You're having a laugh...

by Oliver Kitchingman | Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The following post was written by Kathy Popplewell, a mind body specialist and founder of www.vibrance.com.au.

‘Laughter is the best medicine’ as the saying goes – but is there really any substance behind this claim?

A short time after I started my career as a fitness professional with a focus on yoga instruction, I discovered the Laughter Yoga movement and let’s just say, it had me intrigued. My introduction to Laughter Yoga was courtesy of a television program in which Monty Python comedian John Cleese ventured to India to meet Dr Madan Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga. The aim of the exercise was for Cleese to experience the effects of being with a group of people and laughing for no reason; that’s to say, laughing without the use of humour. Sounds strange doesn’t it – why would you laugh when there’s nothing to laugh at? Well, the reason became apparent.

The first thing that hit me was all the smiling, laughing faces and how contagious it was. People interviewed claimed how attending the laughter clubs greatly improved both their health and their quality of life, and the method was so simple that anyone could do it. I thought, ‘now that is something I’d love to try out one day’.

When I discovered that Dr Kataria, who founded Laughter Yoga in 1995, would be coming to Australia and running a training course, I booked myself in. Since then I have been practising and sharing the method and enjoyed the mental, physical, social and emotional benefits of rediscovering my inner spirit of laughter.

I have also conducted several ‘laughter experiments’ on myself and with groups. Things I noticed from my most recent laughter experiment, in which I laughed for anywhere between five and 30 minutes each day for 20 consecutive days either with a group of people or by myself, include;

• Improved quality of sleep
• Toning and strengthening of my abdominal muscles (and no sit ups or other core exercises were used during this time)!
• Increased feelings of positivity
• More spontaneous laughter and smiling throughout the day
• Greater ability to appreciate and see the beauty in life.

I also had the opportunity to share the laughter yoga method with several different groups of people throughout the 20 days, including a protest group, childcare group and mixture of people at our World Laughter Day and bushwalk and laugh sessions. The insights from participants into the effects they felt were always inspiring, with common responses including feelings of being uplifted, more relaxed, lighter, more connected and happy.

These are just a few of the immediate and short term benefits noticed, and personally I believe that the long term benefits of incorporating an inner spirit of laughter into our lives truly upholds the ‘laughter is the best medicine’ philosophy.

Is there any substance behind the saying? Yes, there is plenty of research, literature and theories supporting ‘the laugher is the best medicine’ creed, but the best way to understand the benefits is to experience it for yourself.

Have you experienced Laughter Yoga, and if so, what benefits or otherwise have you found it delivers? Share your experiences by posting a comment below.

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