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What People Are Saying



“I enjoyed our laughter session very much and I wish my husband could have been here. He’s the old sober side and I’m sure you could have made him laugh!”
Marsha Jarsma, Berkeley, CA

“I am in constant pain, and for the 45 minutes of this laughter exercise it took my mind off the pain. I was pain free for that amount of time and right now I’m not feeling any pain. Hopefully this will last throughout the day. I really enjoyed this class. I would recommend it to anyone.”
Luberta King, Berkeley, CA

“I just would like to say that I think the principles are so important to reinforce what we learned in the regular classes I wish my wife could be here to see this, and the thing I really enjoy about this is that you’re going to have a video that I can show her to help her with her situation because she’s unable to be here today.”
Ron Bargones, Patient at Mercy San Juan, Carmichael CA

“This was great! I feel so rejuvenated and refreshed. I had no idea how much my inner child wanted out to play! I also had no idea of the positive physical aspects to laughter. Great class! Keep up the good work!”
Pam Thomas, California Department of Health, WIC program
What is a Laughter Session?
Laughter makes you feel good!
The health and mood enhancing benefits of laughter have been known to people for many years. Now medical research has confirmed what we have already known. Laughter is good for you! Recent studies have shown that laughter decreases stress, supports our immune system, and strengthens our cardiovascular health. Laughter sessions are designed to bring the health benefits of laughter to your life!

Here’s how it works. When you laugh the pleasure centers of the brain are stimulated, releasing serotonin and endorphins. This causes you to feel good, energized, and happy. Here’s the trick. The brain does not know the difference between real laughter and fake laughter. Even with a fake laugh, the brain will release feel-good hormones. In the past we have waited for something funny to happen to laugh. Laughter sessions show us that you we can choose to laugh at anytime. This fake laughter quickly turns into real laughter. This gives you the power of using laughter to generate your own joy.

Laughter Sessions are fun, anyone can do them, and they are very playful. A laughter program is appropriate and ideal in wellness programs for businesses and corporations. Laughter sessions are also wonderful therapeutic adjuncts for people with medical conditions.

Imagine laughing yourself to health…perfect for anyone who wants to just feel great!

Health Benefits and Research (from the Experts)
Physiological Benefits

There is much support for laughter increasing our overall health. Laughter…
  • Strengthens our immune system. (3,11)
  • Strengthens our cardiovascular system. (9)
  • Increases our general good health. (8)
  • Can prevent against upper respiratory infection. (12)
  • Even suppresses feelings of pain. (5,15)
Psychological Benefits
Laughter has shown to create a positive mental state (1,7) and Laughter…
  • Increases our feeling of well-being by releasing endorphins. (2,14)
  • Reduces anxiety, tension, and depression. (10)
  • And decreases the effects of stress on the mind and body. (2)
Weight Loss Benefits
Laughter can help you lose weight…
  • Lose weight by burning up to 5 pounds of fat per year. (4)
  • Ten to fifteen minutes of laughter per day can increase energy expenditure by ten to forty Calories per day. (4)
  • According to Dr. William Fry, laughter is good aerobic exercise. He says that one hundred laughs a day are equal to ten minutes of rowing or jogging.

Resources
  1. Argyle, M. (1997). Is happiness the cause of health? Psychology and Health. 12, 769-781.
  2. Berk, L.S., Tan, S.A., Fry, W.F., Napier, B.J., Lee, J.W., Hubbard, R.W., Lewis, J.E., & Eby, W.C. (1989). Neuroendicrine and stress hormone changes during mirthful laughter. American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 298, 390-396.
  3. Berk, L.S., Tan, S.A., Napier, B.J., & Eby, W.C. (1989). Eustress of mirthful laughter modifies natural killer cell activity. Clinical Research. 37, 155A.
  4. Buchowski, M.S., Majchrzak, K.M., Blomquist, K., Chen, K.Y., Byrne, D.W., and Bashorowski, J-A. (2007). Energy expenditure of genuine laughter. International Journal of Obesity. 31, 131-137.
  5. Cogan, R., Cogan, D., Waltz, W., & McCue, M. (1987). Effects of laughter and relaxation on discomfort thresholds. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 10, 139-144.
  6. Dr. Michael Miller, The University of Maryland School of Medicine. (2005).
  7. Edwards, J.R., and Cooper, C.L. (1998). The impacts of positive psychological states on physical health. Social Science and Medicine. 27, 1447-1459.
  8. Fry, P.S. (1995). Perfectionism, humor, and optimism as moderators of health outcomes and determinants of coping styles of women executives. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs. 121, 211-245.
  9. Fry, W.F. (1994). The biology of humor. International Journal of Humor Research. 7, 111-126.
  10. Herth, K. (1984). American Journal of Nursing.
  11. Lefcourt, H.M., Davidson-Katz, K., & Kueneman, K. (1990). Humor and immune system functioning. Humor. 3, 305-321.
  12. McClelland, D.C. & Cheriff, A.D. (1997) The immunoenhancing effects of humor on secretory IgA and resistance to respiratory infections. Psychology and Health. 12, 329-344.
  13. Stone, A.A., Neale, J.M., Cox, D.X., Napoli, A., Valdimarsdottir, H., & Kennedy-Moore, E. (1994). Daily events are associated with a secretory immune response to an oral antigen in men. Health Psycholoy. 13, 440-446.
  14. Wooten, P. (1995). Laughter as therapy for patient and caregiver. Journal for Nursing Jocularity.
  15. Zillman, D., Rockwell, S., Schweitzer, K., & Sundar, S.S. (1993) Does humor facilitate coping with physical discomfort? Motivation and Emotion. 17, 1-21.
 
 
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