4.

1 Proposal
To: Dr. Heidi Harris, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
From: Emily Joy, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Date: September 14, 2014
Subject: Proposal regarding stress relief to UALR Students.
Proposed Study
Stress is something that affects us all. In this study, I plan to begin my investigation
with using this type of yoga to alleviate the stress of college students. Laughter Yoga
was discovered in 1995 and has been used worldwide. I plan to show the health
benefits of this type of yoga on the students as well as the faculty.
Statement of a Problem
Higher education is a choice that many people make to improve their lives. This
decision carries stress for students younger and older students. Working full time
with Family and a job. The stress of passing classes, the chaos of working, paying
bills, caring for the family and the difficulty of adjusting to the new situation and how
it fits into the students life is known to cause medical problems as well as
depression. I plan to focus my study on how Laughter Yoga can be used to help relieve
this stress and the medical problems associated with it. I plan to locate and include
the health benefits of laughter that can be applied to the student. I will also locate
ways to make this method accessible to all who wish to attend the classes by
proposing an interactive online version.
Intended Audience
This proposal is intended for the Director of Campus Recreation, in the Office of
Campus Life.
Scope of Proposed Study
My study will explore the following issues:
1. The causes of stress for both the traditional and nontraditional student.
2. The effects of stress on traditional and nontraditional students.
3. How the use of laughter yoga can aid in stress relief of students.
Anagha, C (2012). Laughter Yoga Therapy and Stress Management. Golden
Research Thoughts, (2), 1.
http://www.aygrt.isrj.net/UploadedData/1397.pdf

This article shows surveys taken from five Laughter Clubs in Pune City. These
clubs have 975 members, 285 of whom were surveyed. The results listed in the
article show what benefits these members received from attending the club.
The article shows a sample itinerary from one of the classes.
The conclusion shows that over all the members participating in the clubs
believed they were receiving benefits.

Johnson, J. (2011) Living in Balance. Giggle Your Way To Health With Laughter Yoga.
Massage Magazine, (181), 68-73.
http://0-eds.a.ebscohost.com.iiiserver.ualr.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=d54329d1-2639-4107-baa860891750fedd%40sessionmgr4005&vid=5&hid=4210

This article makes reference to a paper presented to the American

Psychological Society by Dr. Lee S Berk, research professor at California's Loma
Linda University. He speaks of the psychophysiological benefits of laughter.
This article states that in a laughter yoga session, simple laughter exercises are
blended with gentle yogic breathing as a form of stress management. As this is
done laughter is created through childlike playfulness and eye contact.
Benefits include: increased endorphin and serotonin levels, stronger social
connections, and improved overall sense of well being.

Robins, L. (2006). The Yoga of Full Body Laughter. Yoga Therapy in Practice, 2(1), 13.
http://0-eds.a.ebscohost.com.iiiserver.ualr.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=3e183354-da8c-46ed-a69b24706a422e30%40sessionmgr4002&vid=5&hid=4210
This article states that the benefits of full body laughter are immediate and
lasting, and available to anyone at any time.
This article lists the immediate benefits of laughter as studied by
Patch Adams, MD, in his book Gesundheit.
This article shows how laughing and yoga are related. The article traces how
laughter starts out fake and can be directed through the body to promote
relaxation.

Khatchadourian, R. (2010). The Laughing Guru. New Yorker, 86(25), 56-65.

http://0-eds.b.ebscohost.com.iiiserver.ualr.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=04e84963-68c5-4e93-bf7c6f3810a14d3d@sessionmgr115&hid=107&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU=#db=ulh&AN
=53061021

This is the short biography of Dr. Madan Kataria the founder of the Laughter
Yoga movement.

This article shows what Laughter Yoga trainees learned from their session with
Dr.Kataria. These are the kinds of benefits that should be felt by stressed out
college students.
This article introduces Gradient laughter. It is called this because of the way it
is developed out of silence and slowly gathers momentum and becomes more
natural and contagious. I believe students could benefit from the use of this
yoga technique.

Prakash, V. (2013). Laughter Therapy for the Mind and Body: An Interview with Vishwa
Prakash. Alternative & Complementary Therapies, 19(4), 205-208.
doi:10.1089/act.2013.19410
http://0-eds.a.ebscohost.com.iiiserver.ualr.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=ce3de00d-8fdc-4b63-85108c7fad015446%40sessionmgr4005&vid=17&hid=4210

This is a printed interview with Viswa Prakash who is the president of

LaughterYoga USA.
This article covers a wide array of information about laughter yoga and its
applications, in question and answer format.
This interview shows the benefits of Laughter Yoga from the aspect of someone
who deals with it on a daily basis. Viswa sees how this form of yoga changes
people and he shares what he has seen with us here.