Core Burn
The therapeutic benefits of laughing 'til it hurts.
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And don’t forget your Reflection Points at the end.
THERE ARE A LOT of words that get thrown around in the fitness world that carry great meaning but little weight, terms like metabolism and mobility, which people use with only a cursory, conceptual understanding of their actual definition.
And on the top of that list, I’d place a reference to endorphins, which I’m confident most would associate with getting their heart rate up and a corresponding flush of joy or euphoria.
Typically, when individuals describe fitness as their “drug of choice,” it is this “high” they are referring to.
And what I’m not sure they realize is that it’s actually a legitimate, biological reaction.
Known as “feel-good chemicals” endorphins are typically produced in the brain when our bodies feel pain or stress (i.e. that HIIT workout), acting as a physiological built-in painkiller. They’re released in a sudden burst that then triggers a wave of dopamine, a hormone that creates a tangible sense of calm and all being right in the world, even if only momentarily.
Chances are you’ve had this experience.
But what if you could set off this same organic chain of events without ever breaking a sweat, pushing your bodily boundaries or doing any other godforsaken exercise that you’ve been told is good for you because it’s getting you out of your comfort zone…would you do it?
That answer – to be clear – should be a resounding YES.
Which is why I, the founder of a health and fitness company, want to beg you to stop equating endorphins solely with exercise and recognize that you can achieve the same benefits with laughter.
Yes, the physical act of laughing also activates the brain to produce endorphins, which not only actively lower stress hormones like cortisol, but have also been shown to raise our overall pain tolerance, ultimately making us more resilient.
So that comedian you love?
Those ridiculous parody reels on YouTube?
The family member who always tells silly, animated stories?
All of them. GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH. For your brain AND your body.
Seriously – we need to interject more fun into our lives, Gang, and not just on an occasional basis.
We need to get back to laughing at ourselves – and each other – as a rite of passage. As a way of confirming that we’re all in this together and that none of us really know what the heck we are doing.
Because do we?
This is honestly the premise behind the name of our community – Lighten Up – words that were strategically chosen to encourage us to open our headspace to new thoughts/ideas/perspectives, but also – equally importantly – to stop taking ourselves so seriously.
Because wellbeing need not be complicated. Nor must it be hard or hurt to generate a reward. It can – and more often than not – is guided by that which feels good.
So should you exercise? Absolutely.
But should you also watch that stand up that feels all-too-relatable, or – gasp – perhaps feels just a bit inappropriate?
Yes. And, if possible, to increase the effectiveness of the drug, you should do it with a person or people you enjoy spending time with.
Doctor’s orders.
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Write them, think them, talk them. There is no right or wrong way to navigate these prompts. Except to go into them without judgment or expectation. Be curious. And honest. Have the courage to sit with yourself.
When was the last time you laughed so hard your stomach actually ached? If you look at your weekly calendar, are you aggressively scheduling time for physical and mental effort while leaving your daily dose of laughter entirely up to chance?
Next time you go to watch a movie or listen to a podcast, notice what you reach for. Is your tendency to go for the serious or dramatic? What would happen if you picked the silliest option?
In this post, we talked about not knowing what the heck we are doing. To that end, what is a recent moment where you chose to laugh at a mistake or an absurd situation instead of letting your stress levels skyrocket? If you can’t think of anything, can you recognize the benefits of learning to release your perfectionism?