Living Well: Turning lethargy into levity

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

By Teresa Griswold

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-The old adage, “Laughter is the best medicine,” is a potent prescription that reaps healthy rewards. Laughter is proven to de-stress, improve attitude, and increase happiness.

Adding more levity to life can be as simple as watching a funny movie or playing with children, but one method that takes laughter seriously is Laughter Yoga. It is a complete wellbeing workout that simulates laughter and strengthens the body’s connection to the breath. First developed in 1995 by a physician in India, Dr. Madan Kataria, Laughter Yoga is catching on across the planet.

According to Laughter Yoga Leader and Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Kelli Jones, owner of High Five Recreation Consulting, laughter is a panacea for many health related issues ranging from stress to a bad attitude and is known to improve mental health, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Recently Jones led a Laughter Yoga class on a sunny afternoon in Miller Park. She began with a warm-up exercise that participants returned to often – clapping both hands in unison to the beat of a loud ‘ho-ho, ha-ha.’

It is all about the breath, and the more deeply one can laugh from their belly, the greater the health benefits. Exercises included passing around a high-five greeting while making eye contact and laughing a “hello;” slathering on “laughter lotion” and panting like dogs.

Laughter Yoga pushes oxygen into the blood and boosts the immune system. It also heightens endorphins and lowers the level of stress hormones, like cortisol blood, according to Jones.

She witnessed the benefits of laughter while incorporating humor as a method of healing alongside Patch Adams M.D., a renowned doctor, clown and social revolutionary. Jones clowned around in pediatric oncology units, nursing homes and homeless shelters to help those in need of more laughter in their lives. “It decreases anxiety, lowers depression rates, and is an instant stress-buster,” she said.

Not only is laughter simply fun, it can lead to creativity, productivity and better communication, breaking down barriers, fostering relationships and deepening inner peace, Jones said.

There was no talking at the Miller Park session, only laughter.
After 20 minutes, the group built a sense of connection and joy, and the session ended with a laughing group hug. With elevated endorphins and more oxygen flowing through the blood, Jones helped transform participants’ lethargy into levity. JHW

Learn more about Jones and High Five Recreation Consulting at www.highfiverec.com.

Photo by ANDREW WYATT
A Laughter Yoga session led by Kelli Jones ends with shared vibrations.

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Living Well: Turning lethargy into levity | Planet JH News Article: Living Well

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