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What is Humor Therapy?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Time to Laugh and Heal!
Have you ever heard of laughter yoga? It is all part of the rapidly growing field of alternative therapies. Laughter yoga was created over 15 years ago by Dr. Madan
Kataria, a doctor from Mumbai, India. In fact, get ready for 'World Laughter Day'
on May 10, 2010. * See below in the section about 'Laughter Clubs' for more information.
We've probably all heard the saying "Laughter is the Best Medicine" or a variation thereof. Documentation has shown that a good belly laugh makes us feel better. Yet, there is no reference to humor and its healing powers in medical training manuals. But humor therapy does exist and continues to grow!
One good thing about humor therapy is that it is free and we all have access to it. But ask yourself this: "Have I had a good belly laugh today?" Surprisingly, your answer may be 'no.' In fact, laughter seems to be so far removed from our lives that there are therapies and a number of websites that are designed to help teach us the power of laughter. Humor therapy is now often used in hospital settings and other health care facilities because of its proven healing benefits. The very idea that humor can heal continues to grow as a therapy.
Following are some questions you may be asking yourself;:
Has the power of laughter ever been documented?
The case of Norman Cousins (a political journalist) has been documented by the New England Journal of Medicine. A 1979 study showed how laughter could help reverse a serious illness. Norman Cousins had a degenerative disease known as ankylosing spondylitis, which is the painful disintegration of the connective tissues in the spine. He created his own humor therapy and discovered that 15 minutes of laughter offered the benefit of providing nearly two hours of pain-free sleep.
How is that possible?
What laughter does is release endorphins. Endorphins are the body's own natural pain killers. Laughter has also been found to lower blood pressure, boost the immune system and reduce stress hormones. Further, a good hearty laugh is thought to act as a form of exercise because of its benefits towards cardiac conditioning.
THERAPIES THAT ARE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE:
*What is a Laughter Club?
Started on March 13, 1995, by Dr. Kataria of India, Laughter Yoga is a worldwide phenomenon with more than 6000 Social Laughter Clubs in 60 countries. It combines Unconditional Laughter with Yogic Breathing (Pranayama). It is based on the scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between real or fake laughter - the physiological and psychological benefits are the same. Membership is free. There is so much on this website, I think a visit is worthwhile. For more information visit: laughteryoga.org/
Note: This may take a bit of work - this idea of just laughing out loud by yourself. But I find that if I just plaster a smile on my face - for no reason - it instantly makes me feel better. Then the idea of me sitting here right now writing this hub with a big smile on my face - well, that makes me laugh.
What is Clown Care?
Clown Care was created by the Big Apple Circus here in New York City. It is known as their signature community outreach program. The program was created in 1986 by Michael Christensen to provide the healing power of humor in hospital (and other) settings - the objective is to get children to laugh. Based in a NYC hospital, the program now brings the classical circus to 18 pediatric facilities in the U. S. - in one year the clown doctors have made nearly 250,000 visits to children undergoing treatment. For more information visit: bigapplecircus.org/community/clown-care.aspx
What is the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH)?
The AATH is a large organization in its 30th year of operation. It is an international organization made up of professionals who incorporate humor into their daily lives. Yes, they are committed to providing humor and laughter - as well as studying and researching it. There is even a "Humor Academy" course certification program. The AATH has also created an official definition of "Therapeutic Humor" which is found on their website. For their mission statement and a very interesting read that even made me laugh - just the thought of such an organization - please visit; aath.org
Other organizations with websites:
rxlaughter.org - This organization develops and implements projects examining the health benefits of entertainment to help alleviate the trauma of serious illnesses. They work in cancer support groups, mental health facilities, nursing homes and many other types of care facilities.
cancerclub.com - The Cancer Club has been created to help and inspire anyone who is dealing with cancer. They even have award-winning cartoons which were quite funny. You'll find helpful articles, a club store, a prayer list, inspiring words and and helpful links.
