What’s the point in laughing when there isn’t much to laugh about? I hear you. 2020 was a shocker of a year in so many ways and left us with very little to laugh about. And when you are feeling depleted and running on empty laughing is probably last on your list.
I. Hear. You.
“Happiness and wellbeing is not just a pleasurable sensation it is a deep sense of serenity and fulfillment. A state that underlies all emotional states and all the joys and sorrows that can come one’s way” – Matthieu Ricard
When we’re feeling less resourceful laughter and happiness don’t come easily to us, however engaging in laughter is a direct route to getting yourself in a more resourceful state and feeling happier. Because here’s the thing, we are responsible for generating our own happiness. In fact 40% of our happiness is due to intentional activity so what we do on a daily basis can really create impact. It is down to us how much we allow in and how much we expand it.
A sure fire way to bring more laughter in to your life is by practising laughter yoga. The beautiful thing about laughter yoga is that your body doesn’t know the difference between real and simulated laughter so if it feels like a stretch to start with your body still gets the same benefits. Even if you start with pretend laughter it soon leads to real laughter; it’s impossible to resist.
Laughter yoga started in 1995 in a park in Mumbai when a medical doctor, Dr Madan Kataria, noticed how beneficial laughter was for mental and physical health. Since then it has grown enormously with thousands of laughter clubs in over 100 countries. It is a totally unique concept because it doesn’t rely on humour, jokes or comedy; all you need is a willingness to laugh.
Laughter yoga combines laughter exercises with yogic breathing techniques; when practising you are aiming for deep, hearty and loud extended laughter deep in the belly using the diaphragm in order to get the full physical and psychological benefits. A typical session consists of laughter exercises interspersed with yogic breathing and culminates in laughter meditation and guided meditation for grounding. After I took part in my first workshop 2 years ago I had a total epiphany and signed up to train as a laughter yoga leader; yes it really is that powerful!
So why practise laughter yoga? It lifts your mood through the release of endorphins and it lowers the stress hormone cortisol; it also increases the supply of oxygen to your body and brain making you feel more alert, creative, energised and productive. It is a fantastic connector, making it great for team bonding and developing relationships; it also helps you build resilience. When practised regularly it reduces blood pressure and heart rate and also strengthens your immune system. It really is an incredibly powerful wellness tool for elevating your happiness.
Laughter yoga is a game changer. It’s like a super power. By engaging in it regularly you develop laughter triggers which enable you to access joy more easily. Regular practise strengthens your neural pathways deepening your connection with happiness and laughter.
If you’d like to get your laugh on and help strengthen your happiness toolkit then head on over to my story highlights on instagram where you will find my 40 Days of Laughter challenge. Start today and commit to intentionally activating happiness for the next 40 days and you will see the impact laughter yoga has for yourself.
Here’s one I made earlier to get you started.
You’re welcome.
Cat Googe 