Benefits of laughter (contd…)
Laughter and the Brain:Very little is known about the specific brain mechanisms responsible for laughter. There have been studies on the brain mechanisms in negative emotions like depression, fear and anger but not much on positive emotions. But recent research suggests that on a simple level the complex process involves three main brain components. One part, a cognitive thinking part, helps you get the joke. A second movement part helps move the muscles of the face to smile and laugh. And a third emotional part helps produce the happy feelings that accompany a mirthful experience. The humour-processing pathway includes parts of the frontal lobe brain area, important for cognitive processing; the supplementary motor area, important for movement; and the nucleus accumbens, associated with pleasure. Humour helps integrate both hemispheres of our brain, for the left hemisphere is used to decipher the verbal content of a joke while the right hemisphere interprets whether it is funny or not.
Laughter is deep breathing: During belly laughter, your diaphragm and abdomen are sucked in and the lungs are emptied. It has a cleansing effect. It is followed by intake of full-oxygenated air. This amounts to deep breathing. This process is being utilised by the laughter clubs in laughter yoga. It is equivalent to kapalavati pranayam in yoga. Thus laughter is believed to help in respiratory ailments. It is beneficial for patients who are suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments. Scientific evidence has shown that laughter helps people breathe easier and it massages the heart and other vital organs. Researchers have found that antibodies in the mucous membranes of the nose and respiratory passages increase after laughter therapy. The frequency of colds, sore throats and chest infections comes down.
Laughter strengthens Immune system: Our immune system plays a most important role in keeping good health and keeping away infections, allergies and cancers Medical researches have found that laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter boosts the interferon levels of the immune system, which helps in fighting illness, and stimulates healing. Laughter decreases stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and suppress immune activity. It may also increase the release of disease-fighting cells in the immune system. Research results indicate that, after exposure to humour, there is a general increase in activity within the immune system. According to Dr. Lee S. Berk from Loma Linda University, California, USA, laughter helps to increase the count of natural killer cells (NK cells - a type of white cell) and also raises the antibody levels.
Laughter is natural painkiller: - Laughter reduces the level of at least four of neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress response. These are epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone. Laughter increases the levels of endorphins in our bodies, which are natural painkillers. Endorphins released as a result of laughter may help in reducing the intensity of pain in those suffering from arthritis, spondylitis and muscular spasms of the body.
Laugher is aerobic workout: Laughter activates many parts of the body. When we laugh, we alter our facial expressions and make sounds. During exuberant laughter, the muscles of the arms, legs and trunk are involved. Laughter is equivalent to a small amount of exercise. It involves internal muscles particularly of lungs, intestine and diaphragm. It improves the blood supply and helps the bowels to move properly. Laughter is an aerobic exercise as it involves intake of lot of oxygen. It increases the body’s ability to take more oxygen that results in feeling of happiness and joy. According to Dr. William Fry from Standford University one minute of laughter is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine. Unlike many other aerobic exercises, for some of which, you need to go out, you can engage in laughter at any place, even if you are bed ridden or on a wheel chair.
Laughter is the key to joy: You will agree that the present times are very stressful for all of us. Many of us are suffering from anxiety; depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, insomnia, migraine, allergies, peptic ulcers -nervous breakdowns, insomnia, suicidal tendencies etc. which are related to stress. Laughter is likely to benefit in keeping us less stressful and in fighting such diseases. Laughter reduces the levels of stress hormones epineprine and cortisol. You feel relaxed and joyful after you have bouts of laughter. Laughter is an essential ingredient of a healthy, happy life and is one of the most effective and immediate antidotes to stress and tension. When you are under stress, adrenalin is secreted. When you laugh, the adrenalin level goes down and the cumulative effect of stress is minimised. Those who laugh often are less prone to heart attacks than those who are introverted and tend to brood. Laughter dissolves tension, stress, anxiety, irritation, anger, grief, and depression. Like crying, laughter lowers inhibitions, allowing the release of pent-up emotions
Laughter makes you look younger: The exercises you do may be exercising various part of your external and internal muscles. But there are hardly any for the facial muscles. But laughter is one that exercises you facial muscles. It increases blood supply to your facial muscles. Thereby, done regularly, it may tone up your face and you may look young and cheerful.
Laugh and be joyful: We have seen the many benefits of laughter. It is now for you to learn to laugh. One way is to join the neighbour yoga centre that also practices laughter yoga. But there are numerous humorous serials, pictures, films, comedies etc that you may watch on your TV or CD player and enjoy the belly laughs. Also you may have hearty laugh when reading a joke book, telling a joke or listening one from others.
