Long before the invention of laughter clubs, some Buddhist monks used to laugh every morning for a few minutes: it was a breathing exercise, intended to get them in shape, while giving them serenity. Several studies, including one conducted by the University of Maryland in Baltimore, have shown that a sense of humor and laughter reduce the risk of cardiovascular illnesses and increase our years of life. Here are several laughter exercises that will help you reduce stress and tensions.
Inner smile meditation
Sit on the edge of a chair with your feet flat. Exhale deeply to start, then exhale deeply.
Close your eyes, and think of something that makes you very happy (a sunset, a melody, a child’s smile). Inhale this happiness like a perfume until your chest opens and expands, and, on the exhale, let this happiness diffuse into your body. Add a smile to your face to amplify the feeling of expansion in your heart. Your face is relaxed, soothed, it connects you to the best of yourself.
Family tickle workshop
A volunteer lies down comfortably. The others settle around to tickle him. The leader is at the head and enforces the following 3 rules:
1 – Ask if there are forbidden areas and respect them
2 – Announce that we are starting
3 – Stop as soon as the tickled asks for it.
Create your laugh box
Putting it together is already fun and using it afterwards is funny, even life-saving. Take the time to collect everything that makes you laugh: comics, radio show, comedian, book, film, phone numbers of your funniest friends, etc. In case of low morale, dive in!
Laughter hahaha!
Stretch, yawn, make a Tarzan cry, smile softly, inhale and fill yourself with air then slowly release the sound: ha, haha, hahaha. Start over and do it with more and more conviction until real laughter sets in.
Why not practice in a group
At many you can try one of these exercises.
–The laughter of the heart: laugh while raising your arms, palms raised to the sky, head tilted back. You feel the laughter come from the bottom of your heart.
–Cell phone laughter: you hold an imaginary cell phone in your hand and move towards others, while miming a hilarious conversation.
–Gradual laughter: start with a frank smile, half-open mouth, gradually adding giggles or mischievous little laughs, the intensity of which you gradually increase. At this point, all the members are ready to burst into genuine laughter, for several seconds. Then, gradually reduce the laughter, until it stops completely. This laugh can last several minutes.
