Have Yourself a “Laughter Evening”

Have Yourself a “Laughter Evening”

There is a lot of documented evidence about the benefits of laughter – and even though things may be tough in your life right now and the last thing you want to do is laugh, it can be the catalyst to “raise your spirit”.  When we laugh the body produces more endorphins and people who laugh have more joy in their lives – and are often sick a lot less.

Some years ago my wife Kim went on a course with Dr Madan Katarie to learn how to teach Yoga Laughter – which is now taught all over the world.  It started in India when Dr Katarie used to meet many of his friends on his daily walk in the park and they initially stopped to tell each other jokes to make each other laugh.  After a couple of weeks, he said they had run out of jokes and insulted each other enough that it wasn’t funny anymore.

So, he came up with an exercise program that is part yoga breathing techniques and part laughter which is now being taught in 121 countries throughout the world.

He also says it is just as effective if you pretend to laugh as if you do laugh – I think his expression is “Fake it ‘till you Make it”.

Having participated many times in our groups led by Kim – it usually starts of with people a little hesitant – but then when people start to laugh it is very infectious.

I will always remember one evening in England we invited a load of friends over for a “laughter evening”.  We started with the Yoga Laughter for about 30 minutes when everyone was laughing at anything and everything – and finally, we all lay on the floor with our heads on someone else’s tummy.

What happened, of course, is that once someone starts to laugh your head bobs up and down on their tummy and this starts others off laughing.  I have never laughed so much in my life with tears running down our faces and bodies aching through the muscles being used – but what a night!

Now, it is said that laughter is the best medicine because it has been proven that it aids in the release of natural feel-good chemicals in our body that aids in fighting diseases and also reduces stress which in the long run increases our life span.

One of the benefits of laughter is that it can help you tone your abs and when you are laughing, the muscles in your stomach expand and contract, similar to when you intentionally exercise your abs. Meanwhile, the muscles you are not using to laugh are getting an opportunity to relax.

It is also said that you lose between 50 and 60 calories after a 10-minute laugh so that may be of interest to some of you.

Working as a healer with clients who, in many instances, have serious illnesses you may ask how can you get them to laugh.  Obviously, I don’t. There is a time for frivolity and there is a time for being more serious.  However, you can encourage them to talk about people who make them laugh. What is their favorite comedy show or favorite comedian?

Then, if appropriate you could suggest they turn off the news and watch more amusing or funny programs.

It is likely to help with their sleep patterns, reduce stress, and increase endorphins in their bodies – helping with any pain they may have.

Each year there is a “Red Nose” day which through the power of entertainment brings people together to laugh and have fun. 

Since it started here in 2015 it has raised $270 million to help children in need, having positively impacted over 25 million children.

Now that is something to laugh for!!

“No one can dim the light that shines within”

Stay well,
Roger