Breathing Techniques Relaxation - Self-Healing Therapies: Laughter Therapy

Self-Healing Therapies: Laughter Therapy

Posted Monday, June 23, 2008 by Deann Marin

Now for some more Physical and Mental Health Information.

I'm sure that many of you have heard the saying,"Laughter is the best policy", it really is when you think about it. You must have noticed how good if feels to laugh

and just let yourself go! Laughter is one of the most natural things that we do. It keeps us in the here and now allowing us to be in the moment, when we do this, we forget about our problems. Imagine how our physical and mental health would improve if we would give ourselves more time to laugh.

Our ability to laugh, goes back to primitive times when people would greet each other by contorting their faces into smiles accompanied by grunts, snorts and other sounds. Today, it is widely known especially by those who practice holistic medicine, naturopathy and other alternative medical practices, that when we have an optimistic attitude about life, we are less likely to get ill."I believe that if people can get more laughter in their lives, they are a lot better off," says Steve Wilson, MA, CSP, a psychologist and laugh therapist. "They might be healthier too."(1)
Laughing on a regular basis provides an outlet for stress reduction. I know myself that after I've had a good laugh, I feel calmer, less tense and more tranquil. This happens because when we laugh we release our "feel good" endorphins, these are our internal mood enhancing chemicals. Think about this one, studies have shown that couples who laugh together usually stay together.

In addition to psychological improvements, "We change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues".(2) In addition to this, a good chuckle helps to push nutrients through our body and causes food movement throughout our digestive track. It also helps to increase the amount of an antibody in our saliva that helps us fight off colds and flu. Finally, Laughter exercises our heart as well as the muscles of our chest and diaphragm, while it massages our liver and spleen.

Let's take a look at some of the things that you can do at home or in a group to relieve tension, increase mental clarity and improve your overall mood.

Laughing Meditation: This helps to control minor irritations. Take some deep breaths, then stretch your arms up over your head. Lower arms down to sides. Now smile, start giggling, and build up to a good belly laugh. Do this daily.
Hasya Yoga: This is usually practiced in a group. It employs deep breathing with exercise and simulated laughter, such as "hearty", "silent", or "dancing" laughter. In response to the leader's laugh, the participants start laughing. At a certain time, they stop, close their eyes and focus on the center of their body. This type of yoga has a very quick relaxing effect, it enhances mental clarity and promotes a sense of well being. As a caution: if you are pregnant, have heart problems, a hernia, prolapsed uterus or hemorrhoids, check with your family practitioner, gynecologist,naturopathic doctor,etc.before embarking on this type of program.

Here are some "inner smile" exercises that you can do in the morning or any other time of the day that you feel nervous, tense,or stressed.

Sit quietly and comfortably with your spine straight. Inhale deeply and exhale through your nose a few times until you feel relaxed.
Close your eyes and count backward slowly from 10. Focus inward, "Smile" with your eyes and feel the surrounding skin begin to relax.
Imagine the smile sliding down inside your skull, into your throat, then down into your chest.
Let the smile spread through the rest of your organs,to your genitals and down into the soles of your feet. Notice every part of your body as you become completely relaxed. Remember to breathe normally throughout this meditation.
Take a few minutes to bask in the glowing sensation. Realize that you are filled with happiness.
Slowly bring your focus back to your eyes and open them. Take a deep inhale and stretch your arms to the ceiling while stretching your legs out in front of you. Smile with your mouth now.

Try these, just for fun

Go and see a stand-up comedian with friends, or watch him on the television.
Rent a funny video that will make you roll over with laughter.
Get a joke a day desk calender.
Buy a comic book.
Find a picture or something in the news that amused you. Hang it up where you can see it.
Tell a favorite joke.
Spend time with children.
Laugh at yourself!!!

Even a smile can impact our health. It causes our brain to release