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Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain” and “A day without laughter is a day wasted” – Charlie Chaplin (the famous comic artist)
We need a dose of laughter everyday to keep going. That’s why probably, we have grown up with the tradition of `Ek Joke Batayo’… (tell me a joke). Hasya Kavi Sammelan, Stand Up Comedy or just reading a few Comic Strips in the newspapers or practising Hasya Yoga are definitely a part of our Indian tradition. Exchanging jokes, harmless pranks, and recalling the funniest incidents from school and college days helps us stay cheerfull.
Can we look at the lighter side of things? Can we just laugh it out? Isn’t there always a comic character in movies and TV series to make us laugh. Don’t we just adore our Circuit (Munna Bhai), Chatur Silencer’ Ramalingam (Omi Vaidya) and Babu Rao (Paresh Rawal). Then there were Asrani, Johny Walker, Mehmood and Johnney Lever. Movies would probably be incomplete without them.
Just smiling or laughing feels good and results in a state of well being.
Yesterday (May 2) was World Laughter Day. Internationally, it is an annual event celebrated to harp on the importance of the healing effects of laughter. It was first celebrated in Mumbai in 2008, due to the initiative taken by Dr Madan Kataria, Founder of the Laughter Yoga movement.
Dr Kataria was fascinated by the astonishing results that could come from laughing, especially the facial feedback hypotheses. It has been observed that by flexing facial muscles to laugh, change of emotion can be induced.
Over 105 countries have welcomed the laughter yoga movement and the World Laughter Day has gained immense prominence over the years. The day also promotes the thousands of community groups around the world – typically known as Laughter Clubs – who regularly practice simple intentional laughter techniques that promote wellness and overall well-being.
Some indulge in producing sounds like “HO, HO, HA, HA”, to spread the contagious effects of laughter. Several entertainment programmes like dance and laughter challenges are performed. But because of the COVID- 19 celebrations not too many events were conducted.
The Mumbai Police took to Twitter and Instagram to share some examples of hilarious excuses they have heard from people flouting Covid guidelines. The list include gems like a “medical emergency” to get a band-aid and a person who only stepped out to grab a vada pav only because they were feeling “very hungry”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COW1fTZlQs_/?utm_source=ig_em
Benefits of Laughter Therapy
Laughter causes decrease in Cortisol levels
When you laugh your reality might not change or your circumstances, but it can bring about certain physical changes. Stress releases the Cortisol hormone. Many diseases stemming out of stress get prevented when one is super happy, and has a fun-filled lifestyle. Laughter exercises are a great way to ensure that.
You get to shed 40-60 calories through laughing and ensure a great core and facial muscle exercise. It improves T-cells. It’s a wonderful way to boost your mental health. Moreover, laughter brings people closer and infuses energy and spreads happiness and warmth.
Triggers the release of endorphins: the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
Lightens anger’s heavy load: Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.
May even help you to live longer: A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don’t laugh as much.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOfVoitWrsA
Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.” -Lord Byron
