“Laughter is the best medicine” is a popular saying not only in Jamaica but all over the world. Those of us who are familiar with the Bible will recall Proverbs 17: 22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” This verse is often quoted to substantiate the fact that laughter is good for our health. But how much do we laugh?
Some people are always so serious that we wonder whether or not they can laugh. But laughter is natural and universal. Humour is learned and culture bound. What one group of individuals may find humorous another group may not. Some people are even angry about things that other people laugh about. Humour is subjective.
Laughter is a universal language. Every human being can recognize laughter as well as tears. The phenomenon called laughter has been a subject of study over the years. According to Wikipedia, the online dictionary, the study of humour and laughter and its effects on the human body, and of medical abnormalities of laughing is called gelotology which is also the physiological and psychological study of laughter. The word gelotology is from the Greek gelos, geloto, meaning laugh, laughter.
Some practitioners in the field of laughter call themselves laughologists and others call themselves mirthologists. Laughter therapy is an established form of therapy so naturally we have laughter therapists. Laughter Yoga leaders and Laughter Yoga teachers are laughter professionals who are trained and certified to use the exercise system, developed in 1995, by Dr. Madan Kataria, an Indian Physician, and his wife Madhuri. For more information about Laughter Yoga, please visit www.laughteryoga.org
Laughter Yoga is practiced in over forty countries including Jamaica.
World laughter Day is celebrated the first Sunday in May each year.
As modern life becomes more stressful the need for laughter increases as this is a proven way to relieve stress. According to research and anecdotal evidence, the benefits of laughter include
1. Creating inner joy
2. Connecting with others
3. Increased creativity
6. Pain relief
7. Fewer instances of colds and flu
8. Improved memory
9. Improved cardiovascular health
10. Less likelihood of stress related illnesses
According to Dr. Kataria more than 70% of all illnesses are stress related
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