Feeling stressed, anxious, or just plain blah? It turns out a good laugh — even a fake one — might be exactly what you need. Laughter yoga combines deep breathing with deliberate laughter exercises to lift your mood, ease stress, and give your mental well-being a surprising boost.
WORDS LIM TECK CHOON
 FEATURED EXPERTLEE-JEAN FUNG Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher Laughter Yoga Malaysia |
Lee-Jean Fung loves to laugh, which is obvious from the moment one sets eyes on her.
Her wide, infectious smile can easily turn into laughter.
Not surprisingly, she is a certified laughter yoga teacher with a mission to make the world a better place through the joys and benefits of laughter!
LAUGH WITH LIFE
“Laughter yoga is a concept through which anyone can laugh even in the absence of stimuli such as jokes, humour or comedy,” explains Lee-Jean.
She adds: “The concept brings together laughter exercises and yoga breathing, allowing more oxygen into the body while it enjoys the benefits of laughter.”
THE BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER YOGA
- Relaxes your whole body and reduces the level of stress hormones. You will feel less stressed and tensed.
- Studies on middle-aged women indicate that laughter may help reduce the risk of depression, especially among older people.
- Studies on cancer patients and survivors suggest that laughter may boost our immune system.
- Possibly helps improve short-term memory, especially among older adults.
WHO WANTS TO LAUGH?
If Lee-Jean has her way, everyone deserves a laugh.
“Laughter yoga is the complete package for physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being,” says Lee-Jean.
After all, it boosts fitness, reduces stress and improves our outlook on life.
“And it’s practically free!” she adds. “You don’t need fancy equipment or memberships. Just gather some friends together and laugh!”
Laughter Clubs
The popularity of laughter yoga has given rise to laughter clubs all over the world, including Malaysia. Lee-Jean’s very own Laughter Yoga Malaysia organizes regular get-togethers for people who want to laugh their way to better health.
“Laughter clubs not only foster improved physical wellbeing, they also help us to develop a better balanced outlook in life. We will be more sensitive to our own emotions as well as those of other people. As a result, we will become less selfish and more giving,” Lee-Jean emphasizes.
Such clubs can also bring joy to the workplace, as they reduce stress levels, boost morale and improve employee fitness – all of which would only increase workplace productivity.
So, in addition to your usual routines to stay healthy and active, let’s take time to laugh.
| This article is part of our series on tips and advice for leading a healthy lifestyle. |
References:
- Bains, G. S., Berk, L. S., Lohman, E., Daher, N., Petrofsky, J., Schwab, E., & Deshpande, P. (2015). Humors Effect on Short-term Memory in Healthy and Diabetic Older Adults. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 21(3), 16–25.
- Cha, M. Y., & Hong, H. S. (2015). Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 45(2), 221–230. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.2.221
- Sakai, Y., Takayanagi, K., Ohno, M., Inose, R., & Fujiwara, H. (2013). A trial of improvement of immunity in cancer patients by laughter therapy. Japan-hospitals : the journal of the Japan Hospital Association, (32), 53–59.
