In a world where stress is very present, rediscovering the therapeutic virtues of laughter is comforting for our physical and mental balance. As the proverb says: "Laughter is proper to man," but it is above all his best well-being ally.
A sports session for the body
Laughter is said to mobilize nearly 400 muscles: that's what the adage says. Even if this figure is probably overestimated, the fact remains that laughter makes many muscles work, from the zygomatic muscles to the diaphragm, passing through the abdominals. In the 1960s, Dr. William Fry, a psychiatrist at Stanford University and a pioneer of gelotology (the science of laughter), studied the effects of laughter on physiology. His work showed that laughter acts as a real stimulation for the body: it promotes oxygenation, stimulates the secretion of endorphins, and contributes to well-being, whether spontaneous or induced.
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Oxygenation: Laughter causes a deep inspiration followed by jerky expirations, which allows for emptying the residual air from the lungs and increasing gas exchanges.
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Internal massage: The jerky movements of the diaphragm massage the digestive organs (stomach, intestines, liver), thus promoting better digestion.
The happy hormone cocktail
When we laugh, our brain releases endorphins, "natural morphines" that reduce the perception of pain and procure a sensation of relaxation. It also secretes serotonin (mood regulator) and dopamine (the pleasure neurotransmitter). Parallelly, laughter makes the cortisol level, the stress hormone, drop. This is why, after a fit of laughter, we often feel "empty" but deeply peaceful.
A shield for the heart and immunity
Studies have shown that people who laugh regularly have a stronger immune system! Laughter increases the production of antibodies in the respiratory mucus, the first barrier against viruses. When we laugh, the blood vessels dilate temporarily, the muscles of the arterial walls relax, which improves blood flow and can lower blood pressure for a certain time.
How to cultivate laughter daily?
Laughter is communicative. Seeking the company of positive people, watching comedies, or even practicing "laughter yoga" are serious leads. The brain not always making the difference between an induced laugh and a spontaneous laugh, the simple fact of simulating laughter ends up triggering the same physiological benefits.