Laughing Yoga: Exercise for the mind
Giggles and guffaws filled the halls of an elderly home in Manila as its residents gathered for an unusual therapy session.
The seniors were practicing laughter yoga, a form of exercise that aims to help them awaken their senses and punctuate their long bouts of solitude.
Guidance counsellor Paolo Trinidad says laughing away problems will promote a healthier mindset, and he has embarked on a mission to spread the laughter and the good vibes.
Laughter yoga involves self-triggered laughter that is not necessarily initiated by humour. The exercise routines combine yoga breathing techniques and laughter simulation with stretching, chanting and role playing.
"That's the gist of laughter yoga. We will be laughing without any reason, no jokes. We will be laughing because we want to be healthy. We have to have a good mind, good mindset," laughter yoga professor Paolo Trinidad said.
Mr Trinidad conducts laughter yoga sessions in other institutions, including an abused children's shelter, a cancer ward, schools and corporate offices.
菲律宾马尼拉一家老人院的大厅里常常充满了人们的各种笑声，这是老人们聚在一起接受一项特别的治疗。
老人们练习的是一种大笑瑜伽，一项旨在帮助他们唤醒感官、驱散孤独感的活动。
大笑瑜伽指导顾问保罗•特立尼达说，用笑来驱除烦恼能够促进心理健康。目前保罗正从事一项传播笑声和扩散良好氛围的任务。
大笑瑜伽需要的是一种自发性的笑，不一定是被逗笑。这种瑜伽将瑜伽呼吸技巧、大笑模仿与伸展、吟唱和角色扮演等活动结合在了一起。
教授大笑瑜伽的保罗•特立尼达说：“这就是大笑瑜伽的要义所在。我们要没有任何理由地去笑，而不是因为笑话而笑。我们笑是因为我们希望有一个健康的身体。我们想要有一个好的心态。”
特立尼达还在其他机构开设了大笑瑜伽课程，其中包括受虐儿童收容所、癌症病房、学校和公司的办公场所。
guffaw: to laugh noisily（大笑；哄笑；狂笑）
punctuate: to interrupt something at intervals（不时打断）
laugh away: 用笑驱除
embark on: 从事；开始做
vibe:气氛；环境