Laughter is becoming popular as a stress-buster Laughter is infectious,spreads quickly and helps heal the system. More importantly,one does not need a reason or trigger to laugh,says Shyam Juneja of the Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts (CIPA),who has started a laughter yoga club for both children and adults. It is a great exercise and helps beat stress. It seems tough to laugh without a joke,story or film but hearing everyone laugh around you has a rub-on effect that works like magic, says the theatre artist. Juneja was initiated into laughter yoga in 1989 during a theatre directors course in Berlin. I met Barb Fischer,an exponent of laughter yoga in Europe. It was a fantastic learning experience for me,so I decided to have something along similar lines here too, he says. Juneja practices the therapy himself,and combines laughter with clapping for better effect,including weight reduction. Dr Ajit,a doctor and yoga exponent has laughter kriyas in his yoga classes and describes it as a happy and feel-good activity,which releases all the tension locked up inside. It is like a cold drink,sweet and cool,tastes great and is a great exercise for the stomach and heart too. Whats more,you dont have to do anything serious to laugh, he says. On a more scientific level,laughter is said to increase oxygen in the body,making one feel healthy. Humour therapy helps people heal as it has stress-relieving benefits,with laughter reducing the level of stress hormones and increasing health-enhancing hormones like endorphins,while building a strong immune system. One feels cleansed after a good laugh,it exercises the diaphragm and the shoulders,leaving muscles more relaxed, adds Dr Ajit. Laughter also takes the focus away from anger and negativity,changing ones perspective and the way one tackles challenges. At the Art of Living yoga classes,warming up sessions are all about people laughing together to generate positive energy. Even for asanas,laughter helps in blood circulation and helps build a rapport with complete strangers. We call it happy therapy, says Madhu,a teacher with the organisation. Laughter yoga is an integral part of the corporate workshops that Anil Juneja,a yoga trainer organises. Besides bringing down stress levels,it makes one feel lighter too,he adds. We have a session where people close their eyes,move in rhythm with the music and express their emotions consciously by laughing. At the Shanti Kunj garden,early morning laughter groups are now a common sight,and as Krishan Khanna a regular participant says,It is a great way to begin a brand-new day.
