Why Laughter Yoga Can “Heal Your Heart”

It has been 10 years since my 1st Laughter Yoga Convention in Miami and over this relatively short period,  new research has provided important insights into why laughter yoga can heal your heart.  Earlier this month I had the distinct pleasure of presenting this research and catching up with colleagues (pictured with Alexa Drubay and Madan Kataria, Founder of the Laughter Yoga Movement) for the Annual Laughter Yoga Convention in Zion, Illinois.  So why is Laughter Yoga so good for you?  Let me count the ways….

1.  Laughter Yoga improves blood pressure.  Practicing laughter yoga can reduce systolic blood pressure as much as 6 mmHg, corresponding to a 5-10% reduction in stroke risk.  In fact, a large Japanese study found that laughing rarely compared to laughing daily was associated with a 60% increased risk of stroke!
2. Laughter Yoga reduces aging of our blood vessels.  Risk factors such as stress and high blood pressure lead to premature stiffness and aging of our blood vessels; laughter and especially laughter yoga can slow down and may even to some extent reverse this process.
3. Laughter Yoga is physical activity.  If laughing without any physical activity can burn calories, just think what a 30-40 minute session of laughter yoga can do…100-200 calories!
4. Laughter Yoga is a social activity that improves high level social connections. High level social connections is one of my proven prescriptions to reduce stressful brain (amygdala) activity associated with inflammation, heart attack and stroke.

So what are you waiting for?  Go out, explore and enjoy Laughter Yoga in your community…your heart will be most grateful!

Dr. Michael Miller is a cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His latest book is “Heal Your Heart: The Positive Emotions Prescription to Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease“ with all proceeds donated to the American Heart Association.