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Happiness and Laughter Are Natural Immune Boosters
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/12/happiness-laughter-immune-boosters.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/12/happiness-laughter-immune-boosters.aspx
Dr. Oz explores the healing power of laughter with some of the funniest guys he knows. Mimic and humorist Kurt Kilpatrick talks to Dr. Oz about the importance of using laughing to stave off stress. Then, comedian and author Steve Rizzo explains how to become a "humor being."
The man of many voices, Kurt Kilpatrick is a news reporter for WJDX AM radio in Jackson, Mississippi, and co-host of the program, Burt and Kurt in the Morning. A professional humorist and speaker for more than 25 years, Kurt has established himself both by recording comedy albums and by being an award-winning humorist.
Having made a career out of making people laugh, Kurt says there's no denying humor's health benefits. "When people laugh a lot, those endorphins get running around up there in the brain and interject into the hypothalamus and all that stuff, and the humor just comes out, and that is beneficial," Kurt says.
Steve Rizzo is the author of Becoming a Humor Being, and the creator and executive producer of his own nationally syndicated PBS special. After doing stand-up comedy for many years, Steve transitioned to being a professional humorist speaker.
Steve says part of his goal in being a comedian is to help people cope with life's challenges. "People need to know that there is a difference between laughing at something that's very serious and laughing off the fear that represents it," Steve says. "If you can allow yourself to laugh off the fear, and anything that might be bothering you, you're going to beat it."
Tapping into your own inner sense of humor is the key to reaping the health rewards of laughter, Steve says. "Everyone has a 'humor being,' everyone on this planet," he says. "Your humor being is of your higher self—it's the part of you that brings out the best in you when times get really tough."
Read more: http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/Laughter-is-the-Best-Medicine#ixzz2gVlAZpLT
The man of many voices, Kurt Kilpatrick is a news reporter for WJDX AM radio in Jackson, Mississippi, and co-host of the program, Burt and Kurt in the Morning. A professional humorist and speaker for more than 25 years, Kurt has established himself both by recording comedy albums and by being an award-winning humorist.
Having made a career out of making people laugh, Kurt says there's no denying humor's health benefits. "When people laugh a lot, those endorphins get running around up there in the brain and interject into the hypothalamus and all that stuff, and the humor just comes out, and that is beneficial," Kurt says.
Steve Rizzo is the author of Becoming a Humor Being, and the creator and executive producer of his own nationally syndicated PBS special. After doing stand-up comedy for many years, Steve transitioned to being a professional humorist speaker.
Steve says part of his goal in being a comedian is to help people cope with life's challenges. "People need to know that there is a difference between laughing at something that's very serious and laughing off the fear that represents it," Steve says. "If you can allow yourself to laugh off the fear, and anything that might be bothering you, you're going to beat it."
Tapping into your own inner sense of humor is the key to reaping the health rewards of laughter, Steve says. "Everyone has a 'humor being,' everyone on this planet," he says. "Your humor being is of your higher self—it's the part of you that brings out the best in you when times get really tough."
Read more: http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/Laughter-is-the-Best-Medicine#ixzz2gVlAZpLT
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/21/stretch-laughter-yoga-serious-benefits/?ref=nyregion
Laughter Yoga – A Boon For People With Special Needs
Laughter Yoga Helps People Cope With Hurricane Sandy
FRIDAY, 04 JANUARY 2013 12:31
Francine Shore, CLYT, New York: Sometime back in December, 2012, I conducted a Laughter Yoga session at Hurricane Sandy Stress relief at a Community College on Long Island, New York that was housing the residents, who had lost their homes due to the hurricane.
At the camp we had a small group of about 6 female residents and 1 child, who participated and Laughter Yoga once again proved to be a very effective tool for treating acute PTS reactions. It offered the residents a chance to respond to loss in a more positive and playful way by letting go of a situation they had no control over.
"Laughter Yoga" and its Effect on Older Depressed Women
By FYI Health Writer on Sep 28, 2011
Summary
Unrestricted laughter combined with yogic breathing positively affects the overall disposition of a person. The exercise hybrid “Laughter Yoga” was founded by M. Kataria. This study compares Laughter Yoga to group exercise therapy in their benefits to the life of older adult women. The researchers divided 70 elderly women with depression into three groups to undergo laughter therapy, exercise therapy and neither (control). Later, they were tested for depression symptoms and feelings of life satisfaction. Depression was significantly and equally reduced in the two experimental groups. Life satisfaction was improved in the laughter group.
HEALTH POLLWhen I Try To Lose Weight The First Thing I Change Is:
Vote To See Results
Introduction
While pharmacological help is available, depression is a common problem for adults over 65. Alternative therapies are recommended, as there is a higher danger of side-effects with medicinal intervention among the elderly. Dr. Kataria proposes to use laughter as a form of exercise, independent of humor. Studies have shown “beneficial effects of laughter on the different body systems such as muscle relaxation and change is immunological, hormonal, and mental parameters.” This study compares the effect of laughter yoga to that of exercise therapy on treating depression and improving satisfaction with life. Older adults would benefit more from alternative therapies, and since women are more prone to depression, older women were chosen for the study.
