Laughter Yoga, Laughing for No Reason

By Barbara Anderson, M.A. - They say that kids laugh three hundred times a day and adults laugh about fifteen times a day. According to those figures I qualify as an adult. But between the economy, the war and the environment it is hard to find a reason to laugh. And I need a good laugh.

Kansas City, MO - infoZine - So, when I first read about laughter yoga several years ago, I was immediately interested. A quick trip to the website in India got me connected to a list of trainings around the world but I wasn't ready to spend several thousand dollars and a week away from work based on my hunch. So, I ordered the book, "Laugh for No Reason". This gave me some of the basics but without a group to play with, laughter yoga is a little dry.

What I learned from the book is that Laughter Yoga was started in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria, a cardiologist and family physician practicing in Mumbai, India. He was writing an article on the health benefits of laughing when he thought that if laughter is so good for you, why not start a laughter club. The first laughter club consisted of morning joggers and walkers he recruited in a local park. Now there are 500 known clubs in 55 countries. No joke!

What is prompting people from all sorts of ethnic and social backgrounds all over the world to gather with others and laugh for no reason at all? Could it be that laughter and playfulness are integral to human happiness and health?

Research has shown that laughter helps remove the negative effects of STRESS. It helps control high blood pressure and heart disease. It helps reduce the release of stress-related hormones and brings relaxation. It releases endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers. Laughter has been shown to be an effective antidote for depression, anxiety and psychosomatic disorders. Laughter boosts the production of serotonin, a natural anti-depressant. It improves sleep. From my experience in taking the training and leading a laughter yoga class, laughter is a full body work-out that tones the core muscles.

Laughter is a wonderful meditative practice because it puts us intensely in the moment. It is nearly impossible to worry or be fearful or angry while you are laughing. Okay, so you get the idea - laughter is good for you! Perhaps you are wondering what a laughter class is like.

Let me take you through an imaginary laughter class right now. There are a few simple guidelines.

1. If something hurts or feels unsafe, don't do it.
2. Fake it till you make it. Your body does not know the difference between real laughter and fake. So just start laughing.
3. Make eye contact.
4. Don't talk. This is not about being funny. It is about having fun.
5. Put some passion into it. Yes, you can fake passionately. Letting loose some inhibitions is part of the process.

This is what the class is like:

First we clap and chant-ha,ha,- ho,ho,ho-and as we clap let's walk around and make eye contact while we do this.

Now get the breath involved. Draw your arms up with a slow full inhale and remember to smile at the top. Release forward as you exhale. Take your time. Don't forget to smile and laugh at the top of the inhale.

Time to meet the other people in our group. Move around the room and clap everyone a high five as you laugh. Remember make eye contact.

Now we get to choose. There over 300 laughter exercises we might do such as:

Penguin walk laughter: walk around like a penguin while laughing .

Politician laughter: fake as big a smile as you can, mouth opened wide. Shake as many hands as fast as you can, laughing.

Sprinkler laughter: imagine it's summer and it's hot! Run through imaginary lawn sprinklers and laugh!

I think you are getting the idea. It is not rocket science. It is just play and fun.

If dropping some of your inhibitions and laughing for no reason sounds good to you, Body and Soul of KC has a trained "laughter leader". For a laughter class contact Body and Soul KC in Brookside, 649 E. 59, KCMO, 816-363-8282, www.Bodyandsoulkc.com.



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