Laughter Is Good For You!
By: Mindy Eisenberg, MHSA, C-IAYT, ERYT-500 with Bettyanne Hodges, Director of Marketing, YMMS
Living with a chronic illness like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s disease is tough. It’s hard to find joy when your body isn’t doing what you want it to. But even in the middle of challenges, one thing can help more than you might think: laughter. Laughter will not cure a disease, but it can lift your spirit, ease your stress, and even help your body feel better.
When you laugh, your brain releases endorphins—those “feel-good” chemicals that help relieve pain and lower stress. It also reduces cortisol, which is the hormone your body produces when you’re anxious or tense. Think of laughter as a mini-vacation for your nervous system. Even if you’re only laughing for a minute or two, your body gets a much-needed break.
Believe it or not, laughing can give your abs, diaphragm, and even your heart a gentle workout. It improves blood flow, boosts your immune system, and helps your muscles relax. That means less tension, fewer headaches, and maybe even better sleep. For people with neuromuscular conditions, laughter also gets the body moving in small, healthy ways. It can loosen stiff muscles and help you breathe more deeply—without even realizing it!
When you laugh with someone else—even through a screen—you feel connected. That sense of connection is powerful. It reminds you that you are not alone in what you’re going through.
That’s why this year’s Holistic Health and Wellness Forum for MS featured Damian Washington, a humorous and inspiring speaker who lives with MS. Damian uses humor to talk about real struggles. He proves that even serious topics can be handled with a smile—and that sometimes, laughter is the best medicine. The link to his talk is below…enjoy!
To learn more about Mindy Eisenberg, Director of Yoga Moves MS and Bettyanne Hodges, Director of Marketing, or to learn more about our specialized classes for students with MS, Parkinson’s Disease, and related conditions go to Yoga Moves MS Website.
To order Mindy’s book or adaptive yoga cards Adaptive Yoga Moves Any Body and Adaptive Yoga Cards. (Click the link to order).
