

The Laugh
It was a wedding. A day of celebration in 2019. A day of joy. The bride’s brother made me laugh out loud. I can’t remember what he said, but it must have been hilarious!
LAUGH THEORY
Everyone knows the phrase, ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ – and that laughter is widely used in conjunction with medical and psychological treatments. Many hospitals also have clown doctors (not scary clowns, but funny ones), particularly in children’s wards to make them laugh.
Laughing is said to use 400 different muscles in the body, which includes 50 facial muscles. This means that the whole body is active and moving – and equal to 10 minutes of aerobic exercise. It is not only energising, it is also relaxing. Laughing for a minute is equivalent to 45 minutes of relaxation, says healthywaymag.com. That’s because endorphins are released, causing feelings of pleasure.
Laughter benefits can be social, mental, and physical. Research shows that laughter is good for the heart, as it dilates blood vessels, improves breathing, improves digestion, and strengthens emotional connections with people. It improves the immune system, which could provide a level of protection against certain diseases. It may also aid rest and sleep.
Laughter forces you to be positive – you can’t frown and laugh at the same time! In a positive mood, you are more likely to think clearly and to deal with everyday activities and challenges.
LAUGH PRACTICE
In addition to formal laugh therapy in clinics, there are informal laugh centres and laugh groups across the globe, where people get together to laugh out loud. Or you can laugh by yourself to yourself.
Watch a comedy, look at funny animal videos, listen to a funny song, remember the funny times in life.
Benefits occurs with all forms of laughing, such as the following:
- chuckle
- chortle
- cackle
- titter, tee-hee
- snigger
- snort
- giggle
- nervous laughter
- guffaw
- belly laugh
- howl, roar
- convulsive laughter
- laugh-till-you-cry
Just do it. Relax, think of something funny, pull a funny face, be tickled. Laugh for a few minutes or longer.
LAUGH SIMILARITIES
Different approaches are all okay. The laugh doesn’t have to be a loud belly laugh. A little laugh will do. In fact, psychologists say that the laugh doesn’t have to be genuine. It can be a fake laugh, a pretend laugh – because a pretend laugh can still use lots of muscles and body movement.
LAUGH NEGATIVES
Extroverts may find laughing activities effective for them, but some introverts may find it uncomfortable until they get used to it, especially fake laughing.
Some people laugh at inappropriate times in inappropriate places to conversations that are not necessarily funny – it could be a bit awkward. For people who do, try to laugh it off.
LAUGH CAVEAT
Laughing does not necessarily address core issues.
QUOTES
“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills.” – Audrey Hepburn
“Always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine.” – Lord Byron
“Laughter is the only way I get through the day sometimes.” – Marc Ryan
“Deep, hearty, clean and compassionate laughter is vitamin-tastic fuel for the soul.” – Ethel Russell-Ajisomo
TESTIMONIALS
DISCLAIMER: This website’s author does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician or psychologist, either directly or indirectly. Therefore, information provided here is not intended to replace readers’ existing or other medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice. The author’s intent is to offer general information to help readers in their quest for emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing, guidance towards self-empowerment, and/or for entertainment purposes only. Rainy Day Healing and Martina Nicolls shall not be held accountable for any loss which may arise from any readers’ reliance and implementation of any information provided. For information on courses and personal consultations, see TERMS AND CONDITIONS.