Not a super flexy slender Yoga chick talks "the Power of Laughter"

A while back, I was lucky enough to go to the theater to see a show my two friends from Veranda Panda co-created... and I nearly wet myself. No, not because I suffer from early signs of incontinence, but because it was sooooooooo funny 😆

It was so funny that I went twice to the same show. Veranda Panda is a brilliant duo: Jane, the amazing violinist, and Liam, the DJ. They performed alongside two comedians in South Africa. And let me just say, it is so important to support the arts!

Anyway, I laughed, I danced, and had a genuinely great time. But the good time didn’t end when the curtain closed. I drove home calmly (even though EVERYBODY around me seemed to have gotten their driver’s license from a Kinder Joy Chocolate Egg), I slept like a baby, and I woke up feeling happy and full of energy. And I thought to myself: could laughter really have something to do with it?

Well, ladies and gentlemen, hold on tightly to your tights because the answer is a resounding YES. Laughing is actual, legitimate, bonafide medicine.

Let’s have a look at the benefits of laughing:

• Increases fresh, oxygenated blood circulation

• Strengthens the immune system

• Acts as a natural antidepressant, anti-anxiety and anti-stress remedy

• Relaxes the entire body

• Works your 6-pack (yes, it's basically ab day)

• Lowers cortisol levels (a.k.a. the stress hormone)

• Loosens tight muscles

And here comes the cherry on the Yoga cake: laughing relaxes the jaw, and when the jaw relaxes, so do the hips. Yes, you read that right. The DFL (Deep Front Line) is a fascial line that connects your pelvis to your jaw. Your hips are like emotional filing cabinets. They reveal a lot about your stress levels and overall wellbeing.

Think about it: when we are tense, we often clench our jaws, grind our teeth, tighten our belly, and flex our hip flexors. It’s a full-body stress response. Next time something annoys you—a snarky tone on a phone call, a document that disappears, an unexpected U-turn in your day—check in with your body. Notice what happens in your jaw, your hips, your tongue, your abdomen. Now imagine doing that unconsciously 1000 times a day... that’s a lot of stored tension.

But fear not, my funny reader! The solution is simple: laugh. Laugh with someone (not at someone, please), remember a happy moment, watch a silly movie, meet up with that hilarious friend, or smile for no reason while doing the laundry, dishes, or grocery shopping.

Still skeptical? Try this:Place a wine cork vertically between your front teeth. Lie down on your back (yes, slobbering may occur, don’t panic), and hold it there for a minute. Set a timer, it gets veeeeeery intense. Start small, then increase the time gradually. Want to take it up a notch? Do it while on a video call with a friend. Laughter is guaranteed.

So, what are you waiting for? Crack a joke. Let go.And have a damn good laugh.

Laugh