Recent studies suggest that humans are "hard-wired" to thrive as social animals. Non threatening physical contact (hugging in particular) leads to a natural reduction in stress and the production of happy chemistry that lasts several hours.
Across the United States, teachers and studios are recognizing that funny business can help yoga businesses thrive. "Humor can help a studio attract and retain students," says Julie Margolis, an instructor at New Jersey's Yoga Montclair. "They love it because it helps them relax their muscles, surrender to their practice, and take themselves—and yoga—less seriously."
Laughter, scientists have discovered, can do as much good for your body as going for a run. Volunteers who watched 20 minutes of comedies and stand-up routines experienced a dramatic drop in stress hormones, blood pressure and cholesterol. Their appetite was also stimulated just as it is with exercise.
Dr Topher Stephenson, who specializes in physical medicine and runs the spine program at Mercy in Sacramento, says laughter yoga promises to do for the psyche what bikram yoga does for muscles.
Mirthful laughter, as a preventive adjunct therapy in diabetes care, raised good cholesterol and lowered inflammation.