Yoga and laughter have quite a bit in common. They boast similar advantages for stress relief, although yoga may do more for the body and laughter may do more to ease the mind. When the two practices are combined in laughter yoga, the result is a fun activity that has the potential to bring about significant, long-lasting mental and physical health benefits.
Physical
Any form of yoga increases strength, flexibility, range of motion and balance. Together, improvement of those qualities reduces overall risk of injury from other daily activities. Regularly doing yoga may also help manage and relieve chronic health conditions, such as pain, fatigue and high blood pressure. Finally, even though yoga burns fewer calories than many other forms of exercise, it can help with weight loss and healthy weight management, especially if you do it frequently. Laughter by itself also has several health benefits. Laughing relaxes the entire body, increases blood flow and boosts the immune system's functions.
Mental
Most forms of yoga are slow, focused and controlled. As such, they encourage greater concentration and relaxation. In doing so, yoga also helps with stress relief and stress management. Laughter is also a proven stress relief technique. It may also improve the symptoms of depression and anxiety, boost your overall mood and enhance resilience and drive.
Laughter Yoga
Laughter yoga encourages a mind-body connection to joyfulness and spirit. Instead of calling upon traditional yoga poses, laughter yoga uses breathing exercises as a way to join laughter and yoga, reaping the potential benefits of both activities. According to LaughterYoga.org, the practice enhances quality of life by improving your mood, increasing energy and enthusiasm levels, creative a more positive outlook and strengthening the immune system. Laughter yoga, as with any yoga, is normally a group activity, but it can also be done individually to receive all the same benefits.
Limitations
While yoga and laughter are powerful tools to combat stress and improve your health, whether together or combined, it's important to realize that they do have limitations. Donald Hensrud, M.D., the MayoClinic.com preventive medicine specialist, notes that yoga is not as effective as aerobic exercise for weight loss or even weight maintenance, despite its physical benefits. And while laughter and yoga may be able to relieve some symptoms of depression and anxiety, they're not substitutes for cures or regular treatment, so it's advisable to consult a physician if you are considering using those tactics as treatment strategies for any health issues.
Member Comments