Laughter Yoga Is Serious Business For Cancer Patients

How and Why Does Laughter Yoga Heal?

You may find the video testimonial above inspiring. Laugh more yourself for no particular reason (fake is absolutely fine) on a regular basis and prepare to be shocked (in a good way) by the impact you will see such a simple practice has on your body, mind and spirit.

The primary goal of Laughter Yoga is not to laugh, it is to use laughter as an excuse to breathe deeper (laughing is the easiest way to empty your lungs to the maximum of your own comfortable capacity), charge the blood with fresh oxygen, and through this relax and yet energize the entire body. Click here to read more on the benefits of laughter.

This is actually only the beginning. Next and most importantly the regular practice of Laughter Yoga teaches one the major difference between "trying" and "doing" in an immediate and very tangible way (the more you fake laughter with passion, the more you will get out of the exercise, and you will know that within minutes. There is no reason to laugh in Laughter Yoga. This is a body-mind approach to health and well-being, not mind-body. Better still, it's OK to feel miserable and have no sense of humor at all if that's how you choose to see yourself.

95% of the world "tries." This is just not good enough because there is no real commitment there. 5% of the world "does" and it always works in due time. Refer to the Bible or any other holy scripture: Faith does move mountains if you but really believe. "Believe" = "do", not "try." Do it 100% (whatever "it" is.) Surrender the outcome and concentrate on doing your very best in the "here, now."

It's like they say: just do it. If your mind doesn't feel like "it" give it a vacation and simply physically fake "it." BUT if you're going to fake it, really fake it to the best of your own abilities, otherwise don't bother and save yourself some time.

"Will is the operator of the switch that controls the flow of energy into the body. Every movement requires an act of will to empower it with energy. Merely to lift one's hand is to inject energy and consciousness into the entire system. When one is unwilling to do a task he is tired from the beginning; but when he is willing he is full of energy. One who does everything with willingness and interest finds that he is able to draw unceasingly from the reservoir of cosmic power." -- Paramahansa Yoganada

Cancer Research On Laughter

33 healthy adult women were randomized to view either a humorous video or a tourism video (distraction group). Stress decreased for subjects in the humor group compared with those in the distraction group (p < 0.005). Amount of mirthful laughter was highly correlated with decrease in stress for persons in the humor group (p < 0.005). Subjects who scored greater than 25 on the humor response scale had increased immune function post intervention (p< 0.05). Humor response scale scores correlated with changes in NK cell activity (p = 0. 001).

CONCLUSION: Laughter may reduce stress and improve NK cell activity. As low NK cell activity is linked to decreased disease resistance and increased morbidity in persons with cancer and HIV disease, laughter may be a useful cognitive-behavioral intervention.

Bennett MP, Zeller JM, Rosenberg L, McCann J. Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Mar-Apr;9(2):38-45.

Hospitals have been using laughter for years. It is widely accepted that laughter speeds healing and improves mental outlook in patients.

Laughter Yoga provides a laughter delivery system that does not require medical clowns, joke books, funny videos or a sense of humor. Patients find it very easy to laugh with Laughter Yoga.

Perhaps the strongest feedback has come from hospital staff. They are amazed at how laughter yoga sessions energize them and melt away stress, making it easier for them to cope with their jobs. They report that their happy positive attitude and high energy levels appear to rub off on patients also.

Your body cannot heal without play. Your mind cannot heal without laughter. Your soul cannot heal without joy. -- Catherine Rippenger Fenwick

Laughter & Cancer In The News

It's no joke to doctors, staff and patients at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Laughter Yoga is a different approach to healing and stress management that anybody can do. And you don't have to have a sense of humor to do it -- or get the benefit.

Every Monday morning, you'll hear laughter in the halls of the cancer treatment center at Swedish Covenant.

"I truly felt kind of silly, but after doing it for a little while, it became fun," breast cancer patient Margaret Reid said.

Laughter Yoga class is a combination of stretching, breathing, clapping and laughing.

"It's really about laughing for no reason -- laughing to exercise,” instructor Timothy Nelson said. “They call it laughing, jogging for your insides." [read the full story]

I'm Interested. What's the Next Step?

The American School Of Laughter Yoga is the biggest and oldest provider of Laughter Yoga education in North America. This is not by chance. Click here to read testimonials from our many students and find out what they have to say.

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