Earlier this month I had the pleasure of being invited to lead a laughter yoga workshop for carers in Nottingham. This was for The Carers Federation ltd:
The Carers Federation, a company limited by guarantee, was established in 1992 as a small local charity and has grown steadily to become an organisation which works throughout England.
They currently run two fantastic carer services; Carers Hub Service in Nottingham/Nottinghamshire and Caregivers Connected Gateshead, an Independent Advocacy Service in the North East, and a range of specialist in-person and online training in social care and advocacy. There Quality Standard in Carer Support has been developed in consultation with carers to help organisations raise awareness, develop appropriate policies and procedures, remove some of the barriers for carers and improve access to support. So they do a great job supporting vulnerable carers in tough conditions which can be stressful. Hence the need for some laughter.
The session was hosted in St Luke’s Church; an Anglican church in Edwalton, Nottingham. We used a back meeting room which was ideal; open windows to to let air in and private not to disturb anyone with our laughter cacophony. Its important the room either has ventilation or air conditioning whilst also being private as the sessions are very voluluble. Inhibitions are also eased in a private secluded area.
There was about 10 participants. Any number is possible; from 2 to 2000! Please contact us to discuss your potential group size as this will need an appropriately sized room. All stood up or sat down with some space to wave arms and laugh is key.
The session was euphoric. We started with some gentle moves and smiles to cheesy 80s pop songs. Then 8 (Laughing John) led all through a sequence of laughter yoga laughs: shy laughter, unsure laughter, belly laughs, dopey laughs, quiet laughs and even silent ones! The session concluded with a sat down laughter meditation (eyes closed and laughing) and deep mindful relaxation. This helped achieve the main aim of the session; stress reduction through laughter and deep yogic breathing as both reduce stress instantly:
- Suppresses Cortisol: Laughter directly dampens the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, cutting levels of the primary stress hormone, cortisol, by up to 37% in one session. It also suppresses adrenaline and epinephrine.
- Floods Endorphins: It triggers a quick release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals, which promote an immediate sense of well-being and boost your pain tolerance.
- Elevates Dopamine and Serotonin: Laughter activates the brain’s reward system, enhancing dopamine and serotonin activity to naturally counter feelings of anxiety and depression.
- The Organs Stimulant: A robust laugh enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, which stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles, clearing out cognitive brain fog.
- The Stress Response Rollercoaster: Laughter initially fires up your heart rate and blood pressure, only to cool them right after. This rapid down-shift triggers your parasympathetic nervous system, bringing a deep wave of relaxation.
- Cognitive Reframing: Finding humor in a difficult situation provides psychological distance, allowing you to view a stressor as a manageable challenge rather than an stressful threat.
- A Cognitive Interrupter: It is neurologically difficult to experience intense anxiety or anger at the exact moment you are laughing; humor effectively distracts your attention span away from negative loops of thought etc
- Social Bonding: Shared laughter releases oxytocin, building social support networks that act as a primary long-term buffer against chronic daily stress.
- Easy ways to integrate more humor into your daily life
- Exercises from laughter yoga to reduce stress
- How laughter compares to other stress-relief techniques like mindful meditation or exercise
Its important we create as many opportunities in life for laughter to be made more possible for our survival and mental health state.