Friday, February 19, 2010

LAUGHTER YOGA AND ALLERGIES by Dr. K

Scientific studies have proved that respiratory allergies like asthma and bronchitis are caused not only by physical allergens but also by a negative state of mind.
We are subjected to constant (or chronic) stress that results in a wide variety of stress-related illness including respiratory allergies which affect the breathing pattern and can at times lead to severe condition of breathlessness.

Asthma and bronchitis are both common chronic lung conditions that makes breathing difficult when the airways react to certain triggers or inducers causing airways to tighten, swell and fill with mucus. The lungs get less air which can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing.

Laughter Yoga has a profound positive impact on allergies, with many practitioners reporting complete disappearance of all symptoms of asthma, skin and other allergies. Though not an intervention for countering physical causes of allergies, laughter is a definite tool to remedy stress. It can help in reducing the risk factors by boosting the immune system, encouraging deep breathing and flushing the lungs of stale air and generating a feeling of wellness.

It is a new exercise routine that combines laughter with yogic breathing. It encourages deep diaphragmatic breathing which can have a positive effect on asthma. It also increases the number and activity level of natural killer cells, which attack virus-infected cells and keep allergies at bay.

“According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Hajime Kimata of Unitika Central Hospital, Japan, studied the effects of laughter on patients allergic to dust mites, cedar pollen and cat dander. Skin prick tests using a commercial allergen were performed on 26 patients before and after they viewed the Charlie Chaplin comedy Modern Times. During the same procedure, a control group watched a video featuring weather information.

The results showed that allergic reactions of comedy watchers were reduced for four hours after the screening. In contrast, there was no effect on allergic responses of weather watchers.”

Thursday, February 18, 2010

LAUGHTER YOGA AT THE OLYMPICS

Laughter Yoga At Winter Olympics Festival In Vancouver

We are getting closer to our dream of introducing Laughter Yoga in the Olympics!

The first step has already been taken by laughter leaders Jeannie Magenta and Alex Phaneuf in Vancouver who will lead a 15 min laughter session on February 24th & 25th in front of over 10,000 people who will gather in an outdoor event of music, dance and other activities during the ongoing Winter Olympics.

The event is a part of the ŒMade in Vancouver „Festival taking place on Hamilton Street for the next two weeks right in the heart of Yaletown and all the Olympic action. It has been organized by a company called ŒI Heart Van Art‚ which promotes local Vancouver-based talent: musicians, visual artists, dancers, performance artists, films, entertainment, etc.

This occasion will be a landmark in the history of Laughter Yoga. As the movement spreads, more and more people will become aware of the several benefits of laughter therapy. We thank Jeannie and Alex for having taken this wonderful opportunity at the Winter Olympics to generate laughter and joy among the participants of the mega event.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

WHAT IS LAUGHTER YOGA ?

Laughter Yoga is a deceptively simple yet very powerful and potentially even life-changing form of exercise that anybody can do, anytime, anywhere. Its core premise is that your body can and knows how to laugh, regardless of what your mind has to say. In short: Laughter Yoga is a body-mind approach to laughter, not something mind-body. The distinction is very important. Here you do not need to have a sense of humor, know jokes or even be happy. Laughter Yoga invites you to "fake it" until it becomes real (it is important to understand that this is not comedy. Thinking will dramatically sabotage your laughter dynamic because it will force you back into the box of your own inhibitions and limitations. You will benefit most if you don't even try to be or look funny.

Laughter Yoga is non-political, non religious, non-racial, non-threatening, non-competitive. It comes with no strings attached. There are no jokes or comedy, therefore there is no judging. No mind = no ego, no room for conflict or power struggle. Laughter is a universal language that transcends all barriers: language, age, gender, social or racial background. It improves inter-personal relationships and enhances communication. It interrupts the power struggle and breaks down the instinctive barriers between people. At a deeper level it proves that pain can be overcome and also that we can all live at peace together no matter what. It teaches you to make happiness a choice and not a consequence. Yes, you can.

-Sebastien Gendry
American School of Laughter Yoga

OPTIMISTS HAVE LESS PAIN...LAUGHTER HELPS!

Chronic Pain: hand surgeon says optimists have less pain, laughter helps
Posted On February 16, 2010 In Category Laughter Yoga Blog

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Dr. Mas Massoumi, a hand surgeon from Palm Beach, Florida, says it is proven that those who are optimists usually have at least 20 percent better relief of their pain without any medication (than those who are not optimistic). On the other hand, those who are pessimists have at least 10 percent worse result than the average patients who are not thinking negatively.


DR. MAS MASSOUM BELIEVES THAT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND CONSCIOUSLY SWITCHING TO POSITIVE THOUGHT COULD DISTRACT OUR BRAINS FROM FEELING PAIN.
He knows that not every condition lends itself to operating, and not every patient wants surgery even if it is indicated. He suggests that those suffering look into meditation, yoga, breathing techniques and even prayer to relieve pain. He very much believes in the mind’s ability to help control the body’s pain.
“A positive attitude and consciously switching to positive thought could distract our brains from feeling pain,” he believes.

