Senior Living News

Laughter yoga takes the principle of therapeutic giggles one step further by encouraging participants to hoot, guffaw and chortle their way to better health without a joke in sight. While the concept of self-induced laughter in a group setting may sound odd and even awkward, laughter yoga could offer attractive benefits for seniors who want to improve their physical and mental health.

What Is Laughter Yoga?

Laughter yoga, also known as laughing yoga, is a yoga program developed by Dr. Madan Kataria, an Indian medical doctor with an interest in the therapeutic effects of laughter. The practice involves a series of laughter exercises where participants deliberately laugh, combined with breathing exercises. Many classes also include activities designed to help group members overcome inhibitions and achieve a playful state, even though the program doesn't include comedy to induce laughter.

Fans of laughter yoga say the practice offers several physical and mental health benefits, including reduced depression and improved quality of life. While laughter yoga won't suit everyone, some seniors find it a helpful, enjoyable addition to their wellness routine.

How Can Laughter Yoga Help Seniors?

Like many group activities, laughter yoga can help you meet new friends and enjoy social interactions in your independent living community and beyond. The practice may provide certain benefits to enhance your lifestyle as an older adult, including:

1. Healthy Stress Management

Older adults are more likely to experience stress, and uncontrolled stress can cause health problems in seniors. Stress causes inflammation, increasing your risk of dementia, arthritis, diabetes and other common age-related conditions. Therefore, managing stress effectively may help you enjoy better physical and mental health as you age.

Research shows that practicing laughter yoga helps reduce stress and may improve life satisfaction. A 2022 study followed 101 nurses during the pandemic and monitored their stress levels, burnout rates and quality of life. Nurses who attended a laughter yoga class twice a week experienced significantly lower stress and burnout levels and enjoyed increased life satisfaction compared to nonparticipants.

2. Improved Blood Sugar Control

Diabetes is a common condition in older adults. In fact, scientists estimate that around 50% of seniors have prediabetes or diabetes. Older adults are more likely to experience diabetes complications such as cardiovascular disease.

It's important to control your blood sugar levels if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Your doctor and the health care team at LifeStream at Sun City can advise you on how to manage your condition, and you can also consider self-help measures to promote healthy blood sugar levels.

If you have Type 2 diabetes, laughter yoga could help you achieve better glycemic control. A 2023 study following adults with Type 2 diabetes discovered that regular laughter yoga helped stabilize blood sugar levels. Furthermore, participants also enjoyed better sleep, which can be useful if you find it harder to fall and stay asleep as you age.

3. Better Psychosocial Health

If you're experiencing increased mental health problems as an older adult, you're not alone. The World Health Organization estimates that around 14% of seniors have a diagnosed mental health disorder, and issues such as bereavement, loneliness and physical health problems can make mental health issues more likely.

Fortunately, a healthy lifestyle can help protect your mental health. There's also evidence that laughter yoga is a safe way to improve your psychosocial wellness as you get older. A 2020 review of the literature on laughter yoga for older adults determined that the practice helped improve multiple psychosocial outcomes. Researchers noted reductions in depression, loneliness and anxiety and improved happiness, mood and quality of life in study participants.

Enjoying Laughter Yoga in Your Independent Living Community

Most people who enjoy laughter yoga participate in group classes, and practicing in a group can also be a great way to connect with like-minded individuals in the Sun City area. If joining an in-person class isn't an option for you, online classes can help you enjoy the benefits of laughter yoga from the comfort of your independent living apartment.

Laughter Yoga International offers a free Online Laughter Club via Zoom where an international community of laughter yoga enthusiasts practices together. Alternatively, many laughter yoga teachers offer free tutorials and video classes on YouTube.

While laughter yoga can be a great addition to your senior wellness activities and doesn't pose any health risks, it isn't a replacement for more established therapies. Therefore, you should always consult your health care provider if you're concerned about your physical or mental well-being. Your provider can recommend tailored treatments to use alongside laughter yoga to help manage your symptoms.