Dr Martin Combrinck: “Laughter Yoga yields quantifiable business benefits”

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"13151","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-21641 size-full","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"500","height":"375","alt":"Dr Martin and his wife."}}]] Dr Martin and his wife.

</div> Laughter Training helps both physically and emotionally. These are the physical benefits: Laughter lowers blood pressure (unless someone has a serious heart condition); It stimulates the digestive system and internal organs; It lowers the level of the negative stress hormone “cortisol”; It increases the flow of oxygen to the brain which enhances mental capabilities and reduces general feelings of anxiety; It decreases the risk of heart attacks; It boosts the immune system; It promotes good sleep and it increases stamina. Increased Energy Levels & Productivity Laughter Yoga provides a light aerobic workout and focuses on breathing. There is a substantial increase in oxygen supply to the body, especially to the brain cells which require good oxygen supply for optimal functioning. Participants experience a surge in energy levels leading to peak performance. Enhanced Emotional Intelligence It counteracts anxiety, fosters a sense of wellbeing, generates more feelings of optimism and ‘can do’, stimulates a more positive outlook, develops our innate sense of humour, enhances communication through increased confidence, reduces tension and irritability and creates a happier disposition. Improved Communication & Teamwork Laughter is a great communication enhancer and it said that “people who laugh together, work better together.” This is why laughter training is so effective for team building, stress management, communication and leadership programs: It breaks down barriers, makes us more likeable, more transparent; it connects and bonds people, develops our sense of humour and breaks down our inhibitions. In Laughter Yoga sessions, participants are encouraged to communicate with all other managers and staff and this reduces barriers to communication. Laugh as a team, work as a team! It has been noted in many companies that leaders become more effective. Laughter Yoga sessions foster creativity and innovation. People who feel at ease, secure and happy achieve more. They suffer less stress and are better at constructive problem solving. Daily chores are less burdensome when we laugh while doing them. We aren’t always having fun, but we do have a lot more fun with laughter than without. Laughter puts anxiety on a back burner for everyone. We can’t laugh and worry at the same time. Laughter stimulates and is stimulated by playfulness. When people play, they are at their most creative. Advertising agencies frequently use play and laughter to move them from analytical assessment to the creative flow of ideas. The natural and spontaneous laughter than arises through laughter training, bypasses the left brained rationality and the aspect of self-limiting control.