World Laughter Day (May 5) is celebrated worldwide on first Sunday of May to raise awareness about laughter and its many healing and well-being benefits. "One of the ways of practicing laughter for health, happiness and well-being to take to laughter yoga or do organized therapeutic laughter exercises," wrote this blogger in an earlier post.
According to author of the book "The #2 Laughter Yoga Card Deck: Seniors Pack", Sebastien Gendry, laughter yoga exercises are easy, safe and genuine form of physical workouts. He has created 16 laughter exercise cards that provide detailed instructions for laughter as designed intervention.
He holds that laughter yoga is especially beneficial for older people since in a group situation, it fulfils their need of more human contact. "While most of them are surrounded by peers whom they like and share similar interests with, many still dearly miss their children and family. Deeper down, what they really miss is the need for someone close to them with whom they can confide their emotions," says Gendry.
Though exercises are written for the seniors but they are appropriate for all, regardless of their cognitive, sensory or motor abilities. As has been rightly said: 'Laughter is the best medicine'. Also, there exist evidences in the form of neuro-scientific studies that laughter therapy has curative value.
We must remember laughter raises the immune cells count to work as medicine.
Read the following limerick and feel amused.
Limerick:
Laughter Day arrived with chuckle and cheer
No more life be wrought with dread and fear
Live a let-go life to stay safe and sound
Laugh world away for immune cells profound
Live life like 'Laughing Buddha' my dear
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