Laughter Yoga for People with a Disability
More than 4 million people in Australia have some form of disability. That’s 1 in 5 people.
Disability can restrict sensory, mobility or mental functions. It may be visible: it may not. Some people are born with a disability; other acquire a disability.
Having a disability can be frustrating. It can be challenging.
Laughter Yoga has the ability to bring profound positivity into life for people living with disabilities. Why would this work when nothing else does?
- Laughter Therapy elevates mood, flushing the body with ‘feel good’ hormones. The effects last well after the last laugh, relieving the mind of negativity.
- Deep breathing relaxes the body and mind.
- Laughing in a group creates social connection.
Laughter Yoga works for people with vision impairment
Normally we laugh in a group and stimulate each other by looking into each others’ eyes. That doesn’t work when you can’t see. The sound of laughter is infectious though.
Laughter Yoga works for people who cannot hear too
The body vibrates when we laugh and those vibrations are infectious too. So is the sight of others laughing.
“But I’m not in the mood. I don’t have anything to laugh about!”
You don’t need to be ‘in the mood’ to take part in Laughter Yoga. Simply give yourself permission to have a go.
We laugh without jokes or humour for the very good reason that laughter is good for our health.
I’m a carer. I’m exhausted. What about me?
Being the carer of a person with a physical or mental disability can also be frustrating and challenging. Hats off to the 2.8 million unpaid carers across Australia. And you do it tough: the 2016 Carers Queensland Quality of Life audit confirmed that, invariably putting yourself and your health needs last.
Laughter Yoga can make a difference to carers’ lives as well. It helps reframe outlook and provides ‘time out’ from the daily grind (as little as 20 minutes can work) — and it’s good for you mentally and physically.
Interested in learning more about Laughter Yoga for people with disabilities or their carers? Talk with Laughter Yoga Australia.