10 Things You Didn’t Know About Laughter

Lisa Sturge knows a lot about laughter because she is the director of Laughter Lines Coaching. She talks about ten surprising things from her new book, Laugh.

Early people laughed differently.

We learned to laugh because it helped us feel less stressed, worried, scared, or threatened. After almost getting hurt by a dangerous animal, our forefathers may have laughed about getting rid of the tension that had built up in their muscles and bones. Primitive laughter started when people were full and relaxed.

It showed that everyone was doing well and made play, enjoyment, and community last longer. Even if humans don’t laugh, our brains feel good when others laugh. Smiling came about because we wanted to show others that we weren’t dangerous. Showing our teeth was a way to show that we were submissive and wanted to show our loyalty.

Laughter came before humor.

Laughing came before humor, which grew along with a bigger social brain and spoken language a long time after laughing did. Our ancestors slowly learned how to use laughter to break up the sounds of speech, making it the complex and useful way to communicate that we use today. Laughter brought on by jokes has become a positive sign of how people play with words.

Laughter is genetic

Laughing is a natural, built-in response that most babies learn around three or four months. Children who are blind, deaf, or have other problems with their senses can learn to laugh, which shows that laughter is a natural skill that we all have. Laughter is a physical reaction that causes many good things in the body. It works on the whole body and is good for our health.

It enhances mental performance.

Laughter makes us smarter by blocking stress hormones and releasing neurotransmitters that make us feel good. This helps us feel calmer, clears our minds, and lets us think of new ideas. When we laugh often, we are more likely to take chances, try new things, and keep going when things get hard. Laughing wakes up our brains and helps us remember things and focus better. It also gives us more energy to face challenges.

You should work on laughing.

When we pay attention to something, it stands out more. When we laugh every day, it becomes easier, more natural, and closer to the surface of our lives. Laughter has become a well-known buddy and helper in good times and bad.

If we can turn on the tap that makes us laugh, we’ll never be bored. The more we laugh, the stronger it gets, like a muscle. Laughing more often makes it a less conscious, deliberate act and more of a natural, spontaneous, bubbling laughter that comes from within.

A genuine smile is named a Duchenne smile.

This is where it gets to the muscles around the eyes and mouth and starts working on them.

A laughter club can be joined.

Laughter Yoga clubs have popped up worldwide to help people of all ages laugh together more often. The laughter clubs help people make friends, feel like they belong, have fun, exercise, and feel better.

Laughter clubs bring people together and create laughter societies where many can practice, explore, and appreciate laughter in a secure and nourishing group setting. The exercises in Laughter Yoga are easy to change to fit the different needs and physical abilities of the people who do them.

Laughter can be soothing.

Laughter calms us down and brings us back into balance. It lets go of our thoughts and muscles and holds on to life. We can eliminate the stress, worries, and anger that weigh us down when we chuckle. Laughing makes our fears seem smaller and gives us a fresh start. It makes things more stable and puts us further away from our problems.

It gives old habits clarity, a new point of view, and new energy. After a good laugh, we find ourselves in a state of peace and comfort that is truly sublime. We often let out a deep sigh, releasing any remaining tension as our carcasses enjoy the deep feelings of calm, peace, and relaxation.

Acknowledging and enjoying these feelings is crucial, giving the body time to calm down after its anoxic laughter workout and return to being still. We can’t laugh all the time. To get the most out of laughter, we must rest, be quiet, lie down without being bothered, and find silence. When you take a moment to sit still after laughing, you feel like you’re all connected, at peace, and as if you’re one.

Gentle Laughing can be encouraged by operatic exercises.

Breathe with a lot of emotion, like you’re in an opera, and move your arms around gently in time with your breathing. Smile big and enjoy every beautiful breath of air you take in, feeling it feed your body. When you breathe, make a loud sigh or a musical note. Think that this is the best breath you’ve taken all day.

FAQ

Q1: What is laughter and why do people laugh?
A1: Laughter is a physical reaction that involves the coordinated contraction of various muscles in the body, especially those in the face and abdomen. People laugh in response to humor or as a social cue to communicate happiness or relieve tension.

Q2: What are the health benefits of laughter?
A2: Laughter has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, improving immune function, and decreasing pain perception.

Q3: Can laughter be used as a form of therapy?
A3: Yes, laughter can be used as a form of therapy, known as laughter therapy or laughter yoga. It involves deliberate, voluntary laughter exercises and deep breathing techniques to improve overall well-being.

Q4: How can one incorporate more laughter into their daily life?
A4: To incorporate more laughter into daily life, one can try watching comedy shows or movies, reading funny books or articles, spending time with friends or family who make them laugh, or engaging in activities that bring joy and amusement.

Q5: Is laughter contagious?
A5: Yes, laughter is contagious and can spread easily in social situations. Hearing or seeing others laugh can trigger a response in the brain that causes one to laugh as well.