Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 5:43 PM The new Maternal Mental Health Hotline is tackling one of the toughest challenges women face during pregnancy or postpartum. |
Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 5:41 PM WASHINGTON - Over the weekend, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox as a public health emergency and asked for a worldwide effort to contain the outbreak. "It can... |
Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 5:31 PM "We're not doing well" in the effort, said Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health. |
Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 5:15 PM One University of Cincinnati phycologist said first responders who survive traumatic circumstances should be viewed in the same light as those in the military. |
Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:43 PM By JOSH BOAK Facing a potentially grim report this week on the economy's overall health, President Joe Biden wants to convince a skeptical public that the U.S. is not, in fact... |
Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:31 PM Host of the new Fox Nation show "Luxury Hunting Lodges of America" Katie Pavlich joins Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla to shed light on how the Biden administration is... |
Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:19 PM San Francisco's Department of Public Health has requested 35,000 doses. So far, it has received only 7,800. |
Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:17 PM New research in people with a cluster of heart disease risk factors has shown that consuming green tea extract for four weeks can reduce blood sugar levels and improve gut... |
Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:15 PM Healthcare has finally begun to embrace digital transformation after years as a stubborn holdout. The coronavirus pandemic has only accelerated adoption of technologies such as... |
Health feed - News BreaK Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:05 PM Firing the first salvo in the legal battle over the fortune of Peter Angelos, his younger son is asking a judge to invalidate changes that the Baltimore Orioles owner's wife... |
WebMD Health Tuesday, July 26, 2022 1:36 PM A new study finds young Americans became 30% more likely to die as a result of gun violence over the past decade, largely due to gun-related suicides. |
WebMD Health Tuesday, July 26, 2022 1:14 PM Medical foster homes are privately owned homes in which a licensed caregiver lives with and supervises residents around the clock. Caregivers help aging veterans with activities of daily living like bathing, cooking, making and getting to appointments, getting dressed, and taking daily medication. |
WebMD Health Tuesday, July 26, 2022 12:36 PM While people around the world are polarized on its taste, scientists have agreed that Marmite may be good for more than just toast. |
WebMD Health Tuesday, July 26, 2022 12:30 PM New research suggests bad dreams may signal the start of Parkinson's disease in some older adults. |
Mark's Daily Apple Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:00 AM There's nothing better than a really good belly laugh, the kind that leaves you gasping for breath with tears running down your cheeks. By the time you collect yourself, your whole body is more relaxed, your mood is lighter, everything feels cleansed. You're probably getting healthier, too. Laughter therapies like laughter yoga and laughter meditation have been gaining popularity for the past several decades as methods of improving physical and mental well-being. The benefits of using humor as therapy seem obvious. Unlike asking people to clean up their diets or take medicines with unpleasant side effects, just about everyone is willing to yuk it up to their favorite television show or comedian. Dr. Madan Kataria, a family physician from India and founder of the laughter yoga movement, was researching the positive effects of laughter on health when he came up with the idea of formally incorporating laughter into a wellness routine. Of course, Dr. Kataria wasn't the first person to think of using "laughter as medicine." The practice is probably as old as humanity itself. He did, however, formalize the practice of laughter yoga back in the 90s. Today there are thousands of "laughter clubs" that follow Dr. Kataria's methods, plus who knows how many other yoga and meditation enthusiasts using laughter to tap into positive emotions, improve mental well-being, and perhaps even improve physical health as well. You don't have to convince me about the many benefits of laughter. I could write a whole post about why laughter is a fundamentally human experience and how it helped us evolve into the emotionally complex, socially interconnected beings we are today. (Oh wait, I already did.) It's also pretty easy to sell me on the concept of laughter meditation or laughter yoga to improve mood and overall outlook on life. As for the grander claims about widespread health benefits? I'm definitely open to the possibility. Let's start by looking at some of the rationale and science behind the practices. Then, I asked a couple of my uber-creative team members to demonstrate a simple laughter meditation to get you started. Laughter Yoga and Laughter Meditation Laughter meditation and yoga share similar features, and just like with any type of yoga or meditation, there's no single right way to do them. Generally speaking, a laughter meditation session will involve three parts: Gentle movement and breathing exercises to warm up and settle in. The laughing portion of the meditation, which might last a few minutes or longer. Start by smiling, then break out a few "ho ho hos" or "tee hees." Faking it might feel awkward at first (although simulated laughter could be just as beneficial as the real thing). Don't be surprised if you're soon giggling, even guffawing, for real, especially if you practice with other people. Laughter is contagious, after all. A cool-down period where you sit in silent reflection. As with more traditional meditation, try to be mindful and present. Notice but don't analyze any feelings that come up for you … Continue reading "Laughter Meditation and Laughter Yoga (Plus a Video!)" The post Laughter Meditation and Laughter Yoga (Plus a Video!) appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple. |
