Breakthrough Studies: Laughter Yoga Reduces Stress and Peaks Performance
04-Oct-07The following press release has been sent out to world media — please pass it along to your media contacts also.
I am teaching at Harbin Hot Springs in California and will post about the Miami Conference soon. Love & laughter - Madan
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Breakthrough Studies: Laughter Yoga Reduces Stress and Peaks Performance
The world’s first studies on the effects of unconditional laughter confirm that laughter yoga sessions at work can significantly reduce stress and increase work effectiveness.
Two studies, one in America and one in India, examined the effects of unconditional laughter using a technique developed by Dr Madan Kataria, an Indian physician known as the founder of Laughter Yoga. This exercise technique started in 1995 in India and has swept the world, with more than 5,000 laughter clubs meeting in more than 50 countries including the USA.
“I have always believed that laughter sessions were beneficial&” said Dr Kataria, “but I was surprised how conclusive the results of this scientific research are. One study shows improvements in work effectiveness of more than 100 percent, and the other confirms major stress reduction and a remarkable increase in emotional intelligence skills, which are required for career and life success. It is significant that these results were achieved in just three weeks” says Kataria.
Scientists have long known that laughter causes the body to reduce stress levels and become healthy, but until now there has been no reliable way of prescribing or delivering laughter to give patients these benefits.
Dr Kataria’s technique approaches laughter as a form of body exercise and enables extended sessions of hearty laughter on demand without the use of jokes or humor. Because the brain is not involved in deciding to laugh this is known as ‘unconditional laughter’. Participants claim to feel benefits after just one session.
“This exercise is fun and easy to do” says Kataria “and it makes you feel joyful as well as provides a great aerobic workout.
People enjoy it so much they keep coming back for more.” Doctors can now start to prescribe laughter session to patients who will benefit.
US LAUGHTER STUDY
The US study shows that short daily laughter sessions significantly improve work performance. A group of thirty-three employees in a behavioral health center laughed together daily for 15 minutes for 15 days.
Researchers measured self efficacy, a term used to describe a group of twelve characteristics that reflect overall work effectiveness.
Participants’ self-competency scores more than doubled, relational competencies increased by almost 50% and role competency also doubled during the study.
All participants improved from being classed as ‘having potential for growth and development’ before the laughter sessions to ‘company assets with enhanced abilities who can perform under stress’. The improvements remained significant in further tests 2-3 months later.
INDIA LAUGHTER STUDY
The second study focused on measuring changes in stress levels before and after three weeks of unconditional laughter sessions for staff at three separate IT companies. Researchers carefully measured physical, psychological and emotional indicators of stress.
The laughter group showed a significant decrease in stress levels reflected in reduced heart rate and blood pressure, reduced cortisol levels and an 11% decrease in perceived stress levels. Other indicators confirmed that all participants showed significantly lower stress levels after three weeks of laughter sessions.
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Links for study summaries with printable graphs, original study documents, background information & photos at www.laughternews.org, including:
Latest Press Release
Laughter Yoga: Background Document
Bio: Dr Madan Kataria
Summary of US Study with Printable Graphics
Summary of India Study with Printable Graphics
Full Text US Study
Full Text India Study
Photos for press Use