Are you finding things to laugh about?
The fun thing about laughter is that we seem to all have that particular friend that makes us laugh hard - for no reason. I have a friend - we seldom see each other (she is a workaholic) but when we get together at a coffee shop and look at each other...we just start laughing - the kind of laughter that brings tears. Why? Maybe because we have had so many good laughable experiences together in past years to recall. Or maybe it's because we were both complaining in a coffee shop some time ago, about certain stressful things, and when we voiced them - they sounded sooo ridiculous out loud. We could only laugh. Just thinking about her - makes me laugh. And I know when I see her in a coffee shop we will laugh with tears - and the whole coffee shop will start smiling. It always happens. Two clowns in flip flops.
Do you have people that make you laugh? Sometimes it is family because we grow up and around the same sense of humor. Sometimes recalling some incidents can make you laugh. For example - my son makes me laugh out loud and when I laugh he laughs. And one fine day he was in my house talking non-stop (he was maybe 35 at the time - so not a child), two hours later he was still talking and then the ultimate horror - he decided to get up...and started acting out the things he was saying - it was all too much! I told him to get his coat...just get his coat...and just get out! He left laughing. What would possess a grown man to act out what he is saying?
I also work as a substitute teacher sometimes and honestly, any student I work with (from K-12) makes me laugh. Even better, I can make fun of them - and they laugh. Laughter is always contagious. Children are naturally hilarious. My neighbor has a daughter who is now 2 - and she was born with a glowing smile - and is also a natural comedian. Just thinking about her makes me laugh.
And Elders - something happens when we get older. Perhaps we realize that laughter does really feel good and we enjoy sharing it. Or perhaps we know we can get away with saying anything. I know some hilarious older people. My all time favorite comedian was Moms Mabley - an older (she was probably near 70 years of age) woman who got on stage way back in the 60's - and said anything she felt like saying. Her favorite topic was the love of young men. In fact, she said "The only thing an old man can do for me is introduce me to a young man" - she made fun of aging. She made fun of herself and other elders - and we laughed. She even got raunchy at times - her comedy albums are priceless.
Pets? Pets, if allowed to be who they are - well, dogs can be so goofy and cats just downright wry. I played with a friend's ferret some time ago - who knew they were so funny and hilarious. Even my son and daughter-in-law's 3 boa constrictors and bearded dragon are likely to do funny snake or dragon things. I think animals have an instinct for play and like us more when we laugh.
Hope you find lots of laughter in your life! It's there! One good belly laugh per day - and maybe it will heal what ails us.
See links below for other healing therapies. And for a bit of laughter - a new hubber has written some humor - see "And Now For a Bit of Humor" - stupidity can be fun:
Laughter
Have you laughed out loud today?
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Related
Comments
This is great - thanks so much for pointing it out.
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Thanks drpastorcarlotta - you always make me smile - which feels as good as a laugh!
I love a good laugh! It makes me feel goooooood!!! I love this Hub!!! Very useful! I voted! BKCreative when you get some time, come visit me. Be Blessed!!!
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I even feel like laughing when I come to this hub Eiddwen. Great to meet you by the way - thanks for writing.
Laughter is indeed the best medicine!!
Thank you so much for sharing.
I have only just found you on here and I am looking forward to reading more of your work.
Take care BkCreative.
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Thank you Gracie Sophia!
I like this!
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Thanks so much Buffoon. So glad it put a smile on your face. Isn't it amazing that laughter is so rare? Time to change that. Nice to meet you by the way.
HAHAHA! Me, being a professional Buffoon, can't help but agree with all you've said here :) A laughter a day keeps the doctor at bay! Enjoyed reading this, it put a smile on my buffoon face, so good job!
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Thanks so much Nic, and you are right we just don't think about how...we don't laugh anymore and it does feel good! It makes you glow!!!
Oooh good stuff. This morning something on tv made me laugh soooo hard. I realized that I don't laugh as much these days, with others, because I spend so much time alone now. To more laughter for us all, cause that's the secret! You said it!
