Laugh until you’re in ‘stitches’

A wise person once said, “You must carry laughter with you wherever you go”; and residents at an aged care facility in New South Wales are doing just that. But what is making them laugh so hard and loud that they end up in ‘stitches’? The answer? Absolutely nothing.

‘Laughter yoga’, a phenomenon slowly taking the world by storm, is helping the elderly in more ways than one may think.

Laughter yoga combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing. Experts claim anyone can laugh without relying on humour, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group, but with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into ‘real’ and contagious laughter.

The class, in Grafton, NSW, is led by the facility’s relief activities officer and personal carer, Ros Houlahan; who told DPSe News she came across the ‘unique practice’ while doing some research on the internet. She says she thought it would be “ideal” for people in aged care; and after trying it herself, she completed a course and is now literally laughing her way to success as a certified laughter yoga teacher.

Laughing yoga, described as a ‘complete wellbeing’ workout, is the brainchild of Dr Madan Kataria, an Indian physician from Mumbai who started the first laughter club at a park in 1995 with just five people.

Laughter yoga can involve clapping and tapping, human puppetry and sing-a-longs, belly laughs and a general feeling of cheeriness; and experts say there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to practise this type of yoga.

The concept of laughter yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter as a person is said to experience the same physiological and psychological benefits.

Ms Houlahan says some residents at the NSW facility cannot participate in certain activities due to mobility and visual problems, but laughter yoga is “great because everyone can laugh and it makes them feel good”.

“It feels weird to start and some say it’s silly but the fake laughter soon turns spontaneous,” Ms Houlahan insists.

Laughter yoga has been well-received by aged care facilities across the globe, and Ms Houlahan suggests the reason is associated with the element of difference that the workout brings.

“Normally residents participate in regular activities like bus trips and other forms of entertainment, but laughter yoga is a bit different and we didn’t know how open minded people would be until we started the classes; but residents with poor mobility, those that are vision and hearing-impaired, and even those with dementia really connect,” she says.

“Most residents don’t realise that they are actually exercising during the sessions. If you stop and think about what you’re doing, you will seem silly, so laughter yoga is really just about constant movement and laughing.

“Keeping the laughter flowing keeps it relaxing and the interactive role playing sees residents move parts they haven’t moved in years.”

A passion for her job and improving the quality of life for older people is the driving force behind Ms Houlahan’s goal of bringing some laughter into the lives of aged care residents.

She teaches classes at the NSW aged care facility twice a month, with the most recent session held on Wednesday (27 July 2011). She has hopes to bring smiles and laughter to many more residents with future plans to roll out laughter yoga classes state-wide.

Ms Houlahan often asks her residents to close their eyes and think of a happy time in their lives.

“At the end of the classes, they leave the room and you can tell they feel happier… you can feel happiness in the building,” she says.

Laughter Yoga Australia chief executive, Merv Neal, told DPS eNews, laughter yoga can benefit people in three distinct ways.

“Firstly it makes people happy, secondly yoga laughter improves the breathing process and lastly it is an aerobic exercise program,” he says.

“Even when a person is just sitting in a wheelchair, the clapping and chanting involved in laughter yoga helps immensely.”

Mr Neal, who leads a Melbourne-based laughter yoga group, says the elderly, pre-schoolers, parents and teenagers can all participate in laughter yoga with equal benefits.

He claims to have also seen the benefits of laughter yoga in stroke victims and Parkinson’s disease patients, who often have severe mobility problems.

Although this phenomenon is yet to reach its full potential, Mr Neal says awareness of the unique workout is “slowly getting there”.

“Several years ago people would have thought laughter yoga was kooky and crazy, and people are only learning of the benefits now.

“And residents in aged care facilities have a darn good time doing it,” he laughs.

Today there are more than 6,000 social laughter clubs in 65 countries, including Australia, India, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium; to name a few.

How often do you have a chuckle? After reading this article, what are your thoughts on ‘Laughter Yoga’? Leave us a comment in the box below.