Laughter Yoga

Is laughter really the best medicine? Recent research by the University Of Maryland Medical Center shows that laughter really is beneficial.

“The endothelium has a powerful effect on blood vessel tone and regulates blood flow, adjusts coagulation and blood thickening, and secretes chemicals and other substances in response to wounds, infections or irritation. It also plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. ‘“The endothelium is the first line in the development of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries…it is conceivable that laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,”’ says principal investigator Michael Miller, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. ‘“At the very least, laughter offsets the impact of mental stress, which is harmful to the endothelium”’ (http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/laughter2.html).

In an article, Yoga Works!, by Elaine Lipson at YogaJournal.com, Lipson points out the vast research on yoga, proving the benefits of this ancient practice. According to these studies yoga can help manage such things as: anxiety, arthritis, stress, depression, asthma, back pain, blood pressure, headaches, heart disease diabetes and other conditions and diseases as well (http://www.yogajournal.com/health/115_1.cfm).

Laughter and Yoga Meet
With so many benefits involved in the practice of yoga and laughter, wouldn’t it make sense to combine the two? Madan Kataria, a Bombay, India-based physician thought so and combined them. He, with the help of his wife Madhuri (a yoga teacher) created a form of laughter therapy known today as Laughter Yoga or Hasya Yoga.