There are so many forms of therapy like talk therapy or art therapy. Another intriguing form is laughter therapy which most people don’t know about. It is primarily clinically used but also suitable for healthy individuals. Laughter therapy helps your body relax and produce endorphins which are natural painkillers.
It’s the best medicine as it makes your immune system stronger, thus aiding in fast healing. The therapy is available for individual or group sessions after understanding the expectations. You laugh more easily and heartily, which significantly impacts your life. Below are more facts on laughter therapy.
Things to know about laughter therapy
Here is more information about laughter therapy before trying one of the sessions.
What’s the origin of laughter therapy?
Laughter therapy is a type of laughter yoga administered primarily in clinics. Its effects have been studied since the 70s, giving clear pictures of going about them and how they impact the body. Dr Madan Kataria is the brain behind this gem. The introduction saw him set up the first laughter club worldwide in 1995, which attracted more participants and grew over the years.
Learn the 6 ways Laughter can improve Children's Wellbeing
What evidence is there to show that Laughting therapy is effective?
Dr Lee Berk chose to study the effects of laughing therapy in 1989. He gathered ten healthy individuals for the test, labelled five people as experimental subjects, and put them in a room to watch comedy. The other five were controlled, so no outside laughter-inducing elements were used on them.
After some time, he took their blood samples to track any hormonal changes. The experimental subjects had very low cortison hormone levels, unlike the control subjects. This means that the comedy induced laughter which lowered their stress levels drastically to a healthy and relaxed state. Additionally, the experimental group had an increased number of natural killer cells which attack tumour cells and viruses. These cells decrease under stress, giving rise to more unhealthy individuals over time.
The results of this experiment are clear evidence that laughter therapy works. You should incorporate it more often into your daily routine for a better life.
Learn the 6 ways Laughter can improve Children's Wellbeing
Who can participate in it?
Laughing therapy is suitable for everyone. Most young souls are attracted to the thrill of more vigorous and intense workouts that they dismiss the possibility of yoga. Laughter therapy is typical in most health care facilities or workplaces for its clinical benefits. However, you can participate in sessions for your overall well-being even when not sick. It relieves stress and works out your muscles to the point of relaxation and overflow of endorphins.
Some hospitals have laughter therapy as part of their care package, especially for older people. Don’t wait to get there or fall sick to participate in these classes actively. Generally, kids laugh ten times more than adults. This should be enough reason for choosing laughter therapy which uses external stimulation to bring joy amid busy and stressful life episodes.
What are the results of laughter therapy?
As earlier mentioned, laughter therapy has multiple benefits for the body. It leaves you happy and exhausted simultaneously since your muscles are working out. There are improved oxygen levels, cardiovascular functions and muscle tones. You experience less stress and anxiety and more happiness.
Bottom line
Laughter therapy is a branch of laughter yoga; most people now embrace it more than before. It seems like a chilled-out activity, but it’s pretty vigorous. However, it’s perfect for everyone, especially the elderly or the sick, since it requires fewer body movements. It’s a great mood lifter and health booster due to improved blood circulation, increased endorphin hormones and natural killer cells. These effects have been proved through research, and they don’t change even when the laughter is fake or real.
