环球英语 — 155：Laughter Yoga

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight¹ program. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Ryan Geertsma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
What are these people laughing at? They are not laughing at a joke. They are not laughing at a funny play or television program. Instead, they are laughing for exercise! And they are not alone. In fact, this form of exercise is becoming more and more popular every day! Today’s Spotlight is on this interesting form of exercise - Laughter Yoga.
Voice 2
Laughter Yoga is based on traditional forms of Yoga. Yoga is a method for bringing strength and calm to a person’s mind and body. It is an ancient form of meditation², or self examination³. People use breathing to try to calm and control their minds.
Voice 1
But yoga is also a form of strength exercise. People doing yoga smoothly⁴ move their bodies into exact positions. Holding these positions requires strength. This also helps people to calm and control their minds.
Voice 2
Laughter Yoga comes from these same ideas. Laughter Yoga uses breathing exercises and laughter to strengthen the mind and body. For example, people doing laughter yoga perform simple laughter exercises together in a group. While they are laughing, they concentrate on breathing in a particular way. They also move and stretch their bodies.
Voice 1
Doctor Madan Kataria invented Laughter Yoga. He is a doctor in Mumbai, India. Doctor Kataria believed that people had forgotten how to really laugh. For a long time, he researched laughter. Through his research he made an interesting discovery. The human mind does not know the difference between forced laughter and real laughter. Forced laughter can lead to a feeling of happiness.
Voice 2
And then Doctor Kataria had the idea for a group of people who would laugh together. The laughter could improve people’s lives. Doctor Kataria gathered a few of his friends together. They met in a public park in Mumbai. Doctor Kataria says:
Voice 3
“I told [my friends], this is not a laughing matter. [It is not something silly.] It is a very serious thing that we have forgotten to laugh. Let us do laughter as a sort of exercise.”
Voice 1
That small group grew and grew! And this is how people do Laughter Yoga today. People doing Laughter Yoga usually meet together in a Laughter Club. Doctor Kataria’s friends formed the first Laughter Club. This was in 1995.
Voice 2
Today, over five thousand [5,000] laughter clubs exist. And these laughter clubs meet in fifty three [53] countries. Anyone can join a laughter club. And it is usually free!
Voice 1
But what exactly do people do at a Laughter Club? People in Laughter Yoga meetings usually perform a series of exercises. They say these exercises are physically⁵ useful. But they are also simple and gentle. The exercises include body movement, correct breathing, and of course, laughter! At the beginning of the meeting, people may have to force themselves to laugh. But by the end, everyone is usually laughing in a real way! Each meeting is a little different. But there are common exercises groups may do.
Voice 2
For example, one Laughter Yoga exercise includes clapping and laughing at the same time. Laughter Yoga Clubs often begin their meetings with this exercise. The people clap with their hands in a set rhythm⁶. The goal in this clapping is to fully⁷ touch one hand with the other. So, each finger on one hand fully touches the other finger on the other. And the palms of both hands come completely together. This makes a soft clapping sound.
Voice 1
At the same time people clap, they say ‘laughing words’ like “ho ho ha ha ha.” These words sound like a person laughing. But there is a particular way to do this. The mouth is half open. And the sound should feel as if it is coming from near the stomach. While making these sounds the person smiles. Members move around the space during this exercise. They look into the eyes of the other people in the meeting. These movements help to build good energy levels in the meeting.
Voice 2
Laughter Yoga experts say that this beginning exercise produces real physical effects on the body. The exercises help blood to move around the body faster. This makes a person feel better. It also builds energy levels.
Voice 1
Doctor Kataria claims that laughter is actually a very good form of exercise. He claims that it helps to improve the immune⁸ system. This is the system in a person’s body that fights infection. He also claims that Laughter Yoga can lower blood pressure and help lift depression.
Voice 2
Laughter Yoga experts say that Laughter Yoga helps people deal with the bad things in their lives. They say that a person may go into a Laughter Yoga Club meeting feeling sad, angry, worried, or depressed⁹. But then, during the meetings, people act happy. The experts say that acting¹⁰ happy like this can lead a person to really feel happier. After a time, forced laughter becomes real laughter.
Voice 1
And everyone can laugh. Laughter Yoga experts explain that laughter crosses all barriers. It does not matter how old you are or what sex you are. It does not matter where you are from, what language you speak, or what religion you believe in. It does not matter what abilities or political beliefs you have. Every person can laugh! And laughter is good for every person!
Voice 2
Laughter is an important part of life. And being happy is an important part of life. Science shows that even forced laughter can lead to a feeling of happiness. This is one reason why people may enjoy Laughter Yoga so much! But can Laughter Yoga bring a person true happiness and joy?
Voice 1
Christians¹² also believe that happiness and joy are important. They believe that true happiness and joy come from God. The Christian¹¹ Bible¹³ says:
Voice 4
“The Lord¹⁴ has done great things for us.
And we are filled with joy.”
Psalm¹⁵ 126:3
Voice 1
Are you filled with laughter and joy?
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

3 examination   

n.考试，考查，试题；检查，调查

参考例句：

• Teachers always judge their students on the final examination.老师常根据期末考试来评价他们的学生。
• He put up a good show in the final examination.他在期末考试中表现得不错。

4 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

5 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

6 rhythm   

n.韵律；节奏

参考例句：

• He has an ear for the rhythm of Irish speech.他对爱尔兰语的节奏很敏感。
• His poem has a pleasing rhythm.他的诗有和谐的韵律。

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 immune   

adj.免疫的，有免疫力的，不受影响的，免除的

参考例句：

• I am immune from the disease,for I had it once.我对这病有免疫力，因为我已得过一次了。
• Be immune from corruption.拒腐蚀，永不沾。

9 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

10 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

11 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

12 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

13 bible   

n.《圣经》；得到权威支持的典籍

参考例句：

• According to the Bible we are all the seed of Adam.根据《圣经》所说的，我们都是亚当的后裔。
• This dictionary should be your Bible when studying English.学习英语时，这本字典应是你的主要参考书。

14 lord   

n.上帝，主；主人，长官；君主，贵族

参考例句：

• I know the Lord will look after him.我知道上帝会眷顾他的。
• How good of the Lord not to level it beyond repair!上帝多么仁慈啊，竟没有让这所房子损毁得不可收拾！

15 psalm   

n.赞美诗，圣诗

参考例句：

• The clergyman began droning the psalm.牧师开始以单调而低沈的语调吟诵赞美诗。
• The minister droned out the psalm.牧师喃喃地念赞美诗。