Laughter is not about jokes alone. It is a way if life. It is how we view the things. We need not always be serious or follow disciplined way of life. We can be sincere without taking life always seriously. We can learn to laugh about our mistakes and pain. We can learn to laugh at ourselves and enjoy life. Nobody is free from mistakes, sufferings or problems. But when we learn to laugh, life may be less stressful. When we learn to laugh at our sorrows and sufferings, they become more bearable. We then take life more positively. It leads us to more happiness and joy.
The brain does not differentiate between a genuine laugh and when you fake it such as when you do it in a yoga class. So you can fake laughter and have the full benefits of laughter. It would give you the relief from stress and it keeps you health and happy.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Laughter- the salt of life Part I
Stressful? Serious? Brooding over something at home or office? Bogged by the reports of violence and inhumane happenings from the morning newspaper or the news channel? Feeling insecure? In the present times, when stress levels are spiralling and the media constantly bombard us with bad news, be you are a school student or a top executive or a political leader, you are bound to be grim and stressful. Just relax a little. Turn the channel or put on a CD to a humorous comedy. Try a good mouthful of hearty laugh. You will find immediate relief from stress. If you continue doing it, you will realise that bursts of belly laughter hold the key to a more joyful and healthier life. Laughter is a great way to help you to lower your stress levels, improve your health, cope up better with stressful world and also quicken the process of healing. The way and with the speed the laughter is spreading over the world in the form of laughter yoga, laughter therapy, laughter clubs, laughter networks, think of taking little time out from the daily grind for a few minutes of hi hi hi! Ha ha ha! Wa ha ha!
Why We Laugh: According to Aristotle, we laugh at inferior or ugly individuals, because we feel a joy at being superior to them. Freud believed that laughter is an "economical phenomenon" whose function is to release "psychic energy" that had been wrongly mobilised by incorrect or false expectations. Philosopher John Morreall believes that human laughter may have its biological origins as a kind of shared expression of relief at the passing of danger. Not much is known about the brain mechanisms responsible for laughter. But it is known that laughter is triggered by many sensations and thoughts. We laugh at the sound of laughter itself. It occurs unconsciously. We don’t decide to laugh at these moments. Our brain makes the decision for us. Of course, we may consciously inhibit it. Whatever may be the reasons, we laugh to express certain emotions like mirth, joy or delight, laugh at others and also at ourselves when situations may be humorous, laugh off or a laugh away to dismiss something as ridiculous and also laugh in secretly to rejoice something naughty.
Evolution of laughter: We believe laughter evolved from the panting behavior of our ancient primate ancestors. Today, if we tickle chimps or gorillas, they don’t laugh “ha ha ha” but exhibit a panting sound. That is the root of human laughter. Other animals produce vocalizations during play, but they are so different that it is difficult to equate them with laughter. Rats, for example, produce high-pitch vocalizations during play and when tickled. But it is very different in sound from human laughter.
Humour is part of human civilisations: Humour and laughter is not something new. It is a part of all traditions, cultures at all the times. In India, in olden times, the kings and emperors, used have learned people on different subjects in their durbar (court). The durbar included jesters or Vidushak who used to bring smile to the royal lips with his wit. The Indian Jataka stories, the stories of Birbal and Tenali Raman are filled with humour that not only entertained then but these continue to be stress busters even today. But humour as such is not practised in India. In western countries, it seems to be of more practical prevalence. Of course, nowadays, you will find several good serials both in India and other countries dedicated to humour.
Laughter is contagious: Laughter is contagious. When one starts laughing, others just follow without waiting for appreciating the situation. Even when you see strangers laughing, you involuntarily start to laugh or smile, sometimes even when you did not hear the joke. That is why TV comedy serial makers put a lot of sounds of laughter in their programmes. According to scientists, laughter truly is contagious: the brain responds to the sound of laughter and the muscles in the face to join in the mirth. It is absolutely true: "You laugh and the whole world laughs with you." It simply bubbles up from within us in certain situations. We laugh at the sound of laughter itself.
