Laughter is a natural tension reducer. Dr. William Fry from Stanford University describes laughter as a form of internal jogging. Muscles tense as we wait for the punch line of the ultimate incongruity. Then at the point our giggles erupt, the muscles of the face, neck, chest, belly and diaphragm all get a good work-out. Laughter stimulates the cardiovascular system and exercises the lungs.
Laughter is a natural pain-reliever.
Laughter helps control pain by distracting our attention from the pain, by reducing tension that may be contributing to the pain, by changing our perspective or expectations, and by actually creating physiological changes that reduce pain. Humor relieves stress by allowing us to perceive the paradoxes of life from an emotional distance. In laughing and joking about a life situation, we can separate ourselves from an annoying or uncomfortable incident and reduce our consequent stress level. People like to be around others with a good sense of humor. Challenge participants to experiment together with generating healthy laughter.