We are all born with the gift of Laughter. Laughter is a powerful natural medicine that brings us a taste of pure joy and happiness. Unfortunately as we age, we tend to laugh less and our childhood sense of joy often slips away as we start taking life too seriously and let the stresses of everyday living envelop our mind and cloud out the state of joy that is our one real true birthright.
Sharing a good laugh feels great and can actually improve your health. The feelings of laughter draws people together in ways that trigger happy hormones and healthy physical aspects of our being. Laughter can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, while also strengthening our immune system, reducing pain and much more.
The Science of Laughter
Everyone loves to laugh, but few people know how much truth is contained by the words “laughter is the best medicine.” A lot of laughter’s positive effects are the result of the hormones laughter stimulates, called catecholamines. which trigger the release of endorphins — the body’s natural “happy juice” that can reduce pain and give us a euphoric high.
A growing body of research supports the theory that laughter may have therapeutic value. Over the years, researchers have conducted studies to explore the impact of laughter on our health. One of the most prominent researchers is Dr Berk from Loma Linda University. Dr. Berk and his colleagues have been researching laughter for over 30 years.
According to Dr. Berk, if we intentionally pursue laughter and happy states of perception, we can override stress and negative perceptions in the body and actually release the body from the stress related states of adrenealin and cortisol and move it into a healthier immunological, endorphin supporting state. Quite amazingly, what this is actually saying is that laughter actually shuts down the release of stress hormones like cortisol and at the same time boosts the feel-good nuerochemicals like dopamine.
In addition, Dr. Berk has shown that there is much more plasticity to the brain then we previously realized; laughter causes the brains neurons to communicate with each other and actually induces a “gamma” brain wave state experienced among experienced meditators. Experienced medittators throughout the ages have always mentioned experiences of profound joy and oneness emanating out of the present moment as they meditate; it now appears that they are tapping into the same gamma brain wave state as we experience during moments of profound laughter.
The Health Benefits from Laughter
Research has shown that laughter has the following benefits:
Lowers blood pressure
Reduces stress hormone levels
Works Your Abs
Improves Cardiac Health
Boosts T-cells
Enhanced Oxygen Intake
Relieves Pain
Boosts Dopamine and Endorphin Levels
Induces a Gamma Brain Wave State
Helps Strengthen Social Bonds and Relationships
Produces a Sense of Well-Being
Laughter Can Even Help Fight Cancer
For people living with cancer, it may seem strange to find humor when facing such a serious illness. Yet, a variety of hospitals and clinics have begun using Laughter Therapy with cancer patients. For example, the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) uses laughter therapy sessions, also known as Laughter Clubs or humor groups, to teach patients and their families to use laughter as a tool for healing. Laughter Therapy is based not on humor or jokes, but rather on laughter as a physical exercise. As you know laughter is contagious, so various techniques are used to stimulate people to start laughing.
For those of us who are lucky enough to not have cancer, there are over 400 laughter groups throughout the United States and Laughter Yoga Classes are increasing in popularity. Laughter Yoga uses a combination of specific breathing and exercise techniques to stimulate laughter.
How To Get Your Daily Dose of Laughter
Children laugh easily and often, but as adults many of us forget to make room for laughter in our daily lives. Learning to laugh more can drastically change our health and mood, so just like it is important to get daily exercise, it is also important to try and laugh on a regular basis.
Below are a few ideas to help you stimulate more laughter on a daily basis:
Don't Take Life Too Seriously
Spend Time with Children
Subscribe to a Joke-a-Day Email List
Learn to Laugh at Yourself
Watch a Comedy Movie
Join a Laughing Club or Practice Laughing Yoga
Hang Out With People Who Have A Good Sense Of Humor
We all love to laugh, but rarely make it an important part of our life. Now you have even more reasons to get out there and try to laugh and enjoy life more.
