The Effect of Laughter Yoga on the Anxiety and Stress Levels of Women in the Postpartum Period

Section 1: Deep breathing exercises: A deep breath is taken as far as possible by raising the arms up to the sky. Breathing is held for 4-5 seconds after deep inspiration. Breathing is performed rhythmically and slowly, while the arms are placed in a normal position. After deep inspiration, one can exhale either by forming the lips in the whistling position or by laughing. In each deep breathing exercise technique, the expiration time of the exhalation process should be longer than the inspiration time.

Section 2: Warm-up exercises (10 minutes): Hands are clapped by holding parallel to each other. The fingertips and the palms touch each other, stimulating the acupuncture points on both hands, and the individual's energy level rises. In order to further raise the energy level and synchronize the movements of the group, a rhythm is added in the form of 1-2, 1-2-3. After several rhythmic hand-clapping movements, one more movement is added. Hands are clapped by swinging left and right. Then, an audible rhythm in the form of ho, ho, ha-ha-ha is also added to the hand-clapping movement. People in the group look at each other, and smile.

Section 3: Childish games (10 minutes): Childish games are used that will help to laugh for no reason, just like a child. Imagining these games and plays, the arms are raised upwards in the form of a "Y" with palms facing the sky, motivating the group by saying "very good (clap), very good (clap), yes". The leader of laughter yoga speaks out "very good (clap), very good (clap), hey (arms to the right and left)" to keep the group's energy high and generate enthusiasm in the deep breathing exercises and laughter exercises sections. According to the energy and desire of the group, this section is completed after about 10 minutes.

Section 4: Laughter exercises (15 minutes): This section contains a variety of laughter exercises that will laugh, such as greetings, laughter cream, exploding balloon laughter, preparing and drinking strawberry milk, bonuses, hot soup, lion, aloha, bird, appreciation, elevator, and cream pie. A laugh is raised by doing only laughter exercises for no reason at all. At the end of this section, relaxation is achieved for about three minutes using deep breathing exercises. The group is given verbal guidance "Put your hand on your heart, feel your heartbeat, let's exhale with a smile, make a wish or pray, smile as if we had achieved our wish," and the laughter yoga session is terminated.