Health and well-being

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

(Hebrew Proverb)

Stress is no joke

For several years scientists have carried out research into the effects of laughter on one’s physical and mental health. Studies have proved that laughter triggers a chemical change in our bodies that helps to ease pain and relieve stress. Laughter is a natural coping mechanism for stress.

Research has shown that laughter benefits health in other ways too, from strengthening the immune system to reducing food cravings, to decreasing stress levels.

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In line with the HSE’s guidance, Tackling work-related stress: a manager’s guide to improving and maintaining employee health and well-being, , Laughology is committed to developing ­ and providing managers with - tools and techniques to help them meet the government’s targets to reduce workplace stress. The HSE’s key points are that: work-related stress is a serious problem; it is a complex issue, but organisations can act now; the law requires action; prevention is better than cure; and success needs to be based on partnership between managers and employees.

Research into the connection between laughter and healing is in its infancy. One of its earliest proponents was the well-known, medical journalist and author Norman Cousins, whose 1979 book Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient told how he conquered a debilitating disease, in part by increasing his laughter intake during the day. Cousins believed fervently in the power of positive thinking in treating illness and found he could lull himself to pain-free sleep with a few good belly laughs.

One of the leading scientists studying the mind-body link to laughter is physician Lee Berk, an expert in psychoneuro-immunology who works as a clinician in preventive care and public health at Loma Linda University, California. He has found evidence to suggest that laughter decreases production of cortisol, a stress hormone, and increases levels of natural killer cells, which attack viruses and cancers.

Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones, such as cortisol, epinephrine, adrenaline and dopamine, while increasing the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T-cells. All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.

How can Laughology work for you?

What we can do for you is as unique as the organisation that you are - our courses are developed and delivered to suit your specific needs. Laughology provides effective humour and laughter techniques that can de-stress you and your colleagues, and enhance health and well-being in your organisation, leading to a happier more productive organisation for everyone.

Laughology’s services are suitable for Human Resource personnel, public and private sectors, drug and alcohol services, health centres, PCTs, criminal justice, yoga practitioners, health clubs, hospitals, services and other healthy settings.

Laughology® can show you practical ways to improve your people’s mental and physical health, and their quality of life in general. And Laughology is sustainable: it goes on working. Customers say that Laughology training workshops:

• enhance general health and well-being among practitioners and patients,
• reduce stress and encourage positive thinking,
• encourage or boost creativity and morale,
• encourage learning and increase retention,
• improve self-esteem and confidence,
• improve performance, communication and presentation skills
• strengthen and improve relationships to build stronger teams, and
• make people feel better.

We are currently working with:

• Royal Liverpool Hospital Cardiac Unit
• Liverpool Primary Care Trust
• Heal 8
• The Comedy Trust at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital