Healing can be fun...and even humorous. This may seem like an odd thing for a therapist or energy healer to say since we work with people who bring their deepest pain to us in search of healing and peace. So the question is, can there be room for humor in healing?
I believe the answer is a resounding “yes”.
Laughter truly is powerful medicine and I bring it into our sessions as often as we can...when it feels right...and when it makes sense.
I’ve always loved being around people who have a sense of humor and I’ve often been the source of some great laughter as well. What is it about that laughter that brings you to the point of tears and makes your belly hurt that makes us feel so good?
There’s now incredible science, including the work of thought leaders like Dr. Bernie Siegel, that backs up the old expression, "Laughter is the best medicine". Researchers who study the power of laughter have discovered that when we laugh a number of really incredible things happen in our body. Here are five ways laughter contributes to our physical and emotional wellbeing.
- Laughter, even fake laughter, releases endorphins, feel-good chemicals in our brain. These feel-good chemicals help to reduce stress and put you in a better mood. Laughter actually has a similar effect as medications used to treat depression and anxiety. Research suggests that laughter has been shown to activate the release of serotonin, the neurotransmitter affected by the most common types of depression and anxiety meds. The effect may not last as long as the medication, but the research demonstrates that laughter triggers at least a potent short-term release of the chemical into our brains.
- Your whole brain, not just one part is bathed in electrical activity. Both sides of the brain are engaged when we laugh. This is like an awesome workout for the brain which leads to improved brain health.
- Laughter promotes connection with others. When our brain sends out those feel good hormones in the company of others, it sends a message of togetherness and safety. It not only creates the initial connection with others, but strengthens and reinforces it over time and creates a deeper intimacy with family and friends. Think about how contagious it is listening to the laughter of others. If you do it long enough, you can’t help but smile but more often than not you end up laughing too.
- When we laugh, our whole body relaxes, we let go of physical and emotional tension. After a good bout of laughter, it feels like the tension melts away. Those feel-good hormones actually allow for a prolonged state of relaxation (researchers suggest up to an hour after your good belly laugh is over). This contributes to an elevated mood, encourages positive thinking, boosts morale, enhances creativity and productivity and increases the likelihood of friendlier and kinder behavior. Just think of how you feel and act in the company of a baby or toddler giggling.
- Laughter protects your heart! A 2000 study found that laughter seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect that protects blood vessels and heart muscles from the effects of cardiovascular disease. It also lowers blood pressure and is a natural pain analgesic,
Bonus. Laughter burns calories. Research at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center revealed that "laughing raises energy expenditure and increases heart rate 10 to 20%." So, 10 to 15 minutes of laughter burns approximately 10 to 40 calories per day, which equals almost four pounds a year. That won’t be our goal during a healing session together...but hey we’ll take the bonus.
It's a known fact that children laugh far more than adults. For a good dose of laughter, instead of watching the news or aimlessly surfing social media sites, which is known to increase negative feelings like anxiety, seek out ways to laugh: your favorite comedy, videos of laughing babies or contagious laughter. Maybe even sign up for a daily joke. Your brain, body and mood will thank you. :)
So what can you expect during our sessions.
Well…
Sometimes, the laughter comes from teaching someone the tapping points in EFT. There’s one that looks like a monkey tapping their armpit. This usually evokes some giggles. Emotional Freedom Technique
Sometimes, the laughter comes as a surprising kind of "church giggles" laughter. This release may come during one of the many energy healing modalities that I bring to all our sessions. This kind of laughter is so much fun to be part of. We usually have to take a pause until the person has regained composure. :) The relief on the other side feels so good...not unlike a good cry.
Sometimes, especially as we progress along the healing path, we can actually begin to laugh at ourselves more, not take ourselves quite as seriously as we once did.
And sometimes, we can even find laughter in our flaws, our imperfections. It’s then that we can begin to embrace and accept the fact that we are all "imperfectly" perfect.
So, if you choose to work with me for your healing, know that we will probably cry together, maybe even get angry together, but we will definitely laugh together.
