parkinson’s patients. After 8 weeks, participants reported less anxiety and better sleep quality.
Stress relief
If you’re stressed, laughter yoga might help. In a small study, a 30-minute session of laughter yoga reduced stress hormones in healthy adults. Another study found that simply hearing laughter, as in a laughter yoga class, can help people relax.
Higher pain tolerance
Spontaneous laughter has been shown to improve mood and even increase pain tolerance. That’s great news for laughter yoga practitioners, because voluntary laughter frequently turns into genuine laughter in classes.
Reduced depression and anxiety
According to research, using laughter as a complementary therapy can help reduce depression and anxiety. One study discovered that when combined with traditional mental health care, laughter yoga temporarily reduced depressive symptoms.
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Who can Benefit From Laughter Yoga Exercises?
Laughter yoga is an option for people of all ages and abilities who want to experience more joy and laughter in their lives. The whimsical practice may be especially beneficial for older adults seeking to improve their physical, mental, and social well-being.
A review discovered that complementary laughter therapies may be beneficial for a variety of populations, including those with limited mobility, cognitive disorders, and depression. However, research on who benefits the most from laughter yoga is still in its early stages.
If you have any specific health concerns, you should always consult your healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is laughter yoga exercises ?
Answer : Laughter yoga, also known as laughing yoga, encourages laughter through playful movements and breathing exercises. It’s intended to awaken your inner child and promote joy. Given the novelty of the practice, research is limited.
Q2. Who invented laughter yoga ?
Answer : Dr. Madan Kataria, Founder President at Laughter Yoga International. Inspired by articles on benefits of laughter and scientific research, Dr. Madan Kataria, a medical doctor from Mumbai started the first laughter club in March 1995 with just 5 people in a public park.
Q3. How long is a laughter yoga session?
Answer : A typical workout class would last 30-60 minutes, or slightly longer. Similarly, a laughter session has the same duration. Classes vary depending on the participants’ techniques and performance level. Most beginner classes last 30 to 45 minutes.
Conclusion
Laughter Meditation consists of unstructured laughter in which participants sit or lie down and allow natural laughter to flow from within like a fountain. This powerful experience can result in a healthy emotional catharsis, as well as a lasting sense of release and joy.
