Strange thing to discuss you might think but have you ever asked yourself why some things really hit the ‘giggle spot’ for you but don’t even raise an eyebrow for others?  Some people laugh at the slightest thing whereas others remain pan-faced.

Maybe it’s a cultural thing, the way people interact with each other.  British people are often described as having a ‘stiff upper lip’ and remain serious whereas in Denmark in the year 2000, 10,000 people attended a Laughter Rally in Copenhagen.

When I run my Laughter Yoga trainings, one of the first things I ask students is to give me a list of what stops people laughing … so many inhibitions appear.  Whereas, when asked for a list that makes them laugh, the list is equally long – but full of mischief and joy.

There again, laughter through comedy comes about through having a scenario for people to find ‘funny’, having a ‘reason’ to laugh.  Whereas with laughter Yoga it is intentional laughter that comes from the heart from pure joy – ‘’joie de vivre’.

For people who have never tried Laughter Yoga, they find it quite daunting … to laugh for ‘no reason’.  They feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, foolish – until they find they are amongst a group of people in the same situation who allow their guard to drop and ‘let go’ of their inhibitions.  The laughter flows and they feel …. Amazing!

Because it feels so natural for me to laugh at the slightest opportunity, I sometimes forget how disarming it can feel for people new to the concept.  Karen Siugzda, a Laughter professional from USA demonstrated ‘Comfort Zone’ laughter where participants are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone to try laughter without a reason.

Here are two lists – one showing reasons people find it hard to laugh and the other where it feels so natural to laugh:

We are all different and that’s what makes life such an interesting melting pot.

Can you think of any more examples for either list? 

Can you relate to some or any of the examples?

There’s no right or wrong – just whatever feels right to you.

You might have noticed that Empathy appears in both lists as it is a way of demonstrating our emotions to be acceptable in both camps.

Laughter Yoga has been part of my life since my first experience of it back in 2009 when I attended a 1-day workshop that I facilitated for Age UK Dudley where I worked at the time.

I was spellbound.  I felt the laughter and joy I’d experienced through my life and particularly during my childhood well up like a fountain.  I was totally hooked.

The result was that it became a passion in my life, second only to my love of cycling and I embraced it wholeheartedly, engaging in a 2-day training in 2010 to become a Leader and later building on this vocation to become a teacher on 2013 (I have taught 34 people since qualifying).

Being part of the international Laughter Yoga movement has helped me to see life differently, to be more mindful and caring.  To give back to society!  The joy I feel when I see people who have never experienced it before and it light’s up their faces like a beacon makes it all so worthwhile.

The title of this post seems a little strange but tears and laughter are so closely related.  Both can be incredibly cathartic.  They both allow us to express our feelings and to release them. 

Have you ever felt so deeply some pain from your past or a physical pain?  It is well known that laughter can ease physical pain. 

Normal Cousins proved this in the 1960’s when he was suffering unbelievable pain from Ankylosing Spondylitis that no pain killers could relieve.  Along with eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, he watched films featuring Laurel & Hardy and other comedies and found that 10 minutes of sustained laughter gave him 2 hours of pain free sleep..

You know that feeling when you are trying to hold it all together, to look strong, to be strong.  You feel the tension, you feel deeply sad, you feel your throat burn as you try to hold on to your emotions.  It hurts.  Finally, you can’t hold it any longer and the crying bursts out and you are sobbing your heart out.  Wow … the release!  You feel free. 

Then … you can laugh again and feel the joy.

Everyday life just goes ‘tick + tock’ with hardly anything to notice.

Then one day … BOOM

In a matter of seconds life is turned upside down by unforeseen circumstances.

My partner has been in hospital for nearly a month now following a cycling accident where he sustained a head injury. He is making good progress but is going to need a long rehabilitation.

The world stops … for him … for me … and for his family and friends as we all come together to support him through this ordeal.

In order to help him recover I need to build up and use my inner strength.

We’ve all heard the wise words – ’don’t try to give from an empty cup’.  This means that the main carers need to look after themselves FIRST to give their best selves to the person in need.  The carer needs to be strong to help the person needing the care gain the best recovery.

Everyone has their ‘go to’ place to re-charge.  It could be listening to music, visiting an art gallery, being out in nature.  Two of mine are walking and cycling.  For me, by far the most important is daily Laughter Yoga.  I can access it anywhere, any time … on my own or with others … sometimes through an App.

There have been times this month when I felt helpless and distraught and then I’ve joined an online Laughter Yoga session, and I have felt my spirit lift in seconds.

I know I have said this many times in previous posts about how Laughter Yoga builds effective resilience … it REALLY DOES.

Yesterday, I took a day off from hospital visiting to walk on Clent Hills and, by the Four Stones at the top, I took the opportunity to do this laughter video.

No-one knows what other people are going through and if they could harness the power of laughter, it might not change their circumstances, but it would help change the way they look at their situation more positively.

I don’t mean the sort of gentle ‘social’ laughter’ … I mean the side splitting, jaw aching deep belly laugh that scrunches your eyes so that tears flow and you feel helpless with laughter.

Can you remember the occasion when that happened?  Bring it to you mind as you read this.  Is a smile forming on your face as you recall the occasion and start re-living the experience.  It might have been your cat or dog doing a ‘zoomie’, your toddler’s expression when discovering you had been hiding behind the door.  It might have just been spending time with your friends with whom you have a deep connection and simply being together is sufficient for the belly laughter to flow.

How did it make you feel?

Did you feel a glow inside, a sense of elation and love for those around you?  Did you feel energised from the deep breathing you did between the bouts of laughter?

Imagine being able to experience all of those … just because you can. It is why I share Laughter Yoga as it made such a difference to my life.

You see when I found it, I was already in a good place in my life, and it was brilliant timing as it showed me how to make the most of every day.  By simply focusing on a few minutes’ laughter, it can bring joy to any part of the day.

Taking part in Laughter Yoga can help you feel like this.  It encourages laughter from the heart; unconditional laughter – without the need to rely on humour, comedy or jokes as these are subjective and depends how we individually relate to the content.

In Laughter Yoga we take lessons from children’s playfulness, a ‘let’s pretend’ idea to act out play so that it is joyful – singing, dancing, playing and laughing. 

Imagine measuring out a length of cloth with one hand reaching to the other hand and flowing across your body – as though measuring the cloth and, as you do so, allowing laughter to flow as you stretch. This is called the ‘One Metre Laugh’ and was one of the first laughter exercises described by an Indian Haberdasher when he attended some of the first Laughter Yoga sessions started by Indian GP Dr Madan Kataria in 1995.  Dr Kataria is the founder of the Laughter Yoga Movement that is a worldwide phenomenon.

Laughter Yoga is a proven technique and has so many mental health and physical benefits.

Come on, give it a go … what have you got to lose?

Whether you want to attend a Laughter Yoga session, join my ongoing group or even study the process and structure so you can lead sessions yourself, you are welcome to check out here:

https://www.merriemaggie.co.uk/laughter-yoga-sessions/

https://www.merriemaggie.co.uk/training/

In my next blog, I shall discuss more about the health and wellbeing benefits from practicing Laughter Yoga regularly.

‘Merrie Maggie’ Thompson