1. Are you having
A LAUGH?
We sent our Mel to check out a
strange but fun way to destress
and put a smile on your face…
Laughter yoga. Sounds odd starts as pretend laughter becomes
but it’s a type of class just real and natural.
like pilates or aerobics. The That’s all very well, but I still felt
idea began 15 years ago apprehensive standing in a room
and there are more than 6,000 full of strangers and laughing at,
laughter clubs in 65 countries. well… nothing. But watching how
What’s it all about? Well, you know easily the other people in the group
how wonderful you feel after a good activated their chuckle muscles, Mel with
laughter
giggle with friends? That’s partly I soon got the hang of it. leader
because when we laugh we take We raced around the room Jennifer
in more oxygen. This increases our mimicking everyday frustrations –
circulation and boosts our immune like traffic jams and arguments – but
system. And it’s also because replacing any anger with different Laughing is
laughter makes the body release forms of laughter. You could say ‘ho hard work
happy hormones, endorphins, which ho ho’, ‘hee hee hee’ or ‘ha ha ha.’
reduce our stress levels and ward off We played childlike games.
anxiety and depression. Catching a ball and shouting out
But in today’s troubled world it what makes us happy.
gets harder to find things (I’ve never been good
to laugh about. Cheerful Take a bow
at answering questions Stand-up
children laugh more than on the spot –the only comedy?
400 times a day – gloomier thing I could think of was
grown-ups only 12 times. watching X-Men films!) else in the group was laughing with
So, a little hesitantly, Then we took it in me. (Or was it at me? Hmm…) environment is so uplifting and I
I joined in Jennifer turns to fish from an In between each exercise we did always leave the class feeling much
Johnson’s laughter class in imaginary ‘laughter lake’ yogic breathing exercises to get the more enlivened.’
Buckhurst Hill, Essex. followed by wearing oxygen flowing around our bodies. Carol Darvell, 53, from Enfield,
Jennifer a laughter mask – a Although I found some of the said: ‘Some people meditate or do
explained how Venetian-style exercises a little embarrassing, yoga to relax, but if you like doing
the sessions work. carnival mask. I everyone else seemed to be having activities with other people then this
In the group
‘The exercises wasn’t too keen a great time. In between the giggles, class is great – it always cheers me
are conducted on laughing on my bellows and guffaws, I asked some up. The more people who come, the
using child-like own in front of the of the class how it made them feel. more fun it gets.’
playfulness and rest of the group but Julian James, 30, from The class ended with 10 minutes
WORDS: MELANIE HANCILL PHOTOS: ROBB COLEMAN
eye contact. I must have been Woodford, Essex, of relaxation to calm the body after
This allows us doing something told me: ‘It’s a way to all the hard work laughing. Jennifer
to disconnect right as everyone release the stresses talked us through a calming scene
our laughter from of the day. The as we lay on yoga mats, and by
having a reason to laugh, and
promotes laughing unconditionally
Laughter tips the time we were finished I found
that my woes really had drained
without any reason.’ n Don’t take life too seriously. When we can laugh at our
away. Amazing.
situation, we feel a sense of relief.
The concept was inspired by So it’s true what
n They say it takes three weeks to create a new
cardiologist Dr Madan Kataria in they say… laughter
habit. Laugh every day – even if you have to fake
1995 after he discovered that in it – until it becomes natural. really is the
physical terms the body gets the n Recall an occasion when you found best medicine.
same benefit from pretend or real something so hilarious, the laughter built up l For more info, visit
laughter, as it can’t tell the difference. inside you until it was impossible not to laugh. www.laughter
Laughter yoga builds on the n Email jennifer@laughterworkout.co.uk to workout.co.uk or call
fact that in any group of people, receive more free laughter tips. 020 8508 2134.
laughing is contagious. So what
Mel in her
12 take it Easy laughter mask