6 months ago
BETHESDA, Md (WUSA) -- There's absolutely nothing funny about cancer. Just ask Nira Berry, "Unfortunately for me a mammogram didn't pick up my breast cancer tumor I found it myself."
That was in 2001 the mastectomy plus the chemo were so debilitating she couldn't get out of bed. She would have to be carried even to go the bathroom.
That went on for almost a year until she discovered laughing yoga. Nira told 9NEWS NOW's Andrea Roane, "Sometimes I couldn't even move but I would force myself to laugh and I would see my belly going up and down and that would some how relieve my pain."
The laughing yoga movement started 12 years ago in India. Seeing how it worked for her Nira became a certified laughing yoga instructor to help other breast patients and survivors laugh away their pain and stress.
Many of her class participants thought it would be fun, not even realizing just how much it would help their health too. One class participant Diana Keller tells us, "Every time you laugh you are using so many muscles people just don't realize how many they are using."
Nothing funny to make you laugh. Nira says fake it! Your brain can't tell the difference, so just start with a chuckle and build on that. If you laugh a 100 times in a row it has been scientifically shown to equal being on a stationary bike for 15 minutes.
To learn more about Nira Berry's Laughter Yoga sessions check out her website.
