Fun Summer Exercises - Aqua Zumba
Is it possible to rediscover the silly, sweaty joy of playing—and still get a good workout? Four O editors find out.
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the July 2012 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Photo: Courtesy of Vishwa Prakash/Yogalaff
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Try it if you like: Slow yoga or guided meditation Health perks: Based on breath exercises called pranayama, laughter yoga started in India and is now practiced in 60 countries. Because a good chuckle—spontaneous or not—has been shown to reduce stress, yogis yuk it up through a series of moves. Goofiness factor: While I abhor silliness, I was curious to find out whether a belly laugh really could trim my belly fat. Within minutes of my arrival, our instructor had the group in pretend giggles: We lifted imaginary barbells overhead, then snickered as we threw the weight to the floor. We skipped around, flapping our arms like chickens. Embarrassing? You bet. But a funny thing happened during this session of artificial gaiety: I let out a genuine laugh. By the time we said a closing prayer, I felt lighter in spirit—if not on the scale. (LaughterYoga.org) Fun scale: 4/10 —Ashley Williams, senior editor |
