Laughter linked to health, happiness
[ 2006-11-30 09:12 ]
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There's an old saying that laughter is the best
medicine. No matter whether it's triggered by a good joke, a cute child or
pet, or a pie in the face of a comedian, the simple act of laughing offers
therapeutic benefits. Laughter has been shown to reduce stress and help
people lose weight. It's a special tonic for older people, who are
prone to loneliness and sad thoughts.
In fact, in more than 1,000 American communities, and a couple thousand
more around the world, entire clubs have been formed so that people can
get together and yuk it up! U.S. clubs have names like "Laugh-a-holics,"
"the Ha-Ha Spa," "Granite State Giggles," and "Judy's Joyful Laughter
Club."
The idea started in India, where laughing is an oral yoga exercise
using discipline, mind power and a good belly
laugh.
Laughter is certainly contagious. Only a
determined grouch could avoid at least smiling when others around him are
laughing till it hurts. That's why members of laughing clubs don't just
get together to howl with laughter themselves. They meet on street
corners, in train stations, and other public places, laugh their fool
heads off, and invite everyone around them to join in.
Laughing clubs have become so popular that one can even get training as
a "certified laughing leader." And the key qualification? You have to be
really good at these, chortling, chuckling, howling, snickering, cackling,
tittering, giggling and sniggling. |
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