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Thank you so much rls8994 - there is nothing that can beat a belly laugh especially when tears are involved. How great that is. And it's contagious!
Thanks so much for your input. Nice to meet you by the way!
Just today at work, one of my co-workers and I had a belly laugh. We laughed so hard that it did hurt my belly and we both had tears in our eyes. Other people started laughing because they saw how tickled we were. It made the rest of the day great. It felt so good to laugh that hard!
Loved this hub BK!!
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Soooo truly Micky Dee. I'm with you there!
It good to "crack up" sometimes! Thanks BKCreative!
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So true loveofnight. If you are innocently out and strolling about and come upon laughter you can't help but to join in. At the very least you'll smile! And then you feel better!
Thanks for commenting!
i am a firm believer in laughter being good medicine, and it is very contagious as well.just start laughing for no reason and see how many follow without knowing why......great hub
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Thanks for the lovely comment Rebecca E. Of course I am one of your biggest fans and keep up with all you write!
what another wonderful hub, I do beleive laughter will heal. So coming from you I know I am on the right track.
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Hey Jo! It sounds like a plan! Hahahahahah! Thanks for visiting!
Laughter, what is that, if I did that in my household they
would think I lost my mine.....um......not such a bad idea.
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Yes, we do need humor in NYC more than ever alexandriaruthk. We are so overcrowded in this crumbling city. Yikes! But at least it's getting warmer - summer is everything!
Great to meet you by the way! You have wonderful hubs!
humour is great! I think humour is needed in New York< hmm I hope many NYorker read this hub! smile and it is getting hot in Dallas BK,
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Hello fastfreta! I can tell you have laughter and joy in your heart. I can feel it in your hubs. How lovely, to have a mother that makes you laugh - it was the same with my mother. I will always treasure her for not letting anything take away her sense of humor - something that is happening to often to so many of us. The laughter has stopped.
Thanks so much for your comment!
Oh Bk this is priceless. I do love a good laugh often, I mean belly laughs, and I get those often, because so many things make me laugh. For instance my mother is so funny, that just talking to here makes my day. You mentioned about pets, well, when I look at squirrels at play I have a ball. I could just go on and on about this hub, but you wrote it well enough, that I don't have to rewrite it. Very, very good hub.
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You're very welcome DREAM ON! Thanks for your lovely comment!
This is an incredible hub.It has so much potential in the lives of so many.Thank you so much.
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Ah, Lord Bryan - you have that special person that makes you laugh. An finding humor in sadness - a great coping mechanism - makes so much sense.
Thanks for commenting!
I must tell you. I will find humour in just about everything. Even subjects that most would be sad about.I hate sadness. I agree with you about certain people who just make you laugh. My best friend, Kathy, makes me laugh all the time. Or it could be, I'm laughing AT her. Either way, I am getting in my daily laughter. She is always telling me, she is happy to know I find her life funny. And I do.
Lord Bryan
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Good pun elmarko - because laughter does help sooo much. Thanks for commenting. Nice to meet you too by the way!
Great stuff, and very true. A laugh a day keeps the doctor at bay! Poor pun but at least I tried:)
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I so agree with your observation dohn121. Your second grade teacher is probably laughing everyday and going home with funny stories to share - and laughing again. During my full time teaching years I went home laughing everyday. Now when I sub and meet students there is always a reason to laugh. I find teenagers absolutely hilarious! Thanks for your input!
It really is ethel smith. A good comedian is worth the pay!
Laughter is so good for you
I really enjoyed reading this, BkCreative. I can't prove it, but daily interaction with children not only helps us to laugh, but keeps us younger. Just a few years ago, I visited my old elementary school and my second-grade teacher and was amazed that she barely aged. She had a couple of grays and some crow's feet (barely noticeable, but that was it). It really is amazing.
