Happy Yoga Monday – Laughter Yoga

Happy Yoga Monday!

Every culture in the world appreciates and understands laughter. It is part of the universal human vocabulary. It also helps us stay healthy by enriching the blood with ample supplies of oxygen. In addition, laughter helps to remove the negative effects of stress and boosts our immune systems. Other benefits of laughter include:

• controlling high blood pressure and heart disease

• increasing stamina through increased oxygen supply

• alleviating pain and giving a sense of well being by releasing endorphins

• serving as an effective antidote for depression, anxiety and psychosomatic disorders (laughter boosts the production of serotonin, a natural anti-depressant)

• massaging the digestive tract and enhancing blood supply to the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and adrenal glands

• ensuring a good night sleep and reducing snoring because laughter is very good for the muscles of the soft palate and throat

Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of Laughter Yoga, discovered that anyone can laugh for fifteen to twenty minutes without depending upon a sense of humor or comedy. As a result, he designed a blend of playful, empowering laughter, gentle breathing, stretching, rhythmic clapping and chanting exercises to help release tension. Through his work, Dr. Kararia discovered that laughter yoga is a great way to distance yourself from anger, stress, fear, limitations, and anxiety.

Have you ever tried Laughter Yoga?