The language of laughter: The language of laughter is universal. There are thousands of languages and dialects, but everyone laughs much the same way. Everyone can understand the language of laughter what ever may be his language, community or country or sex. A child first learns to laugh at the age of 3 to 4 months. At ages 5 and 6, we see the most exuberant laughs. The child communicates with others through the language laughter and crying. The children laugh about 400 times a day while adults only laugh about 15 times a day. Some how, with age, we become more stressful and loose the ability to laugh frequently. Or on the reverse, because we stop laughing enough, we become more stressful. May be, laughter is associated with play. Hence adults laugh less than children because they play less. It is said that the angels fly because they take life lightly.
Laughing is relationship: Laughter is social. We laugh when in groups, when watching a comedy program with family or a game with friends. We hardly laugh when alone. According to psychologists, most laughter is not about humour; it is about relationships; it is a communication tool. Laughter has a bonding function within individuals in a group. Everyone loves someone who can make him or her laugh. The more you share your sense of humour, the more friends you will have. Evolution may have selected laughter as a useful device for promoting social communication. Laughter is like a social lubricant. It releases tension and feelings of animosity in a group. It’s often positive, but it can be negative too. There is a difference between “laugh with” and “laugh at.” People who laugh at others may be trying to force them to conform or casting them out of the group. When you make fun of yourself, you disarm others. A sense of humour makes one more efficient performer in social and other fields of life. The sense of humour also brings you more friends.
Evolution of laughter: We believe laughter evolved from the panting behavior of our ancient primate ancestors. Today, if we tickle chimps or gorillas, they don’t laugh “ha ha ha” but exhibit a panting sound. That is the root of human laughter. Other animals produce vocalizations during play, but they are so different that it is difficult to equate them with laughter. Rats, for example, produce high-pitch vocalizations during play and when tickled. But it is very different in sound from human laughter.
Humour is part of human civilisations: Humour and laughter is not something new. It is a part of all traditions, cultures at all the times. In India, in olden times, the kings and emperors, used have learned people on different subjects in their durbar (court). The durbar included jesters or Vidushak who used to bring smile to the royal lips with his wit. The Indian Jataka stories, the stories of Birbal and Tenali Raman are filled with humour that not only entertained then but these continue to be stress busters even today. But humour as such is not practised in India. In western countries, it seems to be of more practical prevalence. Of course, nowadays, you will find several good serials both in India and other countries dedicated to humour.
Laughter is contagious: Laughter is contagious. When one starts laughing, others just follow without waiting for appreciating the situation. Even when you see strangers laughing, you involuntarily start to laugh or smile, sometimes even when you did not hear the joke. That is why TV comedy serial makers put a lot of sounds of laughter in their programmes. According to scientists, laughter truly is contagious: the brain responds to the sound of laughter and the muscles in the face to join in the mirth. It is absolutely true: "You laugh and the whole world laughs with you." It simply bubbles up from within us in certain situations. We laugh at the sound of laughter itself.
The language of laughter: The language of laughter is universal. There are thousands of languages and dialects, but everyone laughs much the same way. Everyone can understand the language of laughter what ever may be his language, community or country or sex. A child first learns to laugh at the age of 3 to 4 months. At ages 5 and 6, we see the most exuberant laughs. The child communicates with others through the language laughter and crying. The children laugh about 400 times a day while adults only laugh about 15 times a day. Some how, with age, we become more stressful and loose the ability to laugh frequently. Or on the reverse, because we stop laughing enough, we become more stressful. May be, laughter is associated with play. Hence adults laugh less than children because they play less. It is said that the angels fly because they take life lightly.
Laughing is relationship: Laughter is social. We laugh when in groups, when watching a comedy program with family or a game with friends. We hardly laugh when alone. According to psychologists, most laughter is not about humour; it is about relationships; it is a communication tool. Laughter has a bonding function within individuals in a group. Everyone loves someone who can make him or her laugh. The more you share your sense of humour, the more friends you will have. Evolution may have selected laughter as a useful device for promoting social communication. Laughter is like a social lubricant. It releases tension and feelings of animosity in a group. It’s often positive, but it can be negative too. There is a difference between “laugh with” and “laugh at.” People who laugh at others may be trying to force them to conform or casting them out of the group. When you make fun of yourself, you disarm others. A sense of humour makes one more efficient performer in social and other fields of life. The sense of humour also brings you more friends.
