The Spirituality of Laughter
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The Guru of Giggling shares how itâs possible (and beneficial) to laughâeven in the face of a pandemic.
âSometimes crying or laughing are the only options left, and laughing feels better right now,â wrote Veronica Roth in her dystopian novel Divergent. But is it okay to laugh (is it even possible to laugh?) when the world feels so dark during the coronavirus crisis? Yes.
Madan Kataria, MD, aka âthe Guru of Giggling,â is the founder of the laughter yoga movement, which he started in 1995 in Mumbai. He is the author of the very timely new book Laughter Yoga: Daily Practices for Health and Happiness. âEverybody can laugh when times are good, but laughter yoga can help you laugh when times are hard,â he says. âItâs not comedy; itâs an exercise and breathing program.â
The most important thing, he says, is that the body canât tell the difference between voluntary laughter, done in the absence of humorous stimuli, and natural laughter. Laughter releases endorphins to reduce stress and brings oxygen to the body and brain. âIt keeps your lungs properly aerated,â Kataria explains.
For laughter yoga, the goal is at least ten to 15 minutes of sustained laughter, with some breathing exercises in between. âNatural laughter doesnât last that long,â he says. âWe donât have many reasons to laugh, but with this type of exercise, you laugh even when you donât feel like it.â There are lots of free videos online to teach you how to do laughter yoga. (Hereâs one with Dr. Kataria.)
He demonstrated with me, and sure enough, you can laugh on commandâespecially when there is a jovial sounding laugh expert on the other end of the phone line. âSee?â says Kataria, after a long chortlefest. âIn laughter yoga, you really exhale and get a lot of carbon dioxide out. The first exercise is to breathe in, and laugh. Hold the breath, and then laugh it out.â
Kataria suggests trying to âfake it until you make it.â One way to get started is to have a laugh challenge and laugh for one minute before lunch or dinner.
He also suggests turning routine experiences or choresâlike doing the dishes, cleaning the house, taking a showerâinto an opportunity to laugh and breathe.
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Spiritual Laughter Â
In the 25 years heâs been practicing laughter yoga, Kataria says, heâs become a changed person. âI was a serious doctor who hardly ever laughed, and now I can laugh anytime, anywhere. Iâm laughing much more than I used to. I donât get sick. My immune system has gotten stronger.â
He also noticed changes in his attitude. âI became more extroverted. And I donât get irritated as easily by little things. Itâs a spiritual thing tooâlaughter. When you laugh, you give joy. Thatâs the outcome. If you can raise your spirit and raise that of those around you, itâs spiritual. Unconditional laughter brings physical, social, and mental benefits. Please, laugh every day.â
- April 16, 2020  âÂ