Is Laughter Really the Best Medicine?
According to the students in the Junior School, it is! They are incorporating Laughter Wellbeing into their daily lives and are reaping the benefits associated with laughing.
Katy Howes, the Junior School Wellbeing Co-ordinator and a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, has worked with all students and staff across the Junior School and is very impressed with the positive feedback and observations made by staff and students. These include teachers and students feeling more relaxed, having a more positive mental attitude, changes to their mood and higher energy levels.
So, what is Laughter Wellbeing?
- Laughter Wellbeing is a unique concept where anyone can laugh for no reason without relying on humour, jokes or comedy.
- Laughter is initiated as an exercise in a group but with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real contagious laughter.
- The deep-breathing exercises bring more oxygen to the body and brain which make you feel more energised.
- The concept of Laughter Wellbeing is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter if done with willingness. You can receive the same health benefits, whether the laughter is real or simulated.
- There are thousands of laughter clubs in more than 100 countries.
What are the health benefits of laughing?
- Laughing lights up the reward centre of your brain and releases feel-good chemicals, including dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins.
- Laughing decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies and improving your resistance to disease.
- Laughing Improves your mood and memory.
- It stimulates an increase in blood flow and oxygenation in your body.
Check out this clip to see just how contagious laughter really is!
Try the Ultimate Laughter Quiz to find out just how much you know about laughter!
Interested in joining a laughter club? Click here.
Reference: Laughter Yoga International University. Certified Laughter Yoga Leader Training Manual. Published by Laughter Yoga international – Version 2017