Source: www.palmbeachdailynews.com

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

LAUGHTER YOGA HELPED HER CLINICAL DEPRESSION !!!!!

Clinical Depression: safely reduced medication by 80% in 2 months. Now cured.
Posted On February 9, 2010 In Category L.Y. Testimonials

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By Dianne Theil McNinch (USA). In January 1997, my thoughts of suicide became frequent and by April 1997 I was officially diagnosed with Clinical Depression. Over time my condition became severe and I ended up spending over $400 on anti-depressants each month. Today I’m completely free of all medication. I sleep better than I ever have in 11 years; people tell me I look great, especially at 64! My life has undergone a remarkable change.


DIANNE THEIL MCNINCH (USA): I’M NOW COMPLETELY FREE OF ALL ANTI-DEPRESSION MEDICATION AND SLEEP BETTER THAN I EVER HAVE IN 11 YEARS.
I first heard about Laughter Yoga on the American TV show ‘Dancing with the Stars’. It seemed delightful.
Then on April 11th 2007, I happened to see Laughter Yoga on the Oprah Winfrey show. Even before the show ended I signed up for a training in California in May and tried to find a local laughter club. The next day I met Jeffrey, a Laughter Yoga teacher who guided me to my initial session.

Just two months after my first Laughter Yoga experience on April 12, I had amazingly decreased the use of medicines by almost 80%. Today I’m completely free of all medication and am saving over $400 each month. I sleep better than I ever have in 11 years; people tell me I look great, especially at 64! My life has undergone a remarkable change.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

M.I.T. LAUGHTER YOGA SESSION

M.I.T. hosts Laughter Yoga Session: marked difference in attitude
Posted On February 8, 2010 In Category Laughter Yoga News

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The Security Studies Program of the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology recently hosted a Laughter Yoga session for their staff and students. This can be seen as a trifle event, yet if you consider that M.I.T. is one of the most prestigious technology institute in the world known for scholastic distinction it becomes a rather substantial indirect endorsement for Laughter Yoga. Participating faculty and students reported that this event helped them minimize the negative effects of stress and pressure associated with the high demands of academic excellence.

This session was led by Certified Laughter Yoga professional Lynn Caesar, PhD.

Read more about Lynn at http://www.arlingtonlaughterclub.com/

STATE WELLNESS COORDINATORS LAUGHED MONDAY !

EXTRA BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU !

I had the best time introducing Laughter Yoga to the Wellness Coordinators and some of the employees from the Texas Water Development Board at the Stephen F Austin Building yesterday.

As we say in Laughter Yoga, VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD ....YEAH !

Friday, February 5, 2010

DIABETES: MIRTHFUL LAUGHTER STUDY

Diabetes: mirthful laughter raises good cholesterol, lowers inflammation
Posted On April 17, 2009 In Category Laughter Research

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Lee Berk, DrPH, MPH, a preventive care specialist and psychoneuroimmunologist, of Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, has paired with Stanley Tan, MD, PhD an endocrinologist and diabetes specialist at Oak Crest Health Research Institute, Loma Linda, CA, to examine the effect of “mirthful laughter” on individuals with diabetes. Diabetes is a metabolic syndrome characterized by the risk of heart attack, blindness and other neurological, immune and blood vessel complications. They found that mirthful laughter, as a preventive adjunct therapy in diabetes care, raised good cholesterol and lowered inflammation.
The Study

A group of 20 high-risk diabetic patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were divided into two groups: Group C (control) and Group L (laughter). Both groups were started on standard medications for diabetes, hypertension (ACE inhibitor or ARB)) and hyperlipidemia (statins). The researchers followed both groups for 12 months, testing their blood for the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine; HDL cholesterol; inflammatory cytokines TNF-α IFN-γ and IL-6, which contribute to the acceleration of atherosclerosis and C-reactive proteins (hs-CRP), a marker of inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Group L viewed self-selected humor for 30 minutes in addition to the standard therapies described above.

Results

The patients in the laughter group (Group L) had lower epinephrine and norepinephrine levels by the second month, suggesting lower stress levels. They had increased HDL (good) cholesterol. The laughter group also had lower levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and hs-CRP levels, indicating lower levels of inflammation.

At the end of one year, the research team saw significant improvement in Group L: HDL cholesterol had risen by 26 percent in Group L (laughter), and only 3 percent in the Group C (control). Harmful C-reactive proteins decreased 66 % in the laughter group vs. 26 percent for the control group.

Conclusion

The study suggests that the addition of an adjunct therapeutic mirthful laughter Rx (a potential modulator of positive mood state) to standard diabetes care may lower stress and inflammatory response and increase “good” cholesterol levels. The authors conclude that mirthful laughter may thus lower the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Further studies need to be done to expand and elucidate these findings.

In describing himself as a “hardcore medical clinician and scientist,” Dr. Berk says, “the best clinicians understand that there is an intrinsic physiological intervention brought about by positive emotions such as mirthful laughter, optimism and hope. Lifestyle choices have a significant impact on health and disease and these are choices which we and the patient exercise control relative to prevention and treatment.”

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146449.php