5 laughter yoga techniques to reduce stress
What's the story
Laughter yoga combines laughter exercises with yoga breathing techniques to promote wellness and help reduce stress.
The practice is based on the premise that voluntary laughter offers similar physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter.
It is accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels, making it a popular choice for those seeking quick stress relief.
Here are five ways you can de-stress instantly using laughter yoga techniques.
Warm-up
Start with a simple warm-up
Start your laughter yoga session with a simple warm-up to prepare your body and mind.
Clapping your hands rhythmically while chanting ho-ho-ha-ha-ha can help set the tone.
This exercise increases blood circulation, energizes the body, and prepares you for deeper laughter exercises.
A warm-up helps in loosening muscles and creating an atmosphere conducive to genuine laughter.
Breathing techniques
Engage in deep breathing exercises
Incorporate deep breathing exercises into your routine to enhance relaxation.
Inhale deeply through the nose, hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly through the mouth.
This technique helps oxygenate the brain, reduces tension, and promotes calmness.
Deep breathing is essential in balancing emotions and improving focus during laughter yoga sessions.
Meditation practice
Practice laughter meditation
Laughter meditation is a practice where you sit quietly and let laughter come out naturally without depending on jokes or humor.
This practice encourages mindfulness by focusing your attention on the joy of the present moment.
It diverts your attention from the stresses of the outside world, anxious thoughts, and helps you find mental calmness.
With this exercise, you learn to find joy within yourself.
Gibberish exercise
Use gibberish language playfully
Engage in gibberish conversations where participants speak gibberish and express themselves through nonsensical words that don't really mean anything.
This unique form of communication encourages the use of expressive gestures (facial expressions, hand movements) to enhance the fun.
Such activities not only foster creativity but also help break down language barriers among people.
It creates a fun, inclusive environment where laughter becomes the universal language, connecting everyone involved.
Playful interaction
Incorporate childlike playfulness
Embrace childlike playfulness by indulging in activities like mimicking animal sounds or pretending you're playing imaginary games like tag indoors.
These actions stimulate endorphin release, which positively contributes towards reducing cortisol levels.
This effect is associated with chronic stress conditions over time when practiced regularly within group settings.
These sessions are led by trained facilitators. They are familiarized specifically around implementing effective strategies.
These strategies are tailored accordingly based upon individual needs and preferences.