Get serious about having fun…
Author: Linda Sinden Date Posted:4 March 2019
The definition of a healthy person in Ayurveda includes happiness as one indicator of perfect health. Physicians over 3000 years ago knew that our health is directly impacted by our sense of happiness - or you could say our level of happiness is an indicator of our wellbeing and maybe our self development too.
Interestingly, a client recently commented on how they felt brighter and naturally smiled more after taking Stress Free Emotions. Aptly named this herbal is formulated to balance Pitta dosha to naturally reduce anger and irritability. This gentleman was noticing that he felt naturally more positive after taking it.
With the stressors and relentless pace of modern life, taking time to share laughter with others can be lost. Fun and laughter lighten the workload and are a sure guarantee of happiness at home or in the workplace. Laughter is a natural outcome of expressing love and joy and nature's way of combating stress and depression.
What happens when we laugh?
Hormones Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter also increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T cells (which belong to a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and play a central role in cell-mediated immunity). All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.
Physical release Have you ever said well, I have to laugh else I'll cry? Have you experienced the cleansed feeling after a good laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release from stress.
Internal workout A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abdominals and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.
Distraction Laughter diverts attention away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions.
Perspective Studies show that our response to stressful events can be altered by whether we view something as a threat or a challenge. Humour can give us a more light-hearted perspective and help us view events as challenges, thereby making them less threatening and more positive.
Social benefits Laughter connects us with others. It is also contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life you will probably be well-placed to help others around you laugh more. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can reduce their stress levels and perhaps improve the quality of interaction you experience with them, further reducing your stress level.
Make laughter a priority in your relationships this week and experience the happiness it naturally engenders.
- What makes you laugh?
- How do you share laughter with others?
Do what works for you. Share funny jokes, riddles, cartoons/pictures, stories, songs or situations. See the funny side of life. Go to movies, plays and parties which you know will be fun. Take the family. Invite people from work. What else could you do?
- If Vata is strong in you by nature and you would like to support your level of happiness consider taking 2 tablets of Worry Free after breakfast and evening meals.
- If Pitta is strong in you by nature and you would like to support your level of happiness consider taking 2 tablets of Stress Free Emotions after breakfast and evening meals.
- If Vata is strong in you by nature and you would like to support your level of happiness consider taking 2 tablets of Blissful Joy after breakfast and evening meals.
To leave you with a thought
Maharishi the founder of Transcendental Meditation who was central to the revival of Maharishi Ayurveda in modern times, wrote a book called “The Science of Being and the Art of Living”. At the start of the book he wrote “the purpose of life is the expansion of happiness.” Maharishi explained that deep within us all is a field of consciousness which is of itself blissful, concentrated happiness. When our conscious mind touches this field we experience waves of happiness which increase as our consciousness expands in a very natural way. Maharishi explained that the highest level of happiness comes when we are established in that level of Being.
Maharishi was a practical man and he taught a technique to help everyone access this field of happiness within. It’s called Transcendental Meditation. To learn more about TM and how you can learn it select either of the links below
- TM in New Zealand https://transcendentalmeditation.org.nz/
- TM in Australia https://tm.org.au/
Wishing you the bliss of balance.
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Linda Sinden has been a practising Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant since 1990 and is a regular contributor to our weekly Insights. She has a practice in Auckland, New Zealand and also provides phone or Skype sessions for those who need assistance, but don’t have a consultant in their vicinity. Email: lindasinden@orbislife.co.nz Skype: Linda.Sinden |
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