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Image: I am holding up my right foot in the air boot. I am seated next to colorful paper decorations we crafted for the holidays.
I fractured my foot; will you laugh with me?
It was the night before Thanksgiving. I had been looking forward to the day off with Kyle to further explore our new home city (Ankara, Türkiye) and play outside in the sunny, autumnal weather forecast for the next day. We sat on the floor of our apartment entry way looking at my right foot.
The air boot felt tight and cumbersome. While I was grateful for access to medical assistance the news from the doctor that I needed to be in the boot for a few weeks (and “then we will see”) had cast a shadow over my mind and heart. My foot and ankle were swollen and aching. I could feel the heat of tears behind my eyes.
Earlier in the day I had been listening to an audio book version of a Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. The section describing how scientists can detect the presence of a black hole had left a powerful impression in my imagination. We cannot ‘see’ a black hole per-say, we can only observe the activity of light objects being pulled into a black hole. Therefore, we theorize the presence of a black hole.
Slumped on the floor, pain radiating, tears welling, dark shadow spreading, spinning repeatedly in my mind was the thought, ‘I am a black hole pulling everything down with me.’
Laughter can disrupt a downward spiral.
I mumbled a list of grievances, “Its Thanksgiving tomorrow, we can’t do any of the stuff we planned. I’ve got to be in this boot for weeks and then who knows what else. It hurts. And the boot is heavy!”
Kyle responded, “Well, this is your Turkey leg.”
Laughter erupted. Hearty lasting laughter. The tears flowed with the belly shaking guffaws.
As I caught my breath and wiped tears (and sweat, uproarious laughter is a workout!), I realized light had pierced through the shadow. The gravitational pull of the black hole had been released. I was out of the grip of the downward spiral and on an even plain again.
Image: My dear friend Emily and I at a dance party. I’m showing off my ‘thumbs up boogie’ move for the camera. Emily is whispering a hilarious observation.
A life lesson offering; folks that are easy to laugh and dance with are a gift, treasure them.
Laughter builds bridges
It’s been a month since the initial injury. As I send this message out, I have completed two weeks of physical therapy. When I told my PT (physical therapist) that I jokingly call my injury my “Turkey leg” I knew my Thanksgiving humor did not register with her. She is a skilled PT with excellent bedside manner. She uses her own quiet laughter as a language to build report with me. She softly chuckles with me about my ‘Turkey leg.’ Her easy-going gentle cheer buoys my spirit, and I trust her. That trust goes a long way with the parts of treatment we’ve recently started which are quite painful but necessary.
Life will offer up situations that are painful. Humans are wired to respond to pain. We want out! How do you react when you are in a painful/stressful situation that you cannot flee? Consider laughter. Even forced, it affects our physiology in an immediately beneficial way. It can help us survive and thrive.
Laughter affects your ‘stress response.’
Studies show laughter will stimulate then sooth your ‘stress response’ (bio-chemical reaction). Boisterous laughter will increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. This variability is a good thing for us in the long run and in the moment. It promotes relaxation.
My PT uses a device she calls ‘the gun.’ She holds ‘the gun’ on my foot. It feels like a jack hammer pounding my heel that simultaneously zaps me with electric shocks. I’m told it promotes bone marrow growth. Yes, please (to the result), but phooey, to the pain.
It would be highly inappropriate for me to shout the expletives that rush to my lips as the surge of sensations arise from the electro-jack hammer. It would be detrimental to my teeth if I were to clench my jaw and suffer in silence. So, I start with long slow exhales. When the suffering is at its maximum, I force myself to make laughing sounds ‘ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.” This begins to release the internal pressure from the pain.
By the time my PT lifts ‘the gun’ off my heel, I’m already genuinely laughing. My laughter abates, my eyes are closed, and I totally relax with a longer exhale. I hear her amicable voice tell me, “Ok, we go again. Ready?”
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Ha ha ha
Hee hee hee
Ho ho ho
Sounds commonly used in Laughing yoga
Laughing (Hasa) Yoga – it’s a real thing!
Laughing yoga engages our breathing muscles to attain the same internal responses of natural laughing. As we engage our diaphragm, our intake of air dramatically increases. We stimulate our heart and lungs, setting up our inner environment for better gas exchange. More oxygen-rich blood is sent out around our body. Laughter moves muscles which improves our overall circulation. This recipe increases the release of endorphins. These “happy” hormones will alleviate pain and balance your stress response.
Laughing yoga abides by ahimsa (non-violence)
Laughter that is at the expense of others goes against the primary tenet of yoga, ahimasa (non-violence). In our last newsletter we discussed how your nervous system is no fool. Laughing Yoga advises, stay away from way from hurtful ‘har-de-har-har.’ Sure, if you weaponize laughter, you may move the laughter muscles, but the multidimensional healing energy is undoubtably lost.
Yoga is “skill in action.” Your skill of discernment will guide you toward wellbeing for yourself and others. Shared gleeful giggles, cheerful chuckles, and fall-out-of-your-chair-knee-slapping-collective-cackles are all medicine for the body, mind, and spirit.
Laughter to light the way
As we salute the start of the winter season and celebrate winter solstice, I wish you much more than happy holidays. Happiness is the short fleeting feeling most often dependent on external stimulus. Joy is a long-lasting state borne from within. Laughter is one of many ways we can tap into the vast resources already within us to uplift ourselves and each other. The invitation to you, my fellow human being, is to let your self laugh. Let the laughter lighten what is heavy and light the way through the dark.
Joyful Jolly Holidays to all!
Winter Solstice 2025