Pilates Thoughtful Tuesday: Why Laughter Matters for Your Body, Mind and Movement
- Michael King
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Children laugh around 300 to 400 times a day. Adults average about 15 to 20. Somewhere along the way, between responsibilities and routine, we seem to lose the rhythm of laughter. Yet it is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to improve how we feel and how our bodies function.
When you teach Pilates, you guide clients through mindful movement, breathing, posture, and muscle engagement. But there is one element that rarely gets a place on the reformer or mat, though it deserves one: laughter.
Humour has always been part of human connection. You have probably seen how one light moment in class can change the whole atmosphere. It eases tension, lifts energy, and brings people together. I have always loved the old comedies, the Morecambe and Wise sketches, the moments that still make me laugh even after seeing them many times. Those shared laughs remind us that joy is not something to postpone. It is part of being healthy.
The Science of Laughter
Research shows that laughter triggers physical changes in the body. It increases oxygen intake, stimulates muscles, and raises heart and respiratory rates. Afterward, the body relaxes more deeply. Laughter reduces stress hormones such as cortisol, boosts endorphins, and strengthens immune function. It can improve circulation and support cardiovascular health by increasing blood flow and helping blood vessels relax.
Laughter also has measurable effects on mental wellbeing. It raises mood, lowers anxiety, and helps with emotional resilience. In older adults, regular laughter has been shown to improve memory, reduce depression, and enhance quality of life.
Why This Matters in Pilates
Pilates is about balance, awareness, and control. Yet the best sessions are never only about precision. They are also about creating a safe space where people feel free to breathe, move, and let go. A smile or a moment of laughter can soften the body and calm the nervous system.
Tension in the body is often linked to mental stress. When people laugh, the diaphragm moves, the breath releases, and the whole body can reset. The same muscles that hold tension in the neck, shoulders, and jaw relax. Laughter helps clients feel at ease with themselves and the movement.
Connection is another benefit. Shared humour strengthens trust between teacher and client. It builds community, and that sense of belonging often matters more than any perfect movement.
Bringing Humour into the Studio
We are not comedians, and Pilates classes are not performances. But small moments of humour belong in teaching.
Begin class with a warm, friendly comment or a light story.
Use cues that ease pressure, such as a playful comment after a tough sequence.
Encourage clients to smile, especially when learning new patterns.
Acknowledge human moments, like forgetting the spring count, with a grin instead of frustration.
Keep a sense of humour about your own teaching. Clients respond to authenticity.
Outside the studio, make time to laugh. Watch something that brings back the joy of old favourites. Laughter is contagious and it influences the way you teach.
A Thought to Leave With
You guide people toward strength, posture, and control, but laughter is another kind of core exercise. It connects breath, emotion, and resilience. When your clients walk out smiling, they are not only stronger but lighter in spirit.
Laughter will not replace discipline or precision, but it can enhance both. It is free, it is human, and it might be the best Pilates accessory we have yet to invent.
References
Mayo Clinic. Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke.
Harvard Gazette. A laugh a day keeps the doctor away.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Whole Health Library. Healing Benefits of Humor and Laughter.
UCLA Health. Laugh it up: 5 benefits of laughter for older adults.
University of North Texas Health Science Center. Why laughter is the best medicine for your whole health.
National Library of Medicine, PMC. Effect of laughter therapy on stress hormone levels: a meta-analysis.
The New Yorker. The Laughing Guru.
Psychology Today. How many times a day do children laugh compared to adults?
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