With Covid cases shooting up in Jharkhand, laughter could well be an antidote for dealing with Covid-related stress and panic, or so feels 68-year-old Y V Rajshekhar, who runs the Jamshedpur Laughter Club.
Rajshekhar, who believes that laughter has an inherent quality to help one to stay mentally and physically healthy, says, “We are facing a serious crisis, and it is natural to get into panic mode. The stress level also builds up. Start laughing and you will know about its benefits, especially in dealing with the prevailing situation.”
Shedding more light on the benefits of laughing, Rajshekhar, who established the Club in 2007, adds it activates the nerves and increases energy level in the body. “Laughing also helps in increasing plasma in human body,” he says, adding that there are 100 types of laughter.
To overcome stress and panic, however, there are five types of laughter, says Rajshekhar. “Breathing laughter, open-mouth laughter, inner laughter, clapping laughter and continuous laughter can lighten up the mood and drive in positivity in one’s thoughts. More importantly, laughter also helps in increasing immunity,” the Sonari resident and an ex-employee of Tata Steel points out.
Speaking to The Telegraph Online, Rajshekhar says sparing 15 minutes for the five types of laughters is enough. “I advice people to try them and know about the benefits. I am aware about the benefits. I always remain in light mood and I’m also healthy as I have never missed my daily laughter sessions in the morning and evening,” he says.
Rajshekhar has been invited to conduct online sessions (on laughter) for the students and faculty of Gamharia-based Arka Jain University. “I also intend to continue with online sessions for people from all walks of life. I think it is my duty as a citizen to help people with laughter therapy in challenging times,” says Rajshekhar, who has conducted laughing sessions for Lions Club, Rotary Club, CRPF personnel as well as during the annual summer sports camp organised by Tata Steel sports wing. He has encouraged several people to get into the habit of laughing.
