Humour within Yoga?

Is humour in yoga relevant? Can we have humour and still achieve a strong effective practice? Does it improve your experience if you have smiled or laughed within the class?

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Is humour in yoga relevant? Can we have humour and still achieve a strong effective practice? Does it improve your experience if you have smiled or laughed within the class? Do you retain more of the information if you’ve done it smiling and did the humour help you feel connected to other participants? Or did you find it detracted from the main goal, and it all felt a bit too casual …….

It's scientifically proven that we retain more information and learn things quicker through play. If a subject is enjoyable not only will we concentrate harder, but we will want to be there in the presence of the person who is helping us smile more. Smiling triggers the natural feel-good chemicals to be released: endorphins, dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin are all natural mood lifters. These chemicals are released when the facial muscles feedback to the brain to release this cocktail of ‘happy’ chemicals. Other benefits that come from these mood lifting hormones include a decrease in stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, a boost to your immune system, improved sleep patterns, reduction in physical pain and better memory.

And how about social connections? Smiling at your co-yogi or instructor automatically makes them feel better as well as you, as it activates the ‘reward’ part of the brain, sending out a message of warmth, kindness and positivity. As humans we naturally gravitate to people who make us feel better. Attending a yoga practice where the atmosphere is one of happiness, positivity, non-judgemental and acceptance not only resonates with the Yamas but also leaves us feeling better than when we started. Once you find an instructor, and yoga style that suits you, it will become a weekly commitment that you won’t want to miss; you will look forward to the connections, exercises, smiles and how you feel when you leave.

Yoga practices and styles that are focused less around the asanas can also leave us feeling better. Meditation, mudras and prana work can often give us a sense of achievement, especially when set within a calm, non-judgemental, encouraging space. Practicing with like-minded people will leave us feeling more positive and content.

A simple lift to the corner of the mouth or a full belly laugh that leaves you with tears running down your face, it’s all good, it’s all positive and like some special unspoken language it helps us connect to others, brighten our day and keep us healthy.