Laugh away your tensions

Today, in the world of stress and tension, people look forward to many ways to destress themselves.

They have found ways like going to spas, attend various therapy sessions to tackle issues regarding office and personal lives. One such therapy to ease oneself is laughter yoga. It is a revolutionary idea – simple and profound. An exercise routine which is sweeping the world and is a complete wellbeing workout.

Laughter yoga combines laughter with yogic breathing (pranayama). Anyone can laugh for no reason, without relying on humour, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group, with eye contact and childlike playfulness and it soon turns into real and contagious laughter.

The concept of laughter yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. So one gets the same physiological and psychological benefits.

One such club in Delhi, Laughter Yoga International (LYI), conducts regular sessions on Sunday mornings at Lodhi Garden. Regular weekly sessions with mental patients at Day Care Centre of VIMHANS are also conducted and a monthly session in Prasanthi, Rehabilitation centre for cancer patients is also organised. They also conduct regular laughter sessions in different primary and secondary schools.

Dr. Santosh Sahi, certified teacher, leader of Delhi Academy of Laughter Yoga and ambassador of LYI, Northern India, says, “Laughter triggers healthy physical changes and makes one feel good instantly. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Humour lightens burdens, inspires hope and keeps one connected and grounded.

It triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel good chemicals, which act as natural pain killers and promote an overall sense of wellbeing.” The club was started by Dr. Madan Kataria in 1995 with just five people. Now there are 8000 laughter clubs in 65 countries, the teachers of which were trained byMadan.

This therapy is not only helping people relieve themselves of tension, but is also being used as a tool to heal patients of many life-threatening diseases. “I also work with mentally and physically challenged people and even cancer patients. Laughter helps cure a lot of things. It is medicine for all,” shares Santosh.

Sharing his joy of spreading the clubs and thus laughter all across the world, Dr. Madan says, “Free flowing oxygen is available at two places – Intensive Care Units of hospitals or laughter clubs, the choice is yours. I have not seen anyone dying of laughter but I know millions who are dying because they are not laughing.”

Laughter protects the heart, increases the oxygenation of tissues, improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow which protects the heart from cardiac problems. It acts as an aerobic exercise just like ‘internal jogging’, in which the heart, lungs, digestive track, are all massaged. It is a good cardio-workout and lowers blood pressure. So, start laughing unnecessarily for the benefit of your health!