Benefits of laughter
Therapeutic practises of laughter: Although we may treat the phraseology "laughter is the best medicine," as an old saying, now research has attributed specific medical benefits to laughter leading to improved health and well being. Laughter is free of cost and it has no negative or side effects. Laughter offers distraction from pain. This has led to birth of few therapies all over the world during last few years. Such therapies are being practised in hospitals and practiced by doctors, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals to help patients to cope up with or quickening the process of healing. Such therapies include Humour Therapy, Clown Therapy, Laughter Therapy, Laughter Yoga or Laughter Meditation. In Humour Therapy, humorous materials such as books, shows, movies, or stories are used to encourage spontaneous discussion of the patient’s own humorous experiences. This can be provided individually or in a group setting. In Clown Therapy, individuals trained in clown therapy make rounds of the hospital particularly children’s ward and entertain them with jokes, actions, music, fun or magic. In Laughter Therapy, patients are encouraged to laugh with things from childhood, situations, movies, jokes, comedians, basically anything that makes them laugh. In laughter meditation, like traditional meditation, it is the laughter that focuses the person to concentrate on the moment, through a three stage process of stretching, laughing and or crying, and a period of meditative silence. In Laughter Yoga, similar to traditional yoga, there are exercises, which incorporate breathing, yoga, stretching techniques along with laughter. Or this is practised in addition to other yoga exercises. Of course laughter is meant to aid in healing and not to replace treatment.
Laughter guards the heart and Blood Pressure: High blood pressure and heart diseases are caused by several factors like heredity, obesity, smoking and excessive intake of saturated fats etc.. Stress is also one of the factors. Distressing emotions lead to heart disease. People, who are chronically angry and hostile, live in stressful lifestyle; have a greater likelihood of heart attack, and greater blockages of their coronary arteries. It is believed that when you laugh, serum cortisol, which is a hormone that is secreted when we are under stress, is decreased. So when under stress, if you laugh, the cortisol that has been released during the stress reaction is reduced. Thus laughter reduces stress. Laughter improves the blood circulation and oxygen supply to the heart muscles. Due to improvement of blood circulation there are less chances of forming a clot. Further studies show mental stress impairs the endothelium. It is the protective barrier lining the blood vessels. When the endothelium is impaired, it may cause inflammatory reactions that lead to cholesterol build up in coronary arteries, which may ultimately lead to a heart attack. Laughter appears to increase production of infection-fighting antibodies, which can help prevent hardening of the arteries and subsequent conditions caused thereby such as angina, heart attacks, or strokes. Laughter also activates the cardiovascular system, so heart rate and blood pressure increase, when the arteries dilate, causing blood pressure to fall again. Repeated short, strong contractions of the chest muscles, diaphragm and abdomen increase blood flow into your internal organs, and force respiration. Laughing helps expand capillaries, increasing blood and oxygen flow throughout your body, says Michael Miller, M.D., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland's Medical Center in Baltimore. This may help protect you against heart attacks and strokes by relaxing constricted blood vessels.
Fight Diabetes with Sweet Laughter: A Japanese study finds that a chuckle after a meal may help lower your blood sugar. The study of type 2 diabetes—the most common form of the disease—found that laughter was linked to lower blood sugar levels after a meal. Over two days, participants were given identical meals. On one day, they watched a humourless lecture, and on the next they watched a Japanese comedy show. The group of 19 people with diabetes and five without had their blood sugar monitored during the study. Afterward both diabetics and non-diabetics alike had lower glucose levels after laughing through the comedy show than they didwhen they listened to the monotonous 40-minute lecture. (http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20030528-000003.html)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Jogging Your Way to Joy
Jogging for Joy: - A great way to keep happy is to walk. It is good at all ages, young and old. It is said to be one of the best life time habits. Brisk walking, jogging and running are the exercises that not only keeps you physically fit and mentally alert but keeps your heart singing! According to health experts, chemicals called endorphins are released by the brain when you do exercise. The endorphin gives a feeling of happiness and wellbeing. University of California psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, based on research findings by her and others, gave certain practical suggestions for a more satisfying life. (as published in Mind and Body Happiness Time, January 2005 - http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article). One of the suggestions is to take care of the body. It says that getting plenty of sleep, exercising, stretching, smiling and laughing can all enhance your mood in the short term. Practised regularly, they can help make your daily life satisfying.
How do I Jog: - You may do running, jogging or brisk walking? Among the three, running is the fastest and most vigorous, jogging is slower than running and faster than walking. While walking, one foot is always on the ground but during jogging and running, both feet are often above the ground in the air. If you are a beginner, you may start with brisk walking and do jogging and running later, if you like. While doing these exercises, please see that you carry your body straight and not bent forward, head is not drooping and you are looking ahead and not at the ground. Your shoulders are loose and relaxed and your hands swing aside close to your body. You may do these exercises indoors like walking or running in place, as if on a treadmill, without moving ahead. But doing it outside in the fresh air is better. If you are doing it indoors, better to do it near an open window so that you get enough fresh air.