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Thank you susanlang. I was just rereading your hub about justice not being a lady. I suppose I could have revealed myself. Thanks again for coming back.
When your hub is funny it's good to come back. Thanks!
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So true cameciob! I have found so many reasons of late to laugh. It's great having good people in your life. Glad you like the poll and laughed!!! You know just write the word hahahaha - is funny! Yes, we can do this.
Thanks for the compliment CarpetDiem! And the price is right - yes, let's heal ourselves. Yay! Thanks for writing!
Hey BK,
Awesome hub. I've always thought that laughter was the best medicine (at least a good medicine) and it's free!
There's nothing like a good belly laugh! :)
Hi BcCreative, I am glad you wrote this hub. Too many times we forget to take a break and laugh. I like your poll, the last option is hilarious.
Thank you for reminding me to laugh.
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Hello Katria Ariel - thank goodness for the furry friends in our life - they are a source of wonder and amazement - and laughter, they truly do have the power. And they are so intune to us that we have an obligation to be happy to make them happy. I'm glad you enjoyed the hub!
Hello Hypnodude - Thanks so much for your input. Glad you and your pup are having sidesplitting laughter. And speaking of pets - I've always had a great love for hippos - and I have a feeling they are kind of hilarious! One day I must find out!
Thanks for the comments!
Wonderful hub and so full of truth. Actually I hace a dog who is a kind of laughter machine, especially when I try to train with her around. I can just laugh until my sides split, if the words are correct. Laughter is the best medicine, it's a deep truth. Rated up and stumbled.
Excellent! So many good points here. I especially like the fact that you included pets, because they have such an ability to make you laugh even if you're stuck in another, not so great emotion. I find my pets have the power to bring me out of a funk when I'm down like no human being can do. Great hub!
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Yes, Mystique1957 - Let us laugh out loud HAHAHAHA! Feels good. I like your new avatar by the way - looking good!
Bk...
You did it again! LOL! You made me laugh, hehehe! This is good really! It is nice to laugh not only because of the endorphins but also we put more muscles into movement! Great Hub! 1...2...LET US LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!!
Warmest regards and infinite blessings,
Al
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Thank you (again) for commenting Amber Allen. Boy when you come back to your own hubs and read your own comments - well they can get messy! Whew!
You're welcome susanlang! And I know I will - thanks for checking back!
Thank you and I hope you get a good laugh too.
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Great to hear it susanlang - I must come and visit and laugh and laugh. Thanks for letting me know and commenting.
It is infectious Allen, and safe - so why fight it! Thanks for the compliment!
Hi BKC
Great hub, I can't think of anything else that is totally infectious that is good for you!
Amber:)
I could not agree with you more, that's why I have been posting forums which are funny and make "light" of everything in the last few days. Thanks for sharing the laughing side of things. :)
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This is such a brilliant idea Shalini Kagal - and I commend the brilliant Doctor Kataria for doing this.
How lovely for you to hear this sound every morning! I think it will grow more here in the US because we need it. And yes, I have laughed with children and dogs and cats and ferrets and snakes and bearded dragons. They know laughter!
Thanks so much for your input!
Hi BkCreative - what a wonderful hub! I've seen the laughter clubs in Bombay and Pune, where we live now also has many of them - it's such a wonderful sound early every morning, you just can't help laughing along with them as you walk past. Laughter comes so naturally to children and animals, doesn't it - yes, both our dogs laugh, honest! If only we never grow out of our capacity to laugh!
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Love that you can laugh so well Ann Nonymous! Nothing like the great pain of a good laugh. I love it! Thanks so much for your very nice comments - as always!
I hear you laughing Maita - hehe - but then you always do, which is sooo nice. I'm so glad you wrote!
