Laugh Yourself Healthy

Community Contributed

by Patricia Hammond

Start the New Year with Laughter Yoga! Laughter Yoga is a playful, effective form of exercise that combines simulated laughter, yogic breathing and stretching.
The idea that laughter is good for us is nothing new. The key to Laughter Yoga is that the body doesn’t know the difference between real or simulated laughter. We are able to intentionally generate physical, mental and emotional benefits by simply choosing to laugh.
 
In March 1995, Dr. Madan Kataria from Mumbai, India set out to write an article entitled “Laughter – The Best Medicine,” and discovered through his research mounds of evidence documenting the benefits of laughter on the human mind and body.  He recruited four of his friends to join him one morning to laugh. The first laughter club was born – now there are over 6,000 clubs in more than 65 countries!
 
Those who benefit from Hasya (laughter in …) Yoga include people with limited mobility, stressed out by everyday life, facing challenging life or health situations. It reminds you that seeing the lighter side of things make even the worst circumstances easier to bear. It can also be used as therapeutic medical care for allergies, asthma, arthritis, diabetes and more.

Save the date – Laughter Yoga with certified laughter yoga teacher Monnet Zubieta on Dec. 15 at the Soto Mission. Come at 6 p.m. for Laughology, a film, followed by a yoga session.