Did you know?
Laughter has been scientifically studied and has been demonstrated to improve many aspects of health. Here are just a handful of laughter's physiological benefits: it improves cardiovascular health, lowers cortisol levels, increases pain tolerance, improves cognitive functions, decreases inflammation in autoimmune conditions, and significantly enhances immune system function. It even decreases the spike in total glucose levels if you watch a comedy right after eating. The mental benefits tend to be more obvious; laughter reduces agitation and anxiety, increases happiness, and improves self-esteem and mood.
For healthcare practitioners like BodyTalkers, simply mentioning to clients that laughter, humor and fun are incredibly beneficial can help them make changes to incorporate more of it into their lives.
Laughter Yoga is a growing therapy that relies on laughter, clapping, breathing and chanting. The amazing thing about laughter is that you do not have to feel the urge to laugh to derive the benefits of laughter. In fact, many Laughter Yoga activities have participants begin by pretending to laugh in various ways. Typically, real laughter comes somewhere during the experience. But, even if it doesn't, your body doesn't know the difference. Even with "pretend" laughing, the body follows suit, and you start to feel the emotion connected to laughter. |
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