The Laughter Effect
By Christine Kuhlenkamp

Mark Twain once said, "The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter." So let us use it to promote healthier, happier lives and world peace.

Laughter is universal and knows no boundaries such as age, gender, race, physical capabilities, language, religious or political beliefs. Laughter is the shortest distance between people and serves as an “ice breaker.” All children seem to know this and giggle a lot connecting all that surrounds them. Watch a child laugh - the whole body is involved. Children are full of playfulness and greet the earth as a place of discovery filled with enchanted surprises. Many of us lose that easy going, joyful view of the world as we mature into adults and “learn” how to behave “properly.”

When is the last time you experienced a truly mirthful belly laugh? When you laughed so hard that you had to gasp for air, you were in the moment and felt an enhanced sense of well-being. It is ancient wisdom that laughter is a powerful healing tool. Native American Indian tribes had laughter medicine men and special laughter ceremonies. Buddhist monks have always incorporated the importance of laughter in their teachings. The ancient Greeks prescribed a visit with a professional humorist when ill. Now in this technologically advanced age, modern science is also discovering that it may actually be “the best medicine.”
In fact, medical research is confirming many physical and therapeutic benefits of laugher. It boosts the immune system, helps control high blood pressure and heart disease by reducing the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine, amplifies the production of pleasure chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin – natural anti-depressants, increases blood flow and oxygen supply to important internal organs, causes cancer fighting lymphocytes to multiply, aids digestion and sleep, and heightens the levels of endorphins which reduce pain. It also relieves emotional tension that consequently can lead to more joy, less anger and better communication to improve relationships.

There are many ways to reignite your funny bone. Remember amusing moments. Read humorous books and articles. Watch hilarious movies and comical shows. Go out with others – people tend to laugh more in groups than alone. Make it a habit to begin each morning with a smile. Force yourself to laugh. A friend of mine told me a story about “the joy meter.” Each morning on the way to school, she asks her son how full his joy meter is. If he says that it’s low, they make funny noises, faces…whatever it takes to start laughing, so that the “joy meter” is overflowing for the day.

There are also laughter clubs to help you reclaim your playful, merry side. Dr. Madan Kitaria, a family physician from Mumbai, India, initiated this modern organized laughter movement. While doing research for an article on laughter, he discovered a wealth of scientific literature validating its health benefits for the human body and mind. So one morning he visited a nearby park and motivated people there to chuckle with him. They began by telling jokes, but it soon became clear that this would not work long term and the idea of “laughing for no reason” was born. Dr. Kitaria and his wife, a yoga teacher, created a series of deep breathing and yoga exercises combined with the sounds “He,” “Ha” and “Ho” to imitate laughter which inevitably leads to real mirthful laughter when practiced as a group. In 1995, they founded Laughter Clubs International / Laughter Yoga (www.laughteryoga.org). Today there 400+ affiliates in India with over 50,000 members who meet each morning in local parks for a 20-minute laughter club to enhance their cheerfulness.

East met West in 1997 when Dr. Steve Wilson, a psychologist from Ohio, was invited to speak on positive work environments to rising companies in India. He had heard about these laughter clubs and connected with Dr.Kitaria. A great friendship developed and it was agreed Dr. Wilson would promote the lasting effects of laughter in the Americas, thus the “World Laughter Tour” was born. He combined Eastern methods with Western ideas and developed a program to train “certified laughter leaders” (CLLs). Today over 4,300 people have been trained as CLLs through the World Laughter Tour. See www.worldlaughtertour.com.
These CLLs are presenting laughter programs in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, cancer centers, nursing homes and assisted living communities, schools and libraries, for military families, in corporations and organizations, at social functions and”jest”for fun. In fact, anybody can participate in a laughter session since the components are very adaptable. A typical program consists of deep breathing, light stretching, eye contact, the use of rhythmic clapping and the sounds “he he ha ha ho ho” and various types of laughter exercises. Again, the idea is to simulate laughter to stimulate true laughter and to educate people how to have positive attitudes in their daily lives.

This laughter phenomenon is spreading worldwide. The newest slogan for the World Laughter Tour is “Laughter is contagious, let’s start an epidemic.” Laughter programs are for everyone. They are Non-Political, Non-Religious, Non-Exploitive, Non-Perfectionist and Non-Competitive. So, pass on a smile and remember to laugh. I believe that this is just the type of pandemic that humanity needs now. At any rate, there are only positive side effects to it.

Christine Kuhlenkamp became a Certified Laughter Leader through the World Laughter Tour in April 2007. She was a professional tour manager for over 10 years and has been a mother for almost 10 years. When she heard about laughter leaders, she just knew this would be right for her to enhance her own life as well as others. She has researched the power of laughter and positive thinking for a long time. She is also the owner of Global-Journeys which offers active adventure and educational trips. She has traveled extensively and is familiar with many cultures. By sharing laughter, promoting travel and teaching German, she contributes to her community in a positive way in hopes of building a future based on mutual understanding and peace. Christine can be reached at kuhl27@yahoo.com or at 336. 293.9130.