Consult your doctor: - These are the exercises that one can do irrespective of one’s age. No gadgets are required and hence you are not spending a pie. You can do it in your home or outside. Though mornings and evenings are better, you can do it any time of the day. You can do it in one go or in few short spells. Before starting, you may better consult your physician that you can do these and the period for which you should do it. If you are not doing anything, just start with going for a short walk and gradually change over to jogging or running. You may start with few minutes and increase up to a maximum of 30 minutes. You should ensure that you are not overdoing because it may strain and harm you joints and muscles. Avoid overload.
Take care of your food: -Your diet influences your disposition. It sustains and nourishes your body. It affects both your body and mind. Drugs and alcohol show its effect immediately. Other foods take time in getting digested and assimilated into blood before its effect is felt. It is therefore important that you discreetly plan what you eat and when you eat what. You should ensure that your diet is balanced and include adequate amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, water, minerals and vitamins. Further, the food you take should be easily digestible by you. Within the balances diet, you have the choice of taking one item or the other, meat or no meat, vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It is believed that vegetarian diet is better suited to our system and it may keep you healthier in the long run. But, nevertheless, ensure that your diet contains sufficient vegetables, fruit juices and those having more liquid content.
Benefits of Jogging: -These exercises are called aerobic exercises because they involve intake of more oxygen by speeding up breathing. The heart beats faster and stronger pumping more blood and oxygen into the muscles. Running regularly has many benefits and directly and indirectly contributes to good health and happiness and well being. It improves your health and keeps you in shape. It flushes out toxins from the body. It decreases the risk of several diseases. It may help in fat loss. It strengthens immune system. It alleviates or removes stress and tension. It gives you confidence and a winning attitude. It keeps you energetic the whole day. It induces sound sleep. It keeps your body fit and in shape. It flushes out toxins from your system.
From Jogging to Joy:- According to recent studies, exercises, particularly aerobic exercises such as brisk walking, running, jogging, and swimming produce endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are chemical released in the brain when you intake anti depression drugs like heroin and morphine. Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the brain and it gives relief from pain. They induce the state of euphoria or what is said as “natural high” or “runner’s high”. It is believed that continuous exercise for about 20 minutes or so contributes to secretion of the endorphins into the brain causing the euphoria sensation. Endorphins are said to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The level of euphoria caused varies from person to person and is also dependent upon the amount of exercise. But regular physical exercise appears to be an effective tool to your feeling of happiness and well being. But the matter is not free from controversy. Some scientists believe that the positive feeling during a physical challenge, rather than the exertion of exercise, is what stimulates the endorphins release. But the fact remains that these exercises are not only responsible for good health but also give you relief from stress, tension, fatigue and anger and lead you to joy.
Energizing while jogging: - According to yogic philosophy, there are two types of energy on which the body works. One is the energy we get from the intake of food, liquids and air we breathe. The other is the cosmic energy. The cosmic energy is sucked in automatically into the body through the medulla oblongata located in the posterior bottom part of the brain. The yogis, through the breathing exercises and the power of will, cause this energy to flow into the body. It is possible to increase the flow of this energy into your body, if you, while exercising, visualise that this cosmic energy, warm and golden in colour, is sucked inside through the medulla with each inhalation. Visualise that it enters through the medulla and then into the nervous system and then to all the cells of your body. Visualise, with flow of this energy, your body becomes vibrant with energy, radiant with health and glowing with joy. Your visualisation will strengthen your will power over a period of time and cause the cosmic energy to flow inside.
Develop Happy Attitude: - Enjoy your walking. Remain mentally relaxed. While walking outside, there may be other people. Associate with those who talk positive. Avoid the negative minded. Your body pose indicate the state of your mind. When happy, you stand tall and erect with you chest out and a smile on your face and joy in your heart. Learn to walk like that. Enjoy the environment. Feel happy. Feel the energy within and carry yourself as a happy and contented person. All these will set the right chemistry in your brain to keep you happy If you are indoors, do put on a music that is positive and that makes you sing.
