Laughter is the Best Medicine
World Laughter Day is Sunday 4th May
by Brian Radcliffe
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To encourage students to laugh more!
Preparation and materials
- The Biblical proverb is found in Proverbs 17:22
Assembly
- Ask the question: Do you enjoy taking medicine?
Point out that on the one hand, there’s the experience of pills sticking in the throat (you might wish to ask for a vote as to how many students struggle to swallow tablets) and on the other hand, there’s the taste of some horrible liquid concoction, although a few producers add more pleasant flavours. However, most of us take medicine at some point, understanding that it is sometimes good for us! - Explain that there is another type of medicine! A medicine that doesn’t stick in the throat and doesn’t taste horrible. As the age old saying goes: ‘Laughter is the best medicine.’
- What’s so great about laughter, we may ask? Research suggests that laughter benefits us physically, mentally and socially. Laughter firstly relaxes the body and increases blood flow to and from the heart. Laughter makes us feel physically different, loosens muscle tension and reduces aches and pains. It even burns calories, although not as much as a long walk or run.
Secondly, laughter has an effect on our mental health. It decreases the body’s production of stress hormones and stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s chemicals that make us feel good about ourselves. Laughter is a mood changer. Finally, laughter draws people together. It’s contagious. Try this yourselves. Not now! If one person starts to laugh, it’s very difficult not to find ourselves joining in. The makers of TV sitcoms realised this a long time ago. That’s why they use what’s known as canned laughter, pre-recorded laughter to encourage an audience to join in. It’s even more important to laugh if we’re in the middle of an argument. Most of us have probably had the experience in an argument, where we realise how ridiculous the argument is, we start to smile, then laugh, and the laughter diffuses the anger. - Laughter is a powerful healer. Even the Bible says so. One of the Proverbs found in the Old Testament declares: ‘Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time’.
Time for reflection
So how can we encourage a good laugh? One way is to turn to the media that we know makes us laugh. For some of us it will be YouTube videos of cats, dogs or babies. For others it will be our favourite TV sitcom, no matter how many times we may have already watched the episodes. It might be a written down joke or a satirical magazine that makes us laugh. The options are almost endless.
There is, however, also an exercise that is sometimes called yoga laughter. Laughter can be encouraged using very simple techniques.
Firstly, try turning your exhaling of air into a laugh. It can be done, and in fact empties your lungs more efficiently. Turn the edges of your mouth up into a smile while doing this. Relax and let the full laughter develop. But not now!
(You may want to try this out on your own at first. It feels a little embarrassing)
When you’re confident doing this on your own, try with a friend or two. It’s often easier in a group because you all feel so ridiculous at first that you can’t help but laugh. When you’ve finished rolling on the floor in laughter and feel absolutely exhausted, do a debrief. How are you feeling physically and mentally? How were you feeling before? How have you felt laughing together?
Sunday is World Laughter Day. All over the world people will be guffawing with laughter. Why not get involved? There’s nothing to lose. Meanwhile, you are allowed to join in the laughter in this piece of music.
Music
‘The Laughing Policeman’ by Charles Jolly/Penrose. This can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI1nPd7hezM
Extension Activity
- Invite students to bring in a joke of the day.
- Invite nominations for the funniest episode of a sitcom or film.
- Attempt a yoga laugh as a group.
