Our breathing pattern has a direct relationship to our state of mind. When the mind is upset, breathing becomes fast, irregular, and shallow. When stressed, we normally breathe from the upper part of the chest. When disturbing and negative thoughts cross our minds, we experience spells of breath-holding. On the other hand, when the mind is at peace, breathing becomes slower, deeper., and more regular.
According to Dr. Madan Kataria, “If we can learn to change our breathing pattern from shallow to deep, we can easily alter our body arousal system. With deep breathing, our body will not experience stress response, even if we have disturbing thoughts. Therefore, by changing the breathing pattern from chest to abdomen, we can change our reaction to stressful thoughts. Most Laughter Yoga exercises are designed to bring awareness of laughter in the belly, which helps to move the diaphragm. Therefore, belly laughing shifts our breathing pattern from the upper chest to belly breathing.”
A very important component of Laughter Yoga is the combination of laughter exercises with breathing and stretching exercises derived from yoga. Based on yogic texts, we are alive because of the life-sustaining energy force known in yoga as prana. It enters our body through breathing and flows through the energy channels called nadis, very much like the Chinese chi, which flows through meridians.
It has been well established that motion creates emotion! The direct link between the body and the mind has also been clearly proven. Whatever happens to your mind, happens to your body. For example, if you observe depressed and sad people, their bodies are also depressed. They walk slowly, talk slowly; all their bodily movements are slower.
Dr. Kataria narrates that his father used to tell him, “If you are sad, don’t sit idle, keep doing some physical work, go for a walk or jog, and you will feel better.” He did feel better by keeping his body active. This proves the two-way link between body and mind: If we can change the quality of our thoughts, then we can change our body behavior. For each type of thought pattern, there is an appropriate body behavior. If we can bring a change in bodily behavior by changing physical gestures voluntarily — as is done in Laughter Clubs — we will experience peace in our minds.
Laughter Yoga is comprised of repetitive changes in bodily behavior through laughter and breathing exercises — to enable us to influence and bring positive changes in the state of our minds. We can influence the mind through the body. Remember that even if you are not happy in your mind, if you think, act, and behave like a happy person repeatedly, over and over again, your mind will experience the blissful state of happiness. In the same manner, if you cannot laugh, bring laughter to your body first and your mind will soon follow. And experience the wonderful stress-releasing effect that laughter brings!
In the spirit of truth, fairness, and justice, this writer truthfully and strongly states that she is not only a certified Laughter Yoga leader, she is a certified Laughter Yoga teacher as well — the one and only with such certifications in the country.
Undisputedly, she is the pioneer of Laughter Yoga responsible for painstakingly bringing Laughter Yoga to the consciousness of our kababayans and stirring their interest in it since late 2007. Moreover, she holds the distinction of conducting the first-ever Certified Laughter Yoga Leader Training in the country last November, with Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of International Laughter Yoga Movement in the world.
Laughter Yoga Club, Phils. is the only Laughter Yoga Club in the world which, in addition to its advocacy of helping people become healthy, happy, and positive, builds toilets and provides clean water system to thousands of our public school children. Having healthy bodies through proper and clean sanitation will help our children keep their minds healthy, too.
The next Laughter Yoga session will be held on Feb. 18 at the Makati Sports Club for the Maritime Law Association of the Philippines and on Feb. 27 at the Makati Medical Center for about 300 Pedya Kamp volunteers, who take care of our disabled and special children all over the country.
* * *
E-mail author at mega_abundant_lv@yahoo.com.