Laughing at nothing… Why is it so destabilizing for us serious, stressed-out adults?

I was listening to a report on Radio-Canada’s Medium Large program this morning, and the host, Catherine Perrin, was talking to a columnist about laughter. In fact, about the false beliefs associated with laughter.

Naturally, my curiosity was piqued!

For example, they said the following:

1. A good laugh is the equivalent of a session at the gym. Laughing burns a few calories, but not many. Not enough to make it worthwhile.
2. Just because we laugh doesn’t mean it’s funny. Now we know!
3. The monkeys laugh too. Of course you can! Many species can laugh. We just don’t know how to decode!
4. It’s laugh-out-loud funny. That. I’d say we can die from not laughing enough!
5. “Pre-recorded laughter” is effective. Our brains are equipped with laughter detectors—just like yawn detectors—so we feel the urge to laugh when we hear laughter… even if it’s “pre-recorded.”

However, laughter is an important social component and improves our communication.

A few years ago, I had asked that same host to mention the World Laughter Day celebrations taking place that year in Montreal’s Old Port. Her team seemed a little perplexed by the concept of laughter yoga.

And the more I listened to them this morning, the more I wondered how it is that the concept of intentional laughter is so destabilizing for adults?

If the columnist had said that laughter makes you lose weight, I can only imagine the number of people who would have rushed to sign up for classes!

But while laughing doesn’t make you lose weight (at least not enough to be worth mentioning), laughing is tremendously good for your health! On every level! Physically, mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually (yes, I dare say it!).

Laughter is a PHYSICAL process. Humor is a MENTAL process. In laughter yoga, we know this very well! We practice intentional laughter to, in a way, develop our sense of humor. The more we laugh—even intentionally—the more we find things funny. It’s like a workout!

Curiously, many adults have difficulty with this concept – intentional laughter means laughing “at nothing” – and yet they all understand the benefits of the stationary bike or the treadmill… and yet we’re going nowhere! But we keep going! HAHAHA!

Conclusion? What if we ALLOW ourselves to try? What could be worse than finding ourselves laughing out loud and saying, “This is crazy, but it works!

And IT FEELS GOOD!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

P.S. Give it a try and let me know what you think! I’ve included a short audio clip to help you out.