What is it?
The elation you feel when you laugh is a great way of combating the physical effects of stress. When we laugh, our body relaxes and endorphins (natural painkillers) are released into the blood stream.
A laughter therapist's aim is to help you laugh more easily. Therapy is available in group or individual sessions - these start with a warm-up followed by a range of activities designed to get you giggling. Laughter doesn't come easily to everyone, but luckily the body can't actually distinguish between real and fake laughter. So faking it has the same beneficial effect.
Is there any evidence?
Dr Lee Berk of Loma University Medical Centre, California, has been conducting laughter therapy research since the late 1970s. In 1989, Berk studied the effects of laughter in 10 healthy males. Five experimental subjects watched an hour-long comedy while five control subjects didn't. Blood samples taken from the 10 subjects revealed that cortisol (the hormone our body releases when under stress) in the experimental subjects had decreased more rapidly in comparison to the control group. Berk's research has also shown that the level of natural killer cells (a type of immune cell that attacks virus and tumour cells) is increased through laughter. These same cells are suppressed if the body suffers consistent long-term stress.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have also calculated that just 20 seconds of laughter could be as good for the lungs as three minutes spent on a rowing machine.
Where does it come from?
The therapeutic effects of laughter have been clinically studied since the 70s, but Dr Madan Kataria - who developed laughter yoga in Mumbai - is credited with bringing laughter therapy into the mainstream. Kataria set up the first laughter club in 1995. There are now more than 5,000 laughter clubs worldwide.
Who can do it?
Laughter therapy is suitable for everyone although most therapists work within the healthcare profession or in the workplace, where laughter is used as a means of relieving stress.
Elderly groups, young people in care and mental health patients are all thought to benefit especially from laughter therapy. If you're undecided, remember this: children laugh about 400 times a day whereas adults manage a miserable 15.
What results can I expect?
A laughter therapy session may leave you feeling elated and exhausted in equal measure. Muscle tone and cardiovascular functions may be improved, and oxygen levels in the blood may be boosted.
In the long term, laughter therapy teaches us that we don't just have to laugh when we are happy. Laughing in the face of anger, stress or anxiety - even if it's forced laughter - can actually lift your mood. And it's infectious, so you can expect to see those around you benefiting from a good giggle too.
Contra-indications
Laughter therapy is quite vigorous and can leave you feeling light headed, especially if you laugh lying down. Consult a doctor before taking part if you have recently had surgery, if you suffer from glaucoma, hernias, haemorrhoids or if you are pregnant.
Resources
Details of laughter training and events across the UK. Log on to find your nearest therapist.
A company delivering bespoke laughter workshops to a range of clients throughout the UK.
How was it for you?
Carlene Thomas-Bailey (chaotic)
Hello you glorious goddess", Robin says to me breaking into peals of laughter. "Hello you glorious god" I reply, before breaking into a chuckle. Nope, this isn't speed dating; this is just one of the many exercises our humour therapist, Carrie Graham, has devised, all in the name of having a laugh.
The group session begins with a simple stretch. Nothing funny about that. Then, we're asked to recall a recent memory that makes us laugh out loud. Nothing too hilarious about that either. Then (wait for it) we're asked to run around the room impersonating a choo-choo train. I feel I've regressed 20 years in the space of 15 minutes.
We then test out different types of laughter: light chuckles, hearty chortles and full-on deep belly laughs. In humour therapy, you have to fake it to make it, so we all start off quietly fake laughing and, pretty soon, the situation is so ridiculous that the laughter - to my surprise - becomes genuine.
Humour therapy can be given in a group or individually. "People can express more personal concerns in a one-on-one session," explains Carrie. "They are free to discuss parts of their life where they don't laugh as much as they would perhaps like to ..."
I return the next day for a one-on-one session with Carrie. She teaches me to transfer my laughter to my stomach, neck and shoulders, where I'm told my stress resides. Yes, I feel foolish and yes, my face aches but my body parts are happy. There's this huge grin on my face and soon I'm bent double in giggles and just can't stop. Stressed? Me? Ha!
· Carrie is holding workshops in London on July 9, 20 and 29. See laughingmatters.co.uk for details