Laughter yoga is a low-impact practice that’s fun to engage in. Ideally, laughter should be a natural and regular thing, but the stresses of daily life hinder it. Things like loneliness, sickness, alarming financial situations, etc., are among these stressors. Unlike other high-impact physical exercises, laughter yoga is good for senior citizens and the sick. Laughter positively affects them physically, mentally, and spiritually, contributing to their well-being.
Laughter yoga cannot cure all diseases, but it causes several positive changes. It reduces the risk of cardiac disorders, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and lessens body pains and aches. A bit of laughter daily provides ‘feel-good hormones and cells that help the body to self-heal or repair itself. To achieve all these benefits, the sick must involve themselves in simple laughter yoga exercises explained below.
Learn the 6 ways Laughter can improve Children's Wellbeing
Laughing yoga exercises for the sick
There are so many laughter yoga exercises that it’s impossible to participate in them all. Also, they are placed in categories depending on the target population. In cases where laughter yoga classes have mixed participants in terms of age, the coach conducts standard exercises which are less intense. Sick people have less energy and may experience pain, so the instructor can curate unique practices for them. Some examples include;
Heart-to-heart laughter
It’s among the simplest forms of exercises the sick can perform. It requires very minimal movements and limited energy. It’s perfect, whether you are visiting the person single or as a group. Hold hands or hug while laughing to liven the mood. The sick individual doesn’t have to do much but laugh and enjoy the connection the exercise brings.
Silent laughter
Some sick people can barely open their mouths wide, and no sound will come out if they do. A silent laughter exercise is best in this situation. It involves opening the mouth wide to laugh but without producing any sound. Everyone can participate without straining and make funny gestures while at it. The sick individual will feel the excitement from within, radiating on the outside, even with no sound.
Humming laughter
You require so much energy to sustain a loud or intense laugh. As for the humming laughter, it’s quite the opposite. You do it with your mouth shut and what people hear is the sound—starting a humming laugh or giggling exercises the chest and abdominal muscles very subtly.
Learn the 6 ways Laughter can improve Children's Wellbeing
Gradient laughter Yoga
It’s also called vowel laughter. It’s good sick individuals who can comfortably produce sounds through laughing. You begin with a soft laugh or chuckle and slowly build to a loud laugh. You can also make sounds with a low tone and gradually progress to a high pitch if possible. You can bring it down to a smile from the high note or laughter and then repeat.
Use of laughter pills
This practice isn’t as common as the rest; however, some people apply it. It may not be serious for healthy people, but you must first consult the doctor for the sick. Ensure they are allowed to take the pills to avoid any side effects. The resultant laugh helps exercise upper body muscles and boost their mood.
Final words
Laughter yoga exercises have massive benefits for the sick. They may be low impact, but their effects are long-lasting. Remember, the ill have low energy, pain, limited movement, etc., so exercises like those above come in handy in improving their state. As a coach or caregiver, involving them in laughter yoga exercises is necessary since any sickness can cause loneliness, depression, suppressed mood, and physical and mental issues. Laughter yoga boosts the flow of blood, which increases body energy. In general, laughter yoga enhances happiness, and the exercises are an excellent laid-back physical activity.
