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Feb 9, 2007 6:34 pm US/Central
Laughter Yoga Serious Business For Cancer Patients
Treatment Popular At Swedish Convenant Hospital
by Mary Ann Childers
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
It's a different approach to healing and stress management that anybody can do -- for free.
It's called Laughter Yoga. And CBS 2 Medical Editor Mary Ann Childers reports that it's no joke to doctors, staff and patients at Swedish Covenant Hospital. It's becoming a popular form of treatment.
And you don't have to have a sense of humor to do it -- or get the benefit.
Every Monday morning, you'll hear laughter in the halls of the cancer treatment center at Swedish Covenant.
"I truly felt kind of silly, but after doing it for a little while, it became fun," breast cancer patient Margaret Reid said.
Laughter Yoga class is a combination of stretching, breathing, clapping and laughing.
"It's really about laughing for no reason -- laughing to exercise," instructor Timothy Nelson said. "They call it laughing, jogging for your insides."
Laughter Yoga was developed 11 years ago in India by a physician and his yoga instructor wife. It was introduced at Swedish Covenant by Dr. Joseph Philip, an oncologist.
"Laughter is the best medicine," Philip said. "It has no side effects and it's free."
Advocates say 20 minutes of laughter boosts endorphins, blood flow, oxygen levels, and the immune system while lowering stress hormones, anxiety and blood pressure. But maybe most important, it makes you feel good.
"I think it helps tremendously," said Reid, whose cancer is in remission. "It helps you forget for that little while, to feel happy and feel good about yourself."
Doctors say these patients tolerate chemotherapy better and develop positive attitudes that help with recovery long term. Elaine Schaffer, whose Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is also in remission, is a believer.
"My mom lived to be 92, and she always used to say if you can laugh, it's not all that bad," Schaffer said.
Doctors and staff at Swedish Covenant are so convinced the practice has benefit that they do it themselves every month.
Overall, there are reportedly more than 5,000 laughter yoga groups in 53 countries -- in schools, hospitals, businesses, the military, and police and fire departments.
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