Laugh a Little More

Have you laughed recently? If not, get a group of friends together to reminisce about the good ol' days because research shows that laugher (even if it's fake) is a good workout for the mind, body and soul — and it's contagious too.

It's a proven fact that 15 minutes of laughter equals two hours of sleep, and laughing for just 15 seconds can add two whole days to your lifespan — no joke. Also, it takes only 13 muscles to smile but 47 to frown, and nobody wants extra wrinkles if they can be avoided. But the most important statistic is that laughing, as simple (and fun) as it is, can possibly reduce heart disease.

Many universities around the country have researched and studied the benefits of laughter. Described as natural “medicine,” laughter can treat many bodily ailments, including reducing your chances of having a heart attack. When something's funny, you laugh, while at the same time your blood starts pumping, which can reduce problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, ulcers and arthritis. A hilarious punch line can improve breathing capacity and brain functioning, and help you gain clarity and rationality. Laughing also lowers anxiety levels and relaxes muscles, so whatever was bothering you — tension/stress from anger, jealousy, worry, fear or grief — will practically fade away.

As a naturopath and owner of Avena Naturopathic Center for Well Being in Kansas City, Mo, Jody Krukowski, NMD, goes back to the roots of medicine when describing the power of laughter, believing the body innately knows how to heal itself — vis medicatrix naturae is a Latin phrase that means “the healing power of nature,” and “vital force” refers to life energy. “When you laugh, you release endorphins into your body, boosting the immune    system and increasing serotonin levels, which serve as a mood enhancer,” Jody says. “Consistent with the naturopathic philosophy of healing, laughter targets all three levels of healing, including mind, body and spirit. Anything from life-threatening conditions like cancer to the common cold can benefit from a little laughter.”

On the outside, laughing can enhance your social life (if you're the shy type), improving your relationship with friends, family and co-workers, and raises self-esteem and confidence, ultimately providing increased joy and happiness. Victor Borge couldn't have been more right when he said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”

If you can't muster up a smile, let alone a laugh, don't stress because help is finally here. Starting in 1995 in Mumbai, India, Madan Kataria created the first “laughter club,” which flourished in popularity, and these “clubs” started popping up in hundreds of countries around the globe, recently coming to our neck of the woods. Body & Soul of Kansas City launched Laugh Yourself Healthy in September 2008. It's a free laugh class that meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month. There, you'll practice your penguin walk, Politian and sprinkler laughs, plus many more, with owner/director Barbara Anderson, who's been teaching for 34 years and has seen first-hand the benefits of laughter. “I don't think there's as much social interaction as there used to be; people just forgot about being silly and playful,” she says. “My class isn't about telling jokes, it's a social experience, and it's also a huge aerobic workout that tones muscles and lifts people out of depression.”

If that doesn't tickle your fancy, registered yoga teacher Becky Holsen and Linda Putthoff, a 25-year yoga instructor, teach a free Friday night Laughter Yoga class at Plaza Wellspring. The class consists of everyone laughing, clapping, breathing and just doing goofy things, Linda says, basically laughing for no reason at all. “One thing transformative about laughter is that it puts things in perspective,” she says. “We can't always control a situation, but we always have a choice in how we respond. When we find spontaneous joy and practice connecting with that joy, we can spread it around our world.”

When you wake up in the morning, keep in mind, “the more you laugh, the more you laugh,” Linda says. And, if you continue to find ways to make yourself laugh every day, you'll be fit, happy and healthy in no time.