Children laugh more frequently each day than adults. Some reports indicate that children laugh an average of 300 times per day, while adults get in less than 20.

Hawaiian Greeting Exercise

How do you get adults to laugh more, without the use of jokes or humor? Community collaboration was the route chosen by Catharine Sutherland, Assistant Healthy Strides Director at Abbotswood at Irving Park, and a Certified Laughter Leader. She reached out to Primrose School of New Irving Park to help create an intergenerational Laughter Club. “Inviting young children to join us for Laughter Club has really added a joyful boost of energy to our gatherings. Children are so good at laughing and being silly anyway that they join right in without thinking twice, and this helps our seniors feel less inhibited—they’re much more likely to let go and take part in the fun,” says Catharine. Now, young children and seniors are activating the incredible social, emotional, attitudinal and physical benefits of laughter as they merrily hee-hee and ha-ha together.

Laughter Club Chant

You, too, can let laughter be a health booster for you. Try prolonging your laughter. For example, give yourself the gift of a full 60 seconds of continuous laughter. Start your laughter (in Laughter Club we use the vowel sounds of Hee-Hee, Ha-Ha and Ho-Ho) and let it build. It may feel a bit forced at first. Just go with it, though, and allow your laughter to flow. Build up to two minutes. Then, add 30-second or one-minute intervals. See if you can get to three or five more minutes.

Free Style Swimming Stroke Laugh

Another idea is to combine your continuous laughter with an equal amount of silent time. A suggestion is to use a timer for whatever duration you want to try this. Set another timer for that amount plus the amount you want for sitting quietly.

Getting Ready for a Big Finish

Or, you can choose to have a laughter buddy, just like the children from Primrose School of New Irving Park and the seniors at Abbotswood at Irving Park. (Hint: this is a great idea to share with your children or grandchildren.)

Start by offering to do the timing for your laughter buddy. Agree upon the duration of laugh and quiet time. Say STOP when the laugh time is up and OPEN YOUR EYES when the quiet time is up. Then, exchange roles and have your laughter buddy time you. You’ll be exchanging the gift of laughter.

Perhaps Emerson was thinking of the relationship-building power of Laughter Clubs when he said,

Closing with Hearty Yes to Life

“To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children … to leave the world a bit better … to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, that is to have succeeded.”

C’mon, Let’s Laugh!

For more information about the upcoming September 27 & 28 certified laughter leader training in Greensboro, visit www.miraclesmagicinc.com or www.worldlaughtertour.com.

All photos used with permission from Primrose Schools.