HA!

The endothelium regulates blood flow and adjusts the blood’s ability to coagulate and clot, and also secretes chem-icals that respond to wounds, infection or irritation. Said Dr Miller in his research paper: “The endothelium is the first line in the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. So given the results of our study, it is conceivable that laughing may be im-portant to maintain a healthy en-dothelium. And reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.” So chuckle and guffaw as often as you can. Let your di-aphragm muscles move vig-orously and trigger your brain to release hormones like endorphins that have an effect onthearteries. Remem-ber, scientists haveprovedthat as an aerobic exercise, laughter brings in much more oxygen than anyother, andincreases theheart rate quickerthanasessioninthegym.

Exactly what Dr Madan Kataria, a Mumbai-based physi-cian, has been saying for the last decade since he founded the Laughter Club Movement in India with wife Madhuri. Started with just five members in 1995, the couple today boast of having launched more than 5,000 clubs across the world. Says this self-styled Laughter Yoga guru: “You may not have too many reasons to laugh today. But you cannot do without it. I believe that even if you are faking laughter, your body is not intelligent enough to make out the difference. Even if you pre-tend laughing, the same set of happy chemicals (endorphins) are released from your brain cells. These feel-good hormones are very beneficial to your body. Therefore, laughing for half-an-hour everyday when you are in a group, without any-thing to induce it, will have the same benefit if you are doing it for real.”

Adds Dr K.P. Misra, senior consultant cardiologist at the Apollo Hospital, Chennai: “Hu-mour is health. Heart attacks and psychosomatic diseases are less among people who laugh heartily and who have a positive attitude towards life. When you are under stress, your body se-cretes adrenalin. The idea behind laughing is to reduce the adrenalin level, thus minimising stress.”

Dr Kataria, however, cautions against overestimating laughter’s power to cure illnesses. Says he: “I don’t claim cure for longstanding ailments. It is mainly an anti-stress mea-sure, nothing but a preventive therapy. Start your day with about half-an-hour of laughter and you’ll be fresh through-out the day.” It diffuses tension, releases stress related hor-mones and helps in relaxation, he says. “Members of our club have realised that they have benefited for a variety of diseases by taking part in our sessions. After every ten-minute session with us, you’ll find that there is a 10-20 mm drop in blood pressure. It cannot re-verse the problem, but it can surely arrest the progress. If you are a heart patient and sta-bilised with medication, laughter is the best supplement; it improves both blood and oxy-gen supply to the heart muscles.”

Dr Kataria’s sessions don’t induce laughter by risque jokes and so on. Instead, the exer-cises are similar to the ones in yoga like pranayam, kapalbhati, bhastarika and talasanas.

Each session starts with deep breathing and warm-up sessions followed by a variety of simulated laughter. So remember, don’t hold yourself back the next time you feel like laughing out loud. It’s internal jogging of the best kind. Let those facial muscles work out as long as they can.

LAUGH OUT LOUD

How you can laugh all the way to better health

DURATION 20–30 minutes

STEP 1

Clapping in a rhythm 1-2… 1-2-3 and chanting ho-ho, ha-ha-ha

STEP 2

Deep breathing with inhalation through the nose and prolonged exhalation (3–5 times)

STEP 3

Greeting Laughter

Namaste or handshake with at least 4–5 people in the group

STEP 4

Hearty Laughter

Laughing with both arms pointing upwards and the head tilted backwards.

STEP 5

Milkshake Laughter

Hold two imaginary glasses of milk or coffee and pour the contents from one glass to the other by chanting “Aeee…” (Repeat four times).

STEP 6

Cellphone Laughter

Hold an imaginary mobile phone and try to laugh, making different gestures.

STEP 7

Lion Laughter

Stick out the tongue with eyes wide open and hands stretched out like the claws of a lion and laugh from the tummy.

STEP 8

Silent Laughter

Open your mouth wide and laugh without making any sound. Look into each others’ eyes and make funny gestures.

STEP 9

Humming Laughter

Laugh with your mouth closed, making a humming sound. While humming, move around shaking hands with other participants.

STEP 10

Argument Laughter

Laugh by pointing fingers at different group members—as if you are arguing with them.

STEP 11

Apology Laughter

Immediately after Argument Laughter catch both your ear lobes and laugh while shaking your head—as if you are saying sorry.

Closing Technique

The closing technique is to raise three slogans:

‘‘We are the happiest people in this world’’

“We are the healthiest people in this world”

“We are laughter club members”

—Courtesy Dr Madan Kataria, laughteryoga.org