I LAUGHED as I read “Let’s all laugh” (The Star, May 7).
Yes, we all must laugh more often. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain and conflict.
Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh.
Humour lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.
With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships and supporting both physical and emotional health.
It has many a social and mental benefit. It promotes group bonding.
Laughter adds joy and zest to life and even relaxes your muscles and the whole body.
A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes.
Laughter boosts the immune system. It decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
Laughter protects the heart. It improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
So laugh, and loudly. It is good for you and also those who laugh with you.
Bulbir Singh Seremban The STAR Home News Opinion 09/05/2014
WITH the initiation of World Laughter Day by Yoga founder and Indian physician Madan Katariar in 1998, this delightful, healthy occasion is celebrated in 72 countries by Happy and Joyous Clubs all over the world on the first Sunday of May every year – “Laughing your way to good health with ‘laughter yoga’” (The Star, May 5).
Indeed, loud laughter from the bottom of the guts helps to release feel-good hormones into the bloodstream, which makes the person feel lighter and happier. It is certainly good to organise and participate in laughter gatherings at least once a month for our general good health.
T. Ramasamy Kuala Lumpur The STAR Home News Opinion Wednesday May 7, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM