Celebrating the spirit of World Laughter Day!
A medical doctor and the founder of worldwide Laughter Yoga movement, Dr. Madan Kataria conceptualized the World Laughter Day on every first Sunday of the month May in 1998. Since then thousands of people across 105 countries in over 17,000 laughter clubs laugh together on this day for world peace and health.
So what's in a Laugh anyway?
Over the past two decades, extensive research all over the world has shown that laughter has a positive impact on various systems of the body. Most noteworthy is laughter’s ability to unwind the negative effects of stress: the catalyst for many of our health problems. More than 70 per cent of illnesses - such as high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, depression, frequent cough and cold, peptic ulcers, insomnia, allergies, asthma, menstrual difficulties, tension headaches, stomach upsets and even cancer are in some way related to stress.
It has become a challenge for people to combat daily stressors and maintain good health. They resort to several therapies and expensive medication, but somehow fail to spot the simplest of them all – Laughter which is the easiest and the safest way to alleviate stress and prevent sickness. It has been scientifically established that laughter has a profound impact on the body and mind. Not only does it help to prevent the onset of sickness by way of strengthening the immune system, it also has a healing effect. It has the power to unwind stress, uplift joy and strengthen the mind … all in an instant.
While, the number of Laughter Clubs are increasing around the world, the business world is not behind in realizing the connection between Unconditional Laughter and the Workplace Efficacy. Scientific researches shows that laughter can help resolve major workplace issues. With new researches on laughter, the business world is beginning to consider laughter seriously as a tool to improve workplace performances.
Connection between Unconditional Laughter and the Workplace Efficacy
Naturally, our Laughter is conditional and is timed for only a few seconds. Most people rely on three things to laugh: level of happiness and life satisfaction, sense of humor, and reason. But, these factors are unreliable as we are not always happy; we can’t depend upon a sense of humor and often there are very few reasons for us to smile and laugh. On the other hand, there are many reasons for us to be sad, depressed, and frustrated. The million-dollar question is: How can we still find laughter, and who will make us laugh?
Who will make us laugh? The breakthrough – Laughter Yoga!
Globally, more and more organizations are finding Laughter Yoga as a revolutionary idea. A complete wellbeing workout, that can help resolve workplace stress and create a happy, energetic and motivated workforce. Laughter Yoga is a breakthrough laughter delivery system that enables a person to laugh continuously for 15 to 20 minutes and more. The laughter exercises and breathing techniques of Yoga are designed to bring more oxygen to the body and brain, helping employees to be more focused and alert and to have more energy. The endorphins generated by laughter help to dissolve perceived social barriers between people, reduce physical tension and mental stress, and to facilitate a more harmonious team environment for all.
Business Concerns that Laughter Yoga can address:
Bringing World Peace through Laughter
Laughter is not only a proven health remedy but is also a powerful tool to bring people together from different cultures and countries on a common social network platform to care for each other. With movements such as the World Laughter Day and spreading the unconditional laughter therapy across workplaces and homes; Laughter Yoga Trainers around the world are endeavoring to building to a community of like-minded people who believe and nurture the virtues of unconditional love, forgiveness and world peace.
So, let us all come together and laugh a little more this Sunday i.e. 1st May 2016 to celebrate the spirit of World Laughter Day!