Improvised Laughter Follow Along Session exploring 10 Health Benefits of Laughter. Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Wellbeing Laughter CEO and Comic Mime Robert Rivest helps motivate us to embody these 10 Health Benefits of Laughter. He reminds us to laugh often, for the health of it. He inspires us to create a daily laughter practice for our health, happiness and overall wellbeing. Links below.

10 Health Benefits of Laughter:
https://wellbeinglaughter.com/wellbei...

Health Benefits of Laughter Yoga:
https://wellbeinglaughter.com/laughte...

Corporate & Staff Stress Relief:
https://wellbeinglaughter.com/services/

Robert Rivest School & Library Programs:
https://www.robertrivest.com

10 Health Benefits of Laughter

1. Lifts Your Mood: Laughter releases chemicals that make us feel good. (See DOSE below). When we feel good, we can do just about anything a little easier. Laughter helps us have a positive mindset. It can help us diffuse anger and conflict allowing us to see the humor in life.

2. Laughter Releases DOSE! D.O.S.E. is the acronym for all the major “Happy” chemicals in our brains. These chemicals are Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins. The release of these chemicals makes us feel happy, motivated, significant, and connected, while at the same time, reducing pain, stress, and anxiety.

3. Boosts the Immune System: Laughter reduces our primary stress hormones by increasing our intake of oxygen and stimulating our circulation. What’s more, laughter increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies (like T and B lymphocytes) improving our resistance to disease, bacteria, and viruses.

4. Decreases Stress: We produce serotonin when we laugh. That helps reduce stress hormones like cortisol, which build up when we experience sustained stress over time. Laughter stimulates circulation, reduces inflammation, and aids in muscle relaxation, which helps relieve the physical symptoms of stress. Laughter can ‘switch on’ the calming effects of our parasympathetic nervous system.

5. Improves Creativity & Productivity: Laughter can instantly relieve our body’s stress response, soothing any tensions we are holding. It can help us be more creative and productive by improving our overall emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. Laughter can lessen brain fog and enhance our problem-solving skills. A deep belly laugh can help our brain focus and concentrate, allowing us to stay on task.

6. Increases Oxygen Levels: Laughing alone, or with others, can provide a great workout for our pulmonary, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. Laughter makes our lungs work harder in a good way. When we laugh, our diaphragm, chest, and abdominal muscles tighten. This forces stale air out as we exhale, allowing fresh air to go deeper into our lungs when we inhale. Laughter expands the tiny air sacs in our lungs, giving us an expanded area for oxygen exchange.

7. Regulates Blood Pressure: Laughter is aerobic. When done enthusiastically, laughter is equivalent to other aerobic exercises. Laughing stimulates our muscles, heart, and lungs, and can even lower inflammation. This helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems such as strokes and heart attacks. Laughter works our muscles and stimulates several organs. The increased amount of oxygen entering our circulation dilates our blood vessels. Our blood flow rises and blood pressure increases a little, then drops down to baseline when we stop.

8. Manages Pain: Laughter relaxes the muscles and helps the body to produce natural painkillers called endorphins. Endorphins promote an overall sense of ease and wellbeing. They essentially turn off our pain by blocking the nerve cells that receive the pain signals. Endorphins can also help us relieve moodiness and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Plus, laughing is fun.

9. Reduces Depression and Anxiety: Laughter practices are gaining popularity as a noninvasive and non-pharmacological alternative or additional treatment for anxiety, stress, and depression. When we have a good laugh, it reduces muscular tension and overall stress. Laughter can lower anxiety and irritation, which contribute to feelings of melancholy, sadness, or depression.

10. Brings Us Together: Laughter is a universal activity that fosters closeness in a group, contributes to group bonding, and helps us build trusting relationships. Humans use different types of laughter as social clues. We can even use laughter to negotiate a better way to live and work together. When strangers, friends, family members, and coworkers unite in laughter, they feel more connected and more at ease with one another. The release of feel-good chemicals like endorphins, allows us to open and share more with others.

10 Health Benefits of Laughter with Robert Rivest https://wellbeinglaughter.com/