Have the Last Laugh with Laughter Yoga
Aug 01, 2011 01:15PM ● By Erin Eagen
We’ve all heard that, “Laughter is the best medicine,” but scientific evidence also supports the value of a good belly laugh for overall health and well-being. According to certified hypnotherapist Craig Whitley, who co-owns Blue Skies Counseling and Coaching Happiness, Inc., with his wife Helen, a licensed clinical social worker, laughing can improve circulation, boost the immune system, reduce anxiety and elevate mood.
Research on the benefits of the new practice called Laughter Yoga has proven that the body and mind can’t tell the difference between spontaneous laughter and induced laughter, which means that individuals can achieve these health benefits anytime, even when they feel less than jovial.
Laughter Yoga sessions involve creating a variety of laughs, from gentle giggles to loud guffaws and everything in-between. Often, what begins as forced laughter will evolve into real laughter.
Another popular laughter yoga exercise is called gradient laughter. Simply start out by smiling, begin to giggle and gradually work your way to a crescendo of hearty belly laughs. There’s really no wrong way to perform these exercises. So smile, take a deep breath and let the good times roll.
Blue Skies Counseling and Coaching Happiness, Inc., is located at 131 Mirramont Lake Dr., Woodstock, GA 30189. For more information, call 770-517-3363 or visit BlueSkies-Ahead.com or AddLaughter.com.
