Last week, during my session series on Stress Management at a client organization, during discussions regarding stress busters, I introduced Laughter Yoga and got a few quizzical looks. We therefore went into a practical demonstration and the response was absolutely outstanding. Everyone including the CEO joined in the 3 minutes session of stretches, breathing and laughter and enjoyed it immensely – participants left the room in a positive frame of mind, ready to take on the world.
What is Laughter Yoga?
Laughter Yoga is practiced in more than 100 countries by thousands of people. The world-wide laughter movement started in India in 1995 by Dr Madan Kataria, a Mumbai Physician, who discovered the physical and psychological benefits enjoyed by his patients who had taken to heart his prescription for regular laughter – they were healthier, happier and more productive and he developed Laughter Yoga – which involves getting together for about 20 minutes for the purpose of laughing for no reason at all.
Some Laugher Yoga Benefits
- Laughter is an aerobic exercise that improves respiration, oxygenation and circulation, thereby making one feel energetic and relaxed
- Laughter Yoga reduces stress and depression and helps to create a positive mental state to deal with negative situations and negative people. It gives hope and optimism to cope with challenging times.
- Laughter helps to change your mood by releasing endorphins and increases creativity, innovation and communication skills and improves self confidence and self esteem
- Laughter is a positive energy which helps connect people under a non-threatening, and non- competitive manner and improves relationships
What happens in a Laughter Yoga Session?
The session consists of laughter, breathing and stretching. With prolonged intentional laughter, one can exhale more carbon dioxide, which oxygenates the cells of the body and brain. This improves efficiency, mental focus and concentration.
Laughter Yoga has changed countless lives and have been introduced into fitness and yoga studios, schools, hospitals, aged care centers, hospices, orphanages, cancer treatment centers, prisons, sports coaching etc.
Many small and large businesses, government departments, and police forces are introducing laughter yoga in the workplace. All you need to benefit from a laughter session is a willingness to laugh.
Laughter Yoga at Workplace
Laughter Yoga is the latest workplace wellbeing initiative. In fact, Google and BBC organize laughter sessions which help generate a great feeling among employees and result in participants feeling happier and more relaxed. Besides BBC and Google, other companies are also introducing Laughter Yoga because the well being benefits cannot be ignored. Laughter is a great tool to relieve work stress, lower blood pressure, boost endorphins and put a buzz back into the workplace.
Clinical research conducted in Denmark, India and the USA has proved that laughter lowers the level of stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine) in the body and improves self-efficacy.
A study was conducted at a computer company on Denmark in 2004 to study the effect Laughter Yoga has on stress levels. During a laughter session, breathing exercises are frequent and laughter itself has a positive influence on the movement of the diaphragm, as well as the levels of stress hormones in the body. On an individual level, the results were remarkable and stress levels were significantly reduced.
In 2006, the Laughter Yoga International commissioned a scientific research project involving IT professionals in Bangalore, India, to study the effects of laughter yoga on their stress levels. The study was undertaken by one of India’s leading scientific research organizations. The results of Bangalore study were positive. There was a significant drop in the heart rate and blood pressure, cortisol levels and stress.
Another study on the US in 2007 looked at effects of Laughter Yoga on self-efficacy in the workplace. Self-efficacy is the belief in ones ability to organize and carry out courses of action necessary to achieve a goal or to manage a situation. Self-efficacy beliefs affect performance at workplace and the results showed significant improvements
Laughter acts as a powerful boding tool and an ice-breaker. It boosts creativity and helps to draw people together. Laughter is also a chance to be genuine, breaking down some of the barriers of the formal office environment and provides a welcome relief from tension.
So, how about introducing Laughter Yoga at your workplace to promote employee well-being and as an effective stress buster?