How to practice laughter exercises
What's the story
Laughter exercises are emerging as the newest fad to improve health and well-being the easy way. These exercises can help alleviate stress, uplift your mood, and even improve immunity. By including laughter in your daily activities, you may reap the benefits of several physical and mental health advantages. Here are five simple steps to try laughter exercises, anyone can try at home or in a group.
Breathing
Start with deep breathing
Start by breathing deeply to relax your body and prepare for laughter exercises. Breathe in deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds and exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat this 3-4 times. Deep breathing oxygenates the body and calms the mind, putting you in the perfect state to engage in laughter activities.
Simulation
Practice simulated laughter
Simulated laughter is all about laughing on purpose without depending on humor/jokes. Initially, force a soft chuckle or giggle, and gradually build up until it turns into genuine laughter. This method can be practised alone or in groups and works because our body can't differentiate between real and simulated laughter, letting you enjoy similar health benefits.
Yoga
Engage in laughter yoga
Laughter yoga mixes playful group activities with deep breathing exercises to induce spontaneous laughter. Participants engage in exercises to spark joyfulness while they practice controlled breathing patterns. The technique not only encourages social interaction but also creates a sense of community, promoting well-being through the collective experience of laughter and joy among participants.
Playfulness
Incorporate playful activities
Integrating playful activities into your daily routine can naturally induce laughter. Think of playing games that encourage you to be silly or watching funny videos that make you laugh out loud. Doing these activities regularly helps you keep a positive outlook on life, while giving you opportunities for spontaneous bouts of healthy laughter.
Community
Join a laughter club
Joining a local laughter club gives an opportunity to practice regular laughter exercises in a supportive community setting. These clubs usually meet weekly or monthly where members take part in guided sessions with trained facilitators. They bring in new techniques to promote happiness through the collective enjoyment of humor-filled moments together as part of their wellness journey.