Methods
* Certified depressed women aged between 60 and 80 were divided into Laughter Yoga (23), Exercise Therapy (23) and Control (24) groups.
* Data regarding age, education, family situation and occupation was collected. A Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questionnaire with 30 questions was used to test the degree of depression. A Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS) assessed the level of pleasure in life.
* The Laughter Yoga group underwent 10 sessions. They began with introducing happy thoughts, followed by clapping to increase energy and giving rhythm. Arms are swung to a simple chant to work the diaphragm.
* Laughter exercises are interspersed with deep breathing exercises to bring physical and mental relaxation.
* The Exercise Therapy group carried out 10 sessions of 30 minutes each of aerobic exercise.
Results
* The degree of depression reduced significantly in individuals of both laughter and exercise therapy groups, but not in the control group. The improvement was similar in both.
* “Only subjects in the Laughter Yoga group showed significant improvement in their life satisfaction scores compared with the control group.
* Both the exercise group and the control group showed similar life satisfaction values.
Shortcomings/Next steps
The result showing the absence of the effect of exercise therapy on life satisfaction is probably due to the smaller sample size, and may differ in larger cohort studies. Laughter Yoga is supposed to be performed outside, surrounded by greenery, but this was not done in the study. The duration of the study was too short to study lasting effects on mood and mental state.
Conclusion
The study aimed to prove the usefulness of laughter therapy in improving depression symptoms in older adults, especially women. The results show that not just does laughter therapy have similar success in reducing depression as exercise therapy; it also has positive effects of the feeling of satisfaction with life that the elderly have. Laughter Yoga is based on the premise that humor is based in the mind, while laughter is physical, and has its independent benefits based on breathing and muscular movements. Laughter Yoga is a definite recommendation for non-invasive therapy with none of the negative side effects that are so common at an older age.
Read more at FYI Living: http://www.fyiliving.com/research/laughter-yoga-and-its-effect-on-older-depressed-women/#ixzz2JCThFVPn
Summary
Unrestricted laughter combined with yogic breathing positively affects the overall disposition of a person. The exercise hybrid “Laughter Yoga” was founded by M. Kataria. This study compares Laughter Yoga to group exercise therapy in their benefits to the life of older adult women. The researchers divided 70 elderly women with depression into three groups to undergo laughter therapy, exercise therapy and neither (control). Later, they were tested for depression symptoms and feelings of life satisfaction. Depression was significantly and equally reduced in the two experimental groups. Life satisfaction was improved in the laughter group.
HEALTH POLLWhen I Try To Lose Weight The First Thing I Change Is:
- Diet
- Exercise Regime
- Both
Vote To See Results
Introduction
While pharmacological help is available, depression is a common problem for adults over 65. Alternative therapies are recommended, as there is a higher danger of side-effects with medicinal intervention among the elderly. Dr. Kataria proposes to use laughter as a form of exercise, independent of humor. Studies have shown “beneficial effects of laughter on the different body systems such as muscle relaxation and change is immunological, hormonal, and mental parameters.” This study compares the effect of laughter yoga to that of exercise therapy on treating depression and improving satisfaction with life. Older adults would benefit more from alternative therapies, and since women are more prone to depression, older women were chosen for the study.
Methods
* Certified depressed women aged between 60 and 80 were divided into Laughter Yoga (23), Exercise Therapy (23) and Control (24) groups.
* Data regarding age, education, family situation and occupation was collected. A Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questionnaire with 30 questions was used to test the degree of depression. A Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS) assessed the level of pleasure in life.
* The Laughter Yoga group underwent 10 sessions. They began with introducing happy thoughts, followed by clapping to increase energy and giving rhythm. Arms are swung to a simple chant to work the diaphragm.
* Laughter exercises are interspersed with deep breathing exercises to bring physical and mental relaxation.
* The Exercise Therapy group carried out 10 sessions of 30 minutes each of aerobic exercise.
Results
* The degree of depression reduced significantly in individuals of both laughter and exercise therapy groups, but not in the control group. The improvement was similar in both.
* “Only subjects in the Laughter Yoga group showed significant improvement in their life satisfaction scores compared with the control group.
* Both the exercise group and the control group showed similar life satisfaction values.
Shortcomings/Next steps
The result showing the absence of the effect of exercise therapy on life satisfaction is probably due to the smaller sample size, and may differ in larger cohort studies. Laughter Yoga is supposed to be performed outside, surrounded by greenery, but this was not done in the study. The duration of the study was too short to study lasting effects on mood and mental state.
Conclusion
The study aimed to prove the usefulness of laughter therapy in improving depression symptoms in older adults, especially women. The results show that not just does laughter therapy have similar success in reducing depression as exercise therapy; it also has positive effects of the feeling of satisfaction with life that the elderly have. Laughter Yoga is based on the premise that humor is based in the mind, while laughter is physical, and has its independent benefits based on breathing and muscular movements. Laughter Yoga is a definite recommendation for non-invasive therapy with none of the negative side effects that are so common at an older age.
Read more at FYI Living: http://www.fyiliving.com/research/laughter-yoga-and-its-effect-on-older-depressed-women/#ixzz2JCThFVPn
