Laughter is the best antidote to depression

Depression, according to recent studies,  is a leading cause  of  death  in  this  modern-super-fast-paced-highly-revolutionized-techie world we live in.  The antidote to depression  is a happy, positive  mindset.  When one laughs, endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good hormones, are released, making a person feel good and happy.  “A merry heart doeth good like a good medicine.”

The demise of Robin Williams  made me realize how Laughter Yoga can  greatly help lift depression, which actually is  one of its major benefits.  Laughter Yoga works both ways – helps both the participant and the one conducting it feel good, happy, positive and healthy. By learning to laugh, taking things we cannot change right away in  stride and learning to  roll with the punches by focusing on the positive, beautiful side of life, we become more appreciative of what and how we are.  Grateful even as we bear in mind that whatever challenges we face shall  come to pass. That  trials and difficulties, like  rains and storms, are but passing seasons of life.

Laughter lifts  the  spirits. Couple this with long, deep breathing  and, voila, you feel better! Very often, on and off my Laughter Yoga sessions,  I am asked  if  I get depressed and encounter  problems, too.  I  reply I have  no  problems, only challenging  situations, and say, “Hello! I am as human as anyone.  The big  difference is I don’t dwell on any situation toxic and negative. I lift them up to God, who willingly takes on all our burdens for us.  He carries us on His  shoulders during our most trying  moments.”  Jokingly, but  seriously, I added, the louder  my  laughter, the  heavier  or  more  difficult  the challenges that besiege  me. Also, at  the onset of a any negative feeling, I do  some Laughter Yoga exercises, particularly the Hearty Laughter, my favorite. It is good for the mind, body and spirit and  guaranteed  to make one feel better. The hoho haha-ing is another good stress buster, good for  the overall well-being.  Any  rhythmic movement of the diaphragm  makes one feel better.  It overhauls the  mood and mindset.  In addition, I do positive chanting like: “I feel good, very good; I am happy, very happy,” complete with body movement, and in no time at all, the cobwebs crowding my mind are gone.  My mood reversed. My outlook positive. My feeling much better.

I realize the great  need to spread Laughter Yoga to help and make as many of our kababayans experience the best, fastest, easiest, stress-and-depression buster there is —  Laughter Yoga. Acceding to the  numerous  emailed requests, the following are the Laughter Yoga benefits:  lifts depression, reduces cholesterol level, clears the air passages,  boosts the immune system, brings down the  stress level, enhances  optimism and  cultivates positivism.  The Laughter Yoga  exercises  are doable  anytime, any place in all of life’s challenging situations.  It can be done alone or with a group.  Laugh and you banish your worries and everything that bugs your mind. As you read this now —  laugh! 

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Let’s laugh to a healthy, happy, positive us.  My next LYoga session is tomorrow, Aug. 27, at the Dusit Hotel for Punongbayan, Araullo & Associates’ employees and clients. Email me at mega_abundant_lv@yahoo.com.