Robin Graham makes people laugh for a living. Whether it’s a shy giggle or a hearty guffaw as long as you are happy then he’s done his job. Viva investigates the impact laughing can have on our bodies.

Laughter is becoming big news in Manchester… The Laughter Club meets at Gorton Monastery on the third Sunday every month, it is World Laughter Day on Sunday 6 May, the UK Laughter Championships are on Sunday 2 September and there is gibberish and leadership training at the Laughter Yoga School.

The idea of laughter yoga originated in India when Dr Madan Kataria wanted his patients to laugh more in order to reduce their stress levels. It is based on the belief that voluntary laughter can provide the same mental and physical benefits as spontaneous laughter.

Not only does it increase happiness but it also strengthens our immune systems, reduces pain and lowers stress levels. This relaxes the whole body and promotes an overall sense of well-being. The form of exercise is just like any other, it increases blood circulation and releases endorphins throughout our body.

Salford-based Robin Graham, laughter consultant, speaker and trainer, said: “Classes are based on drama games, social interaction and finding our inner playfulness.”

Robin is also the director of Feelgood Communities and believes that there is a sense of embarrassment surrounding laughter classes for many people.

We struggle to make ourselves look funny or let our inner child play out. As humans, we have been laughing since we were about four weeks old. From this, we don’t need jokes, we just need to engage with our inner playfulness.”

Laughter is a release of our inner tension. When we laugh, there are changes in terms of the mood chemicals we have in our body.

During the classes, members are encouraged to go out of their comfort zones and act as freely as they like.

There’s no stretching and no yoga mats needed. The downward facing dog pose isn’t even mentioned and as an added bonus, you don’t need to get into your stretchy lycra.

Regular laughter yoga attendee and university student, Iqra Shahid explained: “The laughing classes can alter my mood as soon as I step into the hall. I am surrounded by people who want to make themselves feel better and it automatically changes how I feel.”

The second-year psychology student, who suffers from depression and anxiety, added: “Laughing yoga is something easy that you can do with your friends, you don’t get a full sweat on and above all it’s just fun and you don’t have to take it too seriously.”

“I wouldn’t call it a full on cardio workout, but if I wasn’t there having a laugh, then I’d be at home doing nothing about feeling down”.

In 2016, 37% of all work related ill health cases were due to stress.

The stress hormone in our bodies called cortisol, is there when we need our bodies to go into fight or flight mode. Researchers have found that the stress hormone is produced excessively in sufferers of depression.

There are two natural anti-depressants in our body: serotonin and dopamine.

In many bodies there is a larger amount of cortisol than there is serotonin and through laughing it can help bodies to relax and lower these levels.

 

Laughing can change your mood

It is also a way of getting more oxygen into our bodies, so that both our mind and body can function better.

Robin also mentioned that he has met and managed to persuade many sceptics in his time: “I just tell them about a case study about mothers and their children, if it gets mothers to relax more and put them in better moods then it can help anyone”.

The case study helped mothers, who suffered from medium depression, and after two sessions they were no longer shouting at their children as much as they would normally do.

Sharon Gillen, a mother of one from Moss Side, Manchester, has been to a number of laughing classes.

I’ve found it so helpful and I’m not as stressed out as I was. I work full time so the sessions really help me to let loose. My son is autistic and he comes with me sometimes, it can really help put him in a better mood. He doesn’t have to do much which helps both of us, he just laughs.”

The single mother also said: “It helps me out because I’m surrounded by people who are laughing and to fit in, you just start laughing, it’s not awkward like it is at the gym”.

“I’m in a laughing yoga group with many mothers, we all have our own personal things going on but for an hour all we do is laugh our heads off for as long as we can and forget about our worries.”

The NHS website states that Greater Manchester has the fifth highest level in the country of anxiety, depression and stress.

So, how should we manage our stress?

Robin said: “We can do something as easy as come up with a phrase that makes you laugh and then when you are in certain situations just say it.”

The 57-year-old added: “We need to surround ourselves with things that remind us of laughter, happiness and positivity.

“Laughing is something that is free and that you can do in the comfort of your own home by yourself. If it puts you in a better mood then there’s nothing to lose.”

Forthcoming events include the UK Laughter Championships, Sunday 2nd September at The Comedy Store Manchester, 3-4.30pm.  Tickets are available from April, £5/£3 fundraiser.

There is also Laughter Yoga Leader Training, Gibberish Training and other activities, available at Laughter Yoga School Manchester.