Laughter is the Best Emotional Medicine

Laughter really is the best medicine. From pain and stress relief to improved immune system, heart and lung health, the evidence has become too overwhelming to ignore.

One of the main reasons for this is because laughter stimulates your mind, emotion and body to release a variety of "feel good" chemicals from endorphins to dopamine and oxytocin. Laughter also helps to flush out any variety of toxins that may be floating around in your body as it gets your lungs working and heart pumping, highly oxygenating your blood supply and increasing your blood flow. In fact, as it turns out, laughter can be quite the cardio workout. Get this! One minute of rigorous laughter has been shown to produce many of the same cardiovascular benefits as 10 minutes on a rowing machine and 15 minutes on a stationary bike. It's true! You can burn approximately 400 calories per hour while sculpting those six-pack abs simply by laughing!

Laughter also creates a high-frequency energetic state, which many refer to as "bliss." While in this state, your body literally tingles with joy! In fact, laughter has been equated with the full activation of the brains' left frontal lobe, or "Jolly Center," which also happens to coincide with enlightenment.

From an energy medicine stand point, laughter works similar to acupuncture and acupressure to stimulate the release of any blockages in your chakras, meridian pathways and points. It soothes the soul and dispels the darkness. Just look into the eyes of someone fully engaged in laughter. It's a beautiful sight to see indeed, when the "spark of life" is ignited.

Laughter may also be the shortest distance between two people. It has a way of gently tearing down all walls and barriers between those who engage in it together. It seems to act as a social signal of sorts that says "it's not only safe here, but I welcome and embrace you with this feel-good energetic frequency." Many believe it is a powerful transformative agent that sheds light on a passageway that leads out of strife, struggle, despair, destruction and war, both internally and externally. Imagine that ... perhaps it really is that simple. And it doesn't cost a thing.

Laughter is our birthright. It will come as easily and naturally to you as breathing if you just allow it to emerge from within you. You don't even have to be in the presence of something or someone funny to en-JOY it. You can just puta smile on your face any ol' time you want, simulate laughter, then fake it till you make it! Go ahead! Try it! Stand in front of the mirror, make a funny face, force a little laugh out from deep inside, then just act silly. Sing, clap, dance around like you did when you were a kid, and set yourself free! Let it all hang out. It's OK. By all means, laugh until your heart's content!

Other ways to increase the amount of laughter you have in your life can include: watching funny movies, going to a comedy club, taking a "laugh break" instead of a coffee break, look for the "funny side" of life, move towards funny people instead of away from them, spend time with kids skipping and singing on a playground.

You can also join a Laughter Yoga club in your area. Laughter Yoga has been gaining momentum and popularity around the world in recent years. Most Laughter Yoga clubs are free - no fees, no dues, just people coming together for the health of it!

So, if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands! I dare you!

Live strong! Laugh! In-JOY!