Last month I gave a mini-workshop on Laughter
Yoga to a group of 12 ladies at one to their Breast Cancer Support meetings in
Salisbury. All were keen to participate fully and enjoyed the laughter
exercises as well as the spontaneous, contagious and conversational laughter
that ensued. During the evening participants experienced several laughter
inducing exercises aimed at getting in touch with their inner child. They were
also introduced to deep breathing exercises and some of the fundamentals of
Laughter Yoga. A book on lymphatics on the bookcase kept staring in my face as
I was facilitating the group.
This was a strong reminder of the reasons why I
was promoting Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga positively impacts upon our
lymphatic system and, whilst promoting positive thinking, goes well beyond it.
Often overlooked as a serious topic of scientific study, laughter has,
nevertheless, been shown to strengthen the immune system and the Killer T cell
response. By decreasing stress hormones and increasing immune cells, laughter
promotes our resistance to disease. Among other functions, the lymphatic system
helps remove and destroy waste, debris, pathogens, toxins and cancer cells.
Unlike blood which flows throughout the body in
a continuous loop thanks to the heart, the lymphatic system has no pump of its
own. Instead, the system relies entirely on the movement of muscles in the body
to circulate lymph in its own system in an upward direction towards the neck.
So any muscular movement is important for lymphatic flow. If you are ill, not
very mobile or stuck in a sedentary job, laughter and deep diaphragmatic
breathing might prove to be the most painless and beneficial tools to move more
lymph and keep your lymph system functioning efficiently. Belly laughter
triggers diaphragmatic breathing as your diaphragm flutters up and down at a
very quick rate.
This action generates pressure against the
central lymphatic vessel in the middle of your body, making your diaphragm into
a powerful pump for your lymphatic circulation: an increased lymphatic flow
means an elevated improved immune system by producing more lymphocytes and
anti-bodies. Research in a cancer vaccine is looking at stimulating the immune
system to produce more T cell to attack the cancer cells. Whilst waiting for
the vaccine to be made available, you could start choosing to laugh more, in
whichever way you please: whether you engage in Laughter Yoga or you connect
with people who make you laugh.
Natural and inherent to human beings, laughter
(or just a smile) does not require any particular level of fitness: It is free
and always available within you, regardless of your circumstances. Marie-Ange
is a qualified Alexander Technique teacher, Dru Yoga and Laughter Yoga teacher.
She practices in Wilton and Salisbury and can be contacted on 07804 041 005.
