Do You Need The Gift of Laughter Today?

Rachel Forsyth is a laughter leader, certified by a worldwide organization called Laughter Yoga. I have known Rachel for 13 years and have found she is talented in many fields. She has been involved with Unity for a number of years and continues to be involved in many spiritual oriented programs.

What is a laughter leader?  This is someone trained to lead laughter sessions for health and well-being. He or she is someone who values contributing to the well-being of other people and understands firsthand the priceless gift of laughter. He or she promotes laughter awareness and creates a safe place for the expression of our childlike playfulness.

Laughter yoga is a blend of various laughter techniques interspersed with gentle breathing and movement.  A medical doctor in India, Dr. Mahan Kataria, and his wife, Madhuri, started Laughter Yoga in 1995. Its mission is to spread world peace through laughter.  The practice offers physical, emotional, mental and social benefits.

Physical benefits include strengthening the immune system by increasing T-cell count; increasing endorphins and reducing stress hormones; helping control high and low blood pressure; improving circulation and respiratory problems such as emphysema, asthma, and bronchitis by aiding ventilation and clearing mucus plugs; and assisting digestion by giving an internal massage to the digestive tract.

Emotional benefits include changes in mood; laughter dispels negative feelings and creates positive ones. It decreases stress and anxiety, encourages relaxation, boosts mental alertness and memory and combats depression.

Forsyth discusses how laughter is a part of her daily routine, just like walking, stretching, dancing and meditation. She hosts a free, 20-minute laughter call every day. If you have Skype or an unlimited long distance calling plan, you can find out more about that at www.LaughterYogaonthephone.org. The service doesn’t tell jokes or use comedy. It offers a 20-minute laughter workout.

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