How do I Jog: - You may do running, jogging or brisk walking? Among the three, running is the fastest and most vigorous, jogging is slower than running and faster than walking. While walking, one foot is always on the ground but during jogging and running, both feet are often above the ground in the air. If you are a beginner, you may start with brisk walking and do jogging and running later, if you like. While doing these exercises, please see that you carry your body straight and not bent forward, head is not drooping and you are looking ahead and not at the ground. Your shoulders are loose and relaxed and your hands swing aside close to your body. You may do these exercises indoors like walking or running in place, as if on a treadmill, without moving ahead. But doing it outside in the fresh air is better. If you are doing it indoors, better to do it near an open window so that you get enough fresh air.
Consult your doctor: - These are the exercises that one can do irrespective of one’s age. No gadgets are required and hence you are not spending a pie. You can do it in your home or outside. Though mornings and evenings are better, you can do it any time of the day. You can do it in one go or in few short spells. Before starting, you may better consult your physician that you can do these and the period for which you should do it. If you are not doing anything, just start with going for a short walk and gradually change over to jogging or running. You may start with few minutes and increase up to a maximum of 30 minutes. You should ensure that you are not overdoing because it may strain and harm you joints and muscles. Avoid overload.
Take care of your food: -Your diet influences your disposition. It sustains and nourishes your body. It affects both your body and mind. Drugs and alcohol show its effect immediately. Other foods take time in getting digested and assimilated into blood before its effect is felt. It is therefore important that you discreetly plan what you eat and when you eat what. You should ensure that your diet is balanced and include adequate amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, water, minerals and vitamins. Further, the food you take should be easily digestible by you. Within the balances diet, you have the choice of taking one item or the other, meat or no meat, vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It is believed that vegetarian diet is better suited to our system and it may keep you healthier in the long run. But, nevertheless, ensure that your diet contains sufficient vegetables, fruit juices and those having more liquid content.
Benefits of Jogging: -These exercises are called aerobic exercises because they involve intake of more oxygen by speeding up breathing. The heart beats faster and stronger pumping more blood and oxygen into the muscles. Running regularly has many benefits and directly and indirectly contributes to good health and happiness and well being. It improves your health and keeps you in shape. It flushes out toxins from the body. It decreases the risk of several diseases. It may help in fat loss. It strengthens immune system. It alleviates or removes stress and tension. It gives you confidence and a winning attitude. It keeps you energetic the whole day. It induces sound sleep. It keeps your body fit and in shape. It flushes out toxins from your system.
From Jogging to Joy:- According to recent studies, exercises, particularly aerobic exercises such as brisk walking, running, jogging, and swimming produce endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are chemical released in the brain when you intake anti depression drugs like heroin and morphine. Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the brain and it gives relief from pain. They induce the state of euphoria or what is said as “natural high” or “runner’s high”. It is believed that continuous exercise for about 20 minutes or so contributes to secretion of the endorphins into the brain causing the euphoria sensation. Endorphins are said to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The level of euphoria caused varies from person to person and is also dependent upon the amount of exercise. But regular physical exercise appears to be an effective tool to your feeling of happiness and well being. But the matter is not free from controversy. Some scientists believe that the positive feeling during a physical challenge, rather than the exertion of exercise, is what stimulates the endorphins release. But the fact remains that these exercises are not only responsible for good health but also give you relief from stress, tension, fatigue and anger and lead you to joy.
Energizing while jogging: - According to yogic philosophy, there are two types of energy on which the body works. One is the energy we get from the intake of food, liquids and air we breathe. The other is the cosmic energy. The cosmic energy is sucked in automatically into the body through the medulla oblongata located in the posterior bottom part of the brain. The yogis, through the breathing exercises and the power of will, cause this energy to flow into the body. It is possible to increase the flow of this energy into your body, if you, while exercising, visualise that this cosmic energy, warm and golden in colour, is sucked inside through the medulla with each inhalation. Visualise that it enters through the medulla and then into the nervous system and then to all the cells of your body. Visualise, with flow of this energy, your body becomes vibrant with energy, radiant with health and glowing with joy. Your visualisation will strengthen your will power over a period of time and cause the cosmic energy to flow inside.
Develop Happy Attitude: - Enjoy your walking. Remain mentally relaxed. While walking outside, there may be other people. Associate with those who talk positive. Avoid the negative minded. Your body pose indicate the state of your mind. When happy, you stand tall and erect with you chest out and a smile on your face and joy in your heart. Learn to walk like that. Enjoy the environment. Feel happy. Feel the energy within and carry yourself as a happy and contented person. All these will set the right chemistry in your brain to keep you happy If you are indoors, do put on a music that is positive and that makes you sing.
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