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New Research By Dr. Lee Berk About Laughter & Cholesterol
Hearty laughter could help diabetics improve their cholesterol levels and possibly lower their risk of heart attack, according to a recent study by Dr. Lee Berk of Loma Linda University, California.
 Berk and his colleague, Dr. Stanley Tan, an endocrinologist and diabetes specialist at Oak Crest Health Research Institute in Loma Linda, assigned 20 adults with type 2 diabetes, average age 50, to a control group or the laughter group. All had high blood pressure and cholesterol. After 12 months the researchers evaluated both groups by measuring cholesterol levels and levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation thought to be associated with heart disease.
The laughter group had an increase in "good" HDL cholesterol of 26 percent, compared to just a 3 percent increase in the good cholesterol of the control group.
What's the secret? Put very simply, Berk said, "you are decreasing the bad chemicals in the body with laughter and increasing the good chemicals, which help you stay well, may prevent disease and may well have [additional] value relative to the therapies you are taking."
For full report click - http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/626179.htm
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Laughter Yoga Once Again On Oprah Winfrey Show
Laughter Yoga once again was featured in a discussion between Oprah Winfrey and celebrated business writer Daniel Pink. His book, ‘A Whole New Mind’ unleashes the power of laughter and play which helps develop the right brain. The theme is -- gone are the days of the age of information; the new millennium belongs to the conceptual age while the future belongs to the right brain.
I remember when Daniel Pink was writing his book in Mumbai in 2005, he attended a Laughter Yoga session with me one morning. We had a great time laughing and talking for nearly 2 hours. This must have been highly inspirational because through his book Laughter Yoga is now being taken very seriously in the business world.
You can read the excerpts of his interview with Oprah at the following link:
http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200812_omag_ocut_pin
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Laughter Yoga University Makes Headway
People dream while sleeping, but I have been practically dreaming 24 /7 about setting up an International Laughter Yoga University since 2001. There was not a single day I did not see this University in my mind. I kept visualizing the perfect place to set up the headquarters of the Indian centre. Intuitively, I knew it would be somewhere in the southern part of the country, but in reality had no idea. I did not even have money to build a centre, but nobody could stop me from believing in what I wanted to create.
After numerous investigations, I settled for Bangalore, which has the highest number of laughter clubs in the world, ideal weather and picturesque sites. I found my’ Laughter Wonderland’.
For those of you who are not aware, Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India; the biggest IT hub which has produced professionals working for companies like Microsoft, Yahoo and Google.
 The University land on Bangalore – Mysore road, 50 kms from the heart of the city is extremely scenic. Surrounded by mountains and ample foliage, it is an idyllic venue for our purpose of generating laughter and joy and happiness. It is well connected and has all communication networks.
Initially, we plan to start with 10 acres and construct 10 to 15 rooms and conference hall in the first phase and gradually expand in the coming years. The work will commence sometime in July with the laying of the foundation stone. I feel there is a divine force working behind this mammoth project. Every obstacle and hurdle seems to melt away and things move on ahead irrespective of availability of finance, manpower etc.
I’m hoping within six months people can come and meet me and laugh with me even if the rooms are without a roof ha ha ha!!!
In the next newsletter we will explain the curriculum and tell you about further development. Stay tuned.
Click here to see more photos of the Univeristy land.
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Laughter Yoga In Hospital Programs In USA
Social laughter club movement was initially set up for regularly practicing a well being exercise routine which helped people to alleviate and control a variety of illnesses like BP, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and even cancer.
Although we don't have much research to prove the therapeutic benefits of Laughter Yoga but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence which shows that thousands are getting healed of their ailments by doing Laughter Yoga. Perhaps this is the reason Laughter Yoga clubs are spreading word over.
 More and more Hospitals attached to university centres are offering Laughter Yoga as part of their health programs. Earlier, Michigan University Hospital centre, MD Anderson Cancer centre in Texas, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Mount Zion Hospital all offered LY as part of their health program. Now, certified Laughter Yoga teacher, Carmela Carlyle from California has introduced LY in the University of San Francisco. She also runs sessions in Sutter Solano medical centre for cancer survivors and Palm drive hospital in Sebastopol, California for a group of people suffering from chronic illnesses.
Well done Carmela, you are amazing! It is heartening to know that Laughter Yoga is being accepted in the university hospitals. Maybe, now we will have more research work happening in due course of time.
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Pure Laughter In Metro Train
A video on You Tube showing people laugh in a metro train is fast becoming popular. Whether preplanned or spontaneous, it is an excellent example of infectious laughter. The amazing thing about this video is that nobody resisted though some people were confused in the beginning. You can watch the video and see how easily they can connect with each other through laughter.
Here is the link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jedd2FiZTqM, enjoy this video and pass it on. |
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