Laughter clubs

I would like to share something. I have been a member of a couple of different laughter clubs over the years.
(The technical term is laughter yoga)

We meet weekly, do some stretching and exercises and do a whole bunch of laughter exercises for about half an hour. Between laughter we clap hands and go "ho ho, ha ha ha". Jokes are not used.

The basic theory is that it increases oxytocin (the love hormone) and other feel good hormones. Even if the laughter is not real, it is still good for you. (Doesn't have to be real though)

Maybe not for everyone, but it works for me. Brightens my day.

Possibly something to explore and might be worth a mention in discussions of happiness etc.

Tags: clubs, happiness, laugh, laughing, laughter

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Comment by William Jack Jordan on May 7, 2010 at 12:15: Hey Cris Popp was at the Happiness Conference, and he did a laughter session with the delegates.
Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha

I've never met his mother, but apparently she does a very good laugh. Sometimes my group does the Cris Popp's mother's laugh.

Comment by William Jack Jordan on May 2, 2010 at 13:31: Our leader the glorious giggling Gilliana, tallks about the brain rewiring itself (sounds like a self-organizing system).

Comment by William Jack Jordan on April 24, 2010 at 13:48: Frank, Funny you should mention Cris Popp, the group I go to is opposite his house.

Comment by Frank Connolly on April 24, 2010 at 2:35: Agreed, the laughter doesn't not have to be genuine but the effect remains.
I've been in a couple of Melbourne sessions with Cris Popp and the energy in the room upon completion is hugely different to what it was at the start.

Despite a number of participants being quite challenged by the process all were smiling at the end!

Comment by William Jack Jordan on April 24, 2010 at 0:15: There are all ages in laughter clubs and quite a few older people. At one club I went to there a few people in their 80s, one guy was in the Olympic games (in 1964), as a result I got to hold an Olympic torch (long story there).

There doesnt have to be any reason to laugh, in fact the founder of the clubs. Madan Kitari wrote a book "laugh for no reason". A friend of mine has written a book "Be Happy for no reason".

Kim, your "tee hees" remind me of the comic book characters , the Fabulous Furry Freak brothers, who were into dope.

And Tarzan Ape, here's one for new. At one club they do the "tarzan laugh", banging on the chest, the tarzan call, and then the jungle animals laughs: monkey, lion, hyena

I'm just about to go there now:
Ho Ho, Ha Ha Ha