This is terrific and awesome Bk, hehe, you always amuse me and I like this very much, this is what we need in this times of troubles and health care prob hehe, Thank you, you really rock and always have idea about good health, Maita
I am a very firm believer of humor therapy. And although the deep belly laughs I on occasion suffer from lead to breathlessness and pain in the lungs and stomach it is by far great pain!I can not survive if I do not get my daily dose of at least a recongnizable giggle. I love to laugh, and I love this hub! Very creative, once again, BkCreative!!!!!
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Hello PWalker281 - how great you are going to attend Laughter Yoga - and you're in Hawaii - perfect! I'm going to look for one in NYC - and return to the website in the meantime because there is so much information there - and lots of smiles and laughter. How interesting that a psychic would advise laughter for your mother - that is so wonderful, and now we know.
You're very welcome and thanks for your input.
Hello Paradise7 - I'm glad the hub made you smile - and every time I come here and read the comments I smile. This is so great - just thinking about laughter and humor seems to work.
Thanks for commenting!
What a great hub! It made me smile. The thing with pets and ferrets, particularly, sounds like GREAT therapy, to me.
Hey BK! This hub is right on time! I've been looking for ways to raise the vibrational frequency of my energy field (had a dream last night that told me to do this first, instead of trying to change my external environment), so I can add laughter to my arsenal of techniques. I even found Laughter Yoga here in Honolulu and plan to attend the next meeting in a week.
I wish my mom had followed the advice of a psychic friend of mine who did a reading for her when she had colon cancer. He told her to laugh more, but she didn't understand how laughter could heal her (sigh).
We now have all of the scientific evidence of its positive effects on the body, as your hub so clearly provides. Thanks so much for sharing!
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So true deepanjana - it does feel so good and the feeling does linger. Nice to meet you by the way!
Hello mwatkins - I'd love to know more - haha - about tongue therapy - sounds great! Perhaps you can share more in a hub! I've been laughing more since I started this hub. It does feel good - thanks so much for writing and sharing 'tongue therapy' with us. That's a new one!
Thanks for the comments!
haha - Great hub! My friend, Melody Saunders in Portland Oregon owns a photo studio and did an entire book on "tongue therapy," which is along these same lines. And in this economy, your timing is PERFECT!!
its indeed a great feeling. a very apt hub .. thanks
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You're welcome lctodd1947. It often seems like we are both on the same page. Always good to get your input. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Great information and just recently I wrote an articles on laughter also and it is very good therapy. Good for the body, mind and soul.
Thanks for the articles...enjoyed
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Michal Shane - you showed up at the right time. I was laughing through your hub when I was still working on this hub and then - boing! Light bulb moment. Glad you loved the hub!
I wish we could do Clown Care together akirchner - we'd have soooo much fun. By the way your hubs have always been a great source of laughter - such wit and humor. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Thanks for the comments!
Love it - humor/laughter is the best medicine. I think I should sign up for Clown Care - along with my Griffin!
I was very impressed & loved this hub! Thanks for using my link to be a part of this awesome hub!
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So great anglwu - that you started off with laughter - that made me laugh hahahaha. Oh it is all so contagious. It's interesting that certain diseases are contagious - and so is laughter - which can conquer illnesses. I'm glad you liked the hub.
Thanks for that input Feline Prophet. As I read through the laughter yoga hub it talked about how it started there in India and maybe 10 people would get together and laugh and how it grew and grew - and when you see people laughing it makes you smile or laugh. What a brilliant idea this is. Indeed it is yoga for the insides because it does work!
Thank you Hello, hello. I had no idea Humor Therapy was such a large movement and so far reaching. But I'm so glad!
I'm with you Veronica Allen - I must watch comedies - even if I have to go to the library and get a video. I must laugh out loud. Even Jay Leno's monologue and Headlines can get a good laugh out of me. But we are overwhelmed with so much to deal with and laughter has been absent. That should have been a warning - when the laughter stopped that should have told us we had to effect change all around.
I know what you mean Darlene Sabella. I read somewhere that you can be affected 'by proxy' - so even if we are not suffering just seeing it can make us suffer. But if we are constantly in a state of misery - what will we be good for. I'm going to go back to these humor websites and see how I can participate. And the cancer club - those cartoons were hilarious!
