I was reading an article today in one of my local magazine titled, Laughter is the best medicine. Essentially, it was an article promoting Laughter Yoga in New Farm Park Brisbane Australia, as a way to improve one's emotional and physical wellbeing.
So, can "Laughter Yoga" really help with your stress and depression?
In my mind....YES as this is a form of Behavioural Therapy. In essence, it is the Behavioural part of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
So what do I mean by behavioural therapy?
Our behaviour is "what we do", and "what we do" affects our thinking, thoughts, and feelings. For example, look up, shoulders back, chest out, and try to be sad. Now look down, slump, and try to be sad. Did you notice that it was much more difficult to be sad when you are looking up. Why?
Because when you look up, you feel more confident, strong and hopeful perhaps. It is probably not a message of sadness. Hence, it is harder to feel sad when looking upwards.
When you laugh, you are happier.
When you smile, you are happier.
I would love to see more evidence and research in laughter yoga. Besides, it costs nothing or very little to apply!
