Laughter yoga for seniors
“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing.” George Bernard Shaw
Benefits of Laughter yoga for older adults
Depression, not only a mood disorder, but a physical health risk
Depression in older adults is tied to a higher risk of cardiac diseases and of death from illness. At the same time, depression reduces an older person’s ability to rehabilitate. Studies of nursing home patients with physical illnesses have shown that the presence of depression substantially increases the likelihood of death from those illnesses. Depression also has been linked with increased risk of death after a heart attack. For that reason, it’s important to make sure that an older adult you are concerned about is evaluated and treated, even if the depression is mild. (source:https://www.webmd.com/depression/)
Mental Health: Reducing Depression and Anxiety
Laughter yoga has been found to have positive effects on mental health, particularly in reducing depression and anxiety among older adults. Studies indicate that participating in laughter yoga sessions can increase life satisfaction and decrease symptoms of depression. By engaging in laughter exercises, older adults may experience improved mood and emotional well-being.
Physical Health: Boosting Physical Well-being
Regular laughter yoga practice can boost immunity, lower blood pressure, and improve lung function. It has also been associated with improvements in cardiovascular health, including increased blood vessel function. These benefits can contribute to the overall physical well-being of older adults.
Social Connection: Overcoming Loneliness and Isolation
Laughter yoga provides an opportunity for older adults to engage socially and overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation. By participating in laughter yoga sessions with others, older adults can form bonds, improve interpersonal relationships, and enhance their social support networks. Laughter serves as a common social signal that can bring people together and create emotional connections.
Stress Reduction: Relieving Tension and Promoting Relaxation
Engaging in laughter yoga exercises can help older adults reduce stress and tension. Laughter stimulates the release of endorphins, which are natural chemicals that promote relaxation and alleviate stress. Studies have shown that laughter yoga can lead to a significant reduction in perceived stress levels and cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.
Suitability for Elderly Individuals: Low Cognitive and Physical Demands
Laughter yoga is particularly suitable for elderly individuals due to its low cognitive and physical demands. The exercises are easy to learn and do not require complex movements or high levels of physical dexterity. Because laughter is elicited through physical activity rather than through humour, it is not necessary to understand jokes or have a developed sense of humour.
Laughter exercises can be done seated. This makes laughter yoga accessible to older adults with various physical abilities, including those with limited mobility or chronic health conditions. The simplicity of laughter yoga exercises enables older adults to engage in a joyful and inclusive activity that promotes their overall well-being.
Further reading:
Scientific studies:
- Effects of laughter therapy on depression, cognition and sleep among the community-dwelling elderly
- The Effect of Laughter Yoga on the Quality of Life of Elderly Nursing Home Residents
- The effect of laughter yoga on loneliness, psychological resilience, and quality of life in older adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial
- Laughter yoga versus group exercise program in elderly depressed women: a randomized controlled trial
- Laughter and humor as complementary and alternative medicines for dementia patients
- A systematic review of the effect of laughter yoga on physical function and psychosocial outcomes in older adults
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