Thank you hublim. That's exactly what we have to do - lighten up. Despite all the horrors that we are aware of - we can't let them sicken us - we have to stay above it in order to cope. I read that 66% of depression drugs are used by Americans. This isn't good.
What a nice compliment Jen's Solitude - you made me smile and then I laughed. It was so much fun looking at these websites - they made me...happy. And I plan to revisit them - even join where I can. I love laughing. I think as writers we need to find some online sources because we spend so much time alone.
Thanks so much for all the great comments and input. Hahaha!
My friend you write THE best hubs! What a terrific subject and what an informative hub. I will really enjoy checking out all the sites you listed and I truly appreciate you for taking the time to put in so much research along with your own personal experiences. Laughter has always been a gift that I have appreciated, thank you for explaining its benefits in such a way that makes us want to do more of it!
Laughter therapy? You’re having a laugh!
There is nothing better than a good chuckle, people really do get themselves into a constant state of sadness and it’s not good. We all could do with lightening up a little.
Great hub, thanks BK
Really this is a fantastic hub, and you are so right. I am so serious all the time, when I was younger I would laugh, but not for years now I have gone into serious mode, this I must fix. Bless you for alerting me about the endorphins I am missing out on...
BkCreative - I must have my comedy relief everyday - Seinfield and The Office are my favorite - it really releives the stress from the day.
I love to laugh, but you are so right - we are finding less and less (good things that is) to laugh about now a days.
Thanks for reminding us just how important laughter is to our health.
Thankyou for your information of which I have never heard off. I can see the point and believe it.
I remember when laughter clubs were first introduced in India - it was such a sight to see a bunch of people laugh out loud and consciously in parks and other places. There were many sceptics then but over the years people have come to believe in the power of laughter to heal. A friend of mine calls laughter 'yoga for the insides'! :)
Haha--hehee--this is a jolly good hub and i love the idea of laughter yoga. Laugh our blues and ills away--very fabulous idea and I think I like it a lot. It's free and it doesn't produce muscle ache, except maybe an aching mouth. Thanks and truly, thumbs up!
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Yes indeed theherbivorehippi - dogs are such a great source of fun and entertainment and I think they know it. I so enjoyed your great photo hub about your pups - I can tell they know how to have big big fun! There is of course therapy that includes dogs and cats for healing.
Thanks for writing. Wonder what we can do about the clowns.
You know with my dogs that I always have a good belly laugh every day. Never a dull moment with these kids. You are so right too because sometimes I laugh so hard, all alone and then I just feel like a new person! Just a wonderful hub!! p.s. Clowns scare me!!
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Hello msorensson! Thanks so much for your kind comments. I'm sitting her laughing just thinking about laughter. Interesting about your friend in New Orleans. Some of this is still new to me. I knew about the clowns in hospitals but didn't know about the laughter yoga - which makes so much sense.
Yes, Immartin - laughter is soooo contagious - good idea - I can imagine a theater full of giggling children. We start out laughing then lose it along the way. Too bad. We have to remember it's healthy - and fun. Thanks for your comments.
I'm glad I krak you up kowality. Nice to meet you by the way!
You krak me up! Awesome hub Bk
I've always known that laughter heals. Want another good place to laugh? Go to an afternoon showing of a children's movie, preferably on a Saturday when the theater is packed. I dare you not to laugh when in a crowded room full of laughter. Just a hint -- always works for me, and there's no shortage of children to take as a cover. Thanks for another interesting hub on the miraculous powers of the human body and alternative methods of accessing them.
We are at least ten years behind Europe with respect to accepting alternative therapies.
I am glad more people are becoming more aware of them and choosing them and thanks to people like you who are educating a lot, BKCreative.
In fact one of my contacts in New Orleans conducts this.
Thank you for the well thought of hub.
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