By Faye Martins
Is
Laughter Yoga a new form of holistic medicine or just another trend? Started in
a park in Mumbai, India, in 1995, the practice has quickly spread to the rest
of the world. Scientific research says positive attitudes affect our mind,
body, and spirit – a truth embraced by Yogis thousands of years ago – and
Laughter Yoga does just that.
Laughter
as Medicine
After
Norman Cousins, former editor of the “Saturday Review,” developed an immune
disorder in the 1970s, he decided to try an unorthodox approach to
self-treatment. With his doctor’s approval, Cousins checked into a comfortable
hotel and watched a steady stream of funny movies. Eventually, his disease went
into remission, and he told his story in “New England Journal of Medicine.” His
bestselling book, “Anatomy of an Illness: A Patient’s Perspective,” followed in
1979, leading to a new field of research – the healing power of humor.
Scientific
Studies of Laughter and Medicine
· Dr. Lee Berk did studies in the 1980s showing that
laughter leads to higher levels of two beneficial hormones: HGH, a human growth
hormone that boosts immunity; and beta-endorphins, the kind of hormones that
create feelings of well-being.
· Additional studies show that laughter lowers levels
of three stress hormones – cortisol, adrenaline, and dopac - known to lower
immunity and produce toxins in the body.
· In 2009, Dr. Berk, now a preventive care specialist
at Loma Linda University in California, presented results of a more recent
study showing that “mirthful laughter” reduces inflammation and lowers stress
in diabetics. He theorizes that laughter can be a powerful addition to
traditional therapies.
Benefits
of Laughter Yoga
The
website of Laughter Yoga International says that “Unconditional Laughter with
Yogic Breathing” provides the same health benefits as spontaneous outbursts of
laughter. In other words, the body can’t tell the difference between fake laughter
and real laughter. Participants usually burst into authentic “mirth” when
involved in the playful practice, anyway.
Recent
anecdotal evidence from India claims schools have used Laughter Yoga to improve
academic performance, reduce discipline problems, and encourage attendance. In
the United States, Ithaca College in New York and the University of Minnesota
led the way to change by offering Laughter Yoga to their students. The practice
continues to spread throughout the states.
Preliminary research from India, the U.S., and Austria confirms
that Laughter Yoga reduces the level of stress hormones in the bloodstream. Now recognized as a beneficial practice among
corporations, students, disabled people, senior citizens, and those suffering
from chronic illnesses, Laughter Yoga could be here to stay.
© Copyright 2013 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
Are you considering how to become a yoga instructor? See our selection of affordable 200 hour yoga teacher certification courses.
