• The purpose is to prolong the exha- becomes a conditioned reflex.
Holding Your Knees
lation, in order to empty the lungs Another variation is to keep your
Laughter
completely. This will help you to eyes closed and take a long breath.
inhale deeply and get more oxy- Hold it as long as possible, avoiding
This last exercise helps facilitate the
gen flowing into the body. While the urge to laugh. The anticipation of
upward movement of the diaphragm
doing laughter exercises, try to laughter is what prompts real out-
by pressing in on the abdominal mus-
keep laughing until you run out of bursts of laughing. In the beginning,
cles. It, too, helps improve circulation
breath, removing residual air from do it deliberately or pretend to laugh;
and stimulates blood flow to the brain.
the lungs. soon, you will experience the real
It involves simple steps of pulling in
• Keep your chin up; it becomes feelings and laughter will be sponta-
the knees and releasing them as you
much easier to laugh if you are neous.
exhale and inhale.
looking upwards. It also makes the
• Lie on your back, hold your knees
respiratory tract straight and facili-
One Meter Laughter
together with both your hands and
tates the flow of air.
slowly bring them closer to your
Stand or sit to perform one meter
• Spreading your arms out and look-
chest.
laughter. If standing, place your feet
ing up creates happy body lan-
• While doing this, push your chin
a little apart and position both your
guage. Because of the body-mind
upwards and keep your mouth a
hands to the far left. Then, slide one
link, a happy posture facilitates the
little open and exhale. This straight-
arm over the other and stretch it to the
release of happy chemicals in the
ens the respiratory tract and allows
opposite shoulder, as if measuring a
brain.
a freer flow of air.
one-meter piece of fabric. Note these
• Now, release your knees and in-
three stages: first, touch the elbow
Voice Reinforcement
hale while taking in deep breaths.
while sliding; second, reach the op-
Voice reinforcement techniques help posite shoulder; finally, stretch out
As you bring your knees closer
to bring laughter more easily. Start by both arms to either side, push your
and push your chin upwards, use the
taking a long breath and start saying chin up, open your mouth a bit wider
sound reinforcement techniques of
haaaa-haaaa-haaaa-haaaaa-haaaa and laugh heartily.
laughter. Say a prolonged haaaaaaa in
five to seven times. Then, try to laugh This technique, which opens the
a crescendo and then start laughing.
and keep laughing until you com- diaphragm, allows laughter to flow
Take a few deep breaths in-between
pletely run out of breath. Another easily straight from the belly. It has a
spells of laughter. While laughing, you
approach is to use the vowel sound cathartic effect as you release pent-up
can open or close your eyes, depend-
Aeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, and prolong emotions and experience a sense of
ing on what makes you comfortable
it while raising your arms over your joy and freedom.
and helps keep you laughing.
head. With your chin up, laugh ha-
Childlike giggling is another
ha-ha-ha. Repeat the technique, using
Aloooha Laughter
great way of breaking into truly tick-
Aaaaaaaaa and Oooooooo. Do each
Derived from the traditional Hawaiian led laughter.
five to six times and take a few deep
greeting, Aloooha laughter stimulates
breaths in-between.
brain and body as it facilitates circula-
Dr. Madan Kataria is the founder
Voice reinforcement techniques
tion and blood supply. It is ideally
of Laughter Yoga Clubs; connect at
are best performed while standing,
performed in the morning in bed,
LaughterYoga.org.
but you can also do them while lying
upon waking.
down. Some people find that bringing
Sit up on your knees and place
their knees towards their chest helps to
some cushions in front of you. Raise Need help get-
expel the residual air more easily.
your arms, push up your chin and ting started?
start saying a prolonged Aloooooo in call the free
Breath Holding Technique
a crescendo. End it by saying a loud laugh line
The way to employ the breath- haaa and laugh heartily. Bend down
at the top of
holding technique is to take a long as you do this to dig your head into
the hour from
breath, raise your arms over your head the cushions; carry on and don’t stop
6 a.m. to noon,
and hold your breath, while stretch- if you’re enjoying it.
as well as 3, 8 and 9 p.m. and
ing the spine backwards. As you try to As you dig into the cushions,
1 a.m. (edt), 712-432-3900,
continue to hold the breath a little lon- you can also cover your head with
pin 6071292# to connect with
ger, you will burst out laughing. The your arms as you continue to laugh.
a certified laughter leader. For
position builds up pressure inside the This encourages the flow of air and
pre-recorded sessions, call 712-
lungs and facilitates laughter; gradu- can feel stimulating. Many people
432-3903 with the same pin.
ally, the brain develops a new connec- even move towards longer, hysterical
tion between breathing, stretching and laughing to experience a total feeling
Source:
FollowTheLaughter.com
holding the breath and laughter, and it of release and well-being.
Pr i n t e d o n re c y c l e d Pa P e r t o Pr o t e c t t h e en v i r o n m e n t
February 2010 27
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