Laughter is no doubt an entertaining thing to do, yet sadly many only focus on that small tiny aspect and miss the chain of mountains of life-changing benefits that are right behind it that they would get with only a bit more engagement. Allow me to talk today about the value of laughter in health-care. [...]
The suicide of famed actor and comedian Robin Williams surprised many people. How is it possible that a man with a heart of gold, the king of comedy who could make anybody laugh, one who had what so many aspire to, fell into depression and drug abuse, and in time contracted a disease so bad [...]
Take bread away from me, if you wish, take air away, but do not take from me your laughter. Do not take away the rose, the lance flower that you pluck, the water that suddenly bursts forth in joy, the sudden wave of silver born in you. My struggle is harsh and I come back [...]
Laughter is mainly about relationships. We live in a society that tends to isolate and divide people. Laughter improves communication Laughing together can greatly improve cooperation and empathy between people of different cultural backgrounds. It fosters better communication, which leads to a less confrontational approach in tense situations and a change from individual competitiveness to [...]
Robert Provine, PhD, a psychologist at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, elucidates these questions in his aptly titled book Laughter: A Scientific Investigation. Provine’s tight, witty prose leads the reader through a series of simple observational studies and hypotheses that exemplify scientific precepts and weave aspects of philosophy, evolution, neurology, and psychology together while managing [...]
The following is a very insightful Sufi story about how to pass-on knowledge. By Ahmed el-Bedavi (d. 1276), founder of the Egyptian Bedavi Sufi Order. Retold by Idries Shah. I read it in “Tales of the Dervishes“ - – - Once upon a time a man was contemplating the ways in which Nature operates, and [...]
This article discusses how to start a laughing club (aka Laughter Yoga Club). In case this is not of interest to you and all you want is to simply find one near you please click here. Laughing/laughter clubs are loosely defined as informal groups of people who get together to laugh as a form of [...]
Addiction hijacks and changes the pleasure and reward, learning, motivation, and memory centers of the brain. The addict brain is wired to ensure the repetition of activities associated with pleasure or reward. It ultimately seeks the release of ‘happy’ brain chemicals. The effect of such a powerful reward strongly motivates people to use those substances [...]
This article offers a review of laughter therapy history. Once upon a time Middle East: Laughter in the Bible India: Did the Buddha laugh? Ancient Greece: Gelos: God of laughter and warriors? Japan: The gift of laughter to the Gods Persia: Hafiz, on laughter 100s of quotes on laughter throughout the ages 0 AD to 1959 I am [...]
Joyful or mirthful laughter produces brain wave frequencies similar to those seen among people who reach what is considered the desired “true state of meditation,” according to a new study from Loma Linda University Health. "When there is mirthful laughter, it’s as if the brain gets a workout because the gamma wave band (the only [...]
