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Laughter is the best medicine

We’ve all heard the old adage that “laughter is the best medicine,” but few people realize how true it is.

“Laughter is a natural high,” said Cyndy Solliday-McRoy, PhD, a psychologist with Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group and Certified Laughter Yoga Leader who has leads a free class, “Laughing our Way to Optimal Health,” at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – Wauwatosa.

“When we laugh, our bodies release hormones & chemicals that have startling positive effects on our entire system, including our mental health,” said Solliday-McRoy, who speaks nationally on the subject. “It focuses your awareness on happy feelings in the here and now while distracting you from any negative thoughts, emotions or situations in your life.

The class, which has about 70 loyal participants, combines yoga breathing and laughter. The hour-long class is divided into three stages, starting with a “grounding” exercise, similar to more traditional yoga offerings. Here, participants are asked to clear their minds and focus on the exercise. Next, participants are asked to find a partner, make eye-contact with them and act out a “pose” or scenario that simulates laughter. Students then rotate partners for 20 minutes conducting the same exercise. Finally, the class closes with an instructor-guided meditation.