Therapeutic Laughter

Research suggests laughing, can boost your immune system, ease muscle tension and generally make you feel better. And laughter therapy classes are popping up everywhere, including at Harborview Medical Center, the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and other facilities where ill, injured or just plain stressed-out people gather.

Therapeutic laughter fitness originated in India in the 1990s when Dr. Madan Kataria, a believer in the healing powers of laughter, took a group to a public park to laugh. Laughter is also a major weapon against stress. For example, when stuck in traffic, you can count the nose pickers, the number of people talking on cell phones, or how many mini-vans are showing Dora the Explorer.

The whole article is available here. World Laughter Tourhas information about locations for support groups across the country.