Canyon Ranch (Arizona)

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. - Yiddish proverb

Why laugh? The reasons are endless.

To begin with, there are demonstrable physical benefits. A good belly laugh immediately recalibrates the body's CO2/oxygen balance, strengthens the diaphragm and abdominal muscles, massages the heart and other internal organs and stimulates the cardiovascular system.

The benefits of a laugh-filled life reach much further, of course. A person who sees humor in the absurdity of the world, and who is ready to laugh at his or her own reactivity and mistakes, has a way to reroute anger, reframe fear, and is able to build his or her own escape hatch from stress.

It's important to recognize, though, that sarcasm is never humor. We are not talking here about biting wit that hurts - we're talking about good-hearted, generous humor. The best sort of humor is when you wake up and smile because the sun has risen. Genuine humor has a strong component of positive acceptance of the way things are, of letting the bad things roll off you.

Asian societies widely revere an embodiment of the power of laughter - the Laughing Buddha, known as Budai in China and Hotei in Japan. The fat, broadly smiling Zen monk is appreciated for embodying the principles of tolerance, contentment and lightness of spirit, thus helping bring heaven to earth.

In the West, we tend to think of holy people as being serious and solemn, but there's nothing incompatible about enlightenment and a sparkling sense of humor. Anyone who's ever heard the Dalai Lama speak knows that the spirit of laughter - of self-mockery and even of mischief - is very much alive in him.

Practical Laughter
Try to laugh from your belly at least once a day. This requires connecting each day to things that make you laugh. Some suggestions:

- Read the comics and check out the cartoons in The New Yorker
- Watch comedies - it doesn't matter whether they're sophisticated or dopey, as long as they make you laugh
- Listen when someone tells a joke, and, if you like it, retell it
- Take the time to read the funny emails that your friends circulate
- Visit comedy sites online
- Relish the antics of your pets
- Spend time with small children, who, like animals, are effortlessly funny

Another good strategy is to deliberately seek out the people you know who make you laugh, individuals who see the funny side of things. Just a quick exchange with someone who makes you smile can be a healing and refreshing break in the day.

www.canyonranch.com
(800) 742-9000