BBC news recently published an article on an interesting form of exercise being practiced at Hanoi , the capital of Vietnam
The combination of laughter and breathing is meant to stretch muscles and stimulate the heart and lungs, resulting in a feel good workout that exercises the body and can even inhibit our perception of pain, as found in a recent scientific study at the University of Oxford South Park
Another interesting aspect of this study was that there was a greater affect in increased pain threshold when participants were observing humorous videos in a group setting, demonstrating that laughter’s contagious effects relaxes and also creates bonds between individuals. Social laughter is simple and universal to all primates and brings people and animals together just the same as when dancing or singing. Laughing has to have a purpose, or else why would each animal possess this ability? Laughter yoga now seems to be the perfect practice, mixing the “feel good” rush of endorphins and bonding with fellow yogi’s simultaneously. I challenge you to the take a few moments out of your day and have a good laugh- it might just be exactly what you need!
Welsh, Jennifer. Why Laughter May Be the Best Pain Medicine. LiveScience. 2011 September 13 http://www.livescience.com/16038-laughter-soothes-pain.html
Laughter Yoga Classes in Vietnam . BBC News round. 2011 September 27 http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/15077160
This video was great and I really had no idea that laughter yoga existed! It is interesting how laughter decreases pain perception, and I would like to add that laughter and humor have also been studied as effective coping mechanisms for chronic stress. One man in the video even said that he experienced less headaches, ulcers, and joint problems since he started laughter yoga. These three conditions can all be worsened or instigated by stress.
ReplyDeleteAccording to a literature review by Bennett and Lengacher (2008), all intense emotions, regardless of their content, activate the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). However, whereas sad or stressful stimuli cause significant increases in blood pressure, the blood pressure of those exposed to humor remains stable. This suggests that although humor activates the SNS, it also helps buffer some of the negative effects of stress on blood pressure.
Furthermore, in a later review, Bennett and Lengacher (2009) suggest that laughter decreases the secretion of cortisol, a stress hormone that can be destructive to the immune system when secreted chronically. Moreover, laughter resulting from an exposure to humor increases immunoglobulin secretion and natural killer (NK) cell activity. The purpose of an immunoglobulin is to bind to foreign antigens and mediate effector functions. NK cells are able to quickly clear viruses and other pathogens from the body. Taken together, these physiological changes buffer the negative effects of long-term stress on the immune system.
Because it is also well known that exercise decreases the negative effects of stress, so you have a good point in stating that laughter yoga is the perfect practice.
Bennett, M.P. & Lengacher, C. (2008). Humor and laughter may influence health III. Laughter and health outcomes. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 5(1), 37-40.
Bennett, M.P. & Lengacher, C. (2009). Humor and laughter may influence health IV. Humor and immune function. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 6(2), 159–164.
It’s fascinating that you brought up social laughter. I found another social behavior to have strong chemical ties: the process of falling (and staying) in love. An article in The Economist explains that when humans have sex, vasopressin and oxytocin are released. And compared to non-monogamous mammals, monogamous mammals like humans have higher amounts of vasopressin that bind to receptors of “reward centers” in the brain.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, when University College researchers (in London) examined the brain activity of individuals who claimed to be in love, they found that a relatively small portion of the human brain is actually involved in love-spurred behaviors. They also found that areas of the brain involved in love are the same areas that yield the euphoria induced by drugs. Neurologically, people who are in love are using he same mechanisms involved in habitual substance abuse. So, even if a large part of the brain is not affected, people—essentially—become addicted to love.
Source:
“I get a kick out of you.” Accessed 8 Oct. 2011.
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@MeseretH616-I have heard about this experiment and find it very interesting. I also heard that the difference in chemical quantity is different among men and women.
ReplyDeleteI really do love the idea of yoga laughter! It is something that I could see being a very effective "medicine" for the average individual with everyday stresses.
ReplyDeleteI think that the findings that pain threshold was lowered in individuals who were laughing is very interesting. It seems as though laughter is a very uniting act that people should take more time to make a part of their day, socially.
It would be great if there would be a way to incorporate laughter into finals week a little bit more!
I wonder if there has ever been a study like this for pregnant women, nearing their due date. I think it would be very interesting to see if women who had done smiling yoga or laugh "therapy" prior to labor, had a higher pain tolerance during labor compared to women who had not. It might be a way for women who do not wish to take medications during childbirth to be able to have a little bit less pain.