NB: This is not an accurate word-for-word transcript. Группа Learning English. Продолжение текста здесь: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/6minute/091029_6min_laughter_yoga_pdf.pdf
Kate: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Kate Colin and joining us today to help with some of the language in today's programme is Rebecca. Hi Rebecca. Now you may be familiar with the idea that laughter is supposed to be healthy! Have you ever heard before of this idea before Rebecca? Rebecca: Well I have vaguely heard that laughing is meant to be good for stress levels and I know from personal experience that you always feel better after a good laugh – it just gives you a natural high. This expression means to feel happy or energetic without any artificial stimulants. Kate: Indeed, well, this principle has led a Dr Madan Kataria in India to devise a new type of activity…. laughter yoga. Rebecca: This is a type of exercise routine which combines laughter with yogic breathing and is carried out in a group with other people. There are now more than one hundred laughter clubs across India and they are increasing in number all the time. Kate: But before we find out more, let's have the question for this week. Are you ready? In which city in India did laughter yoga originate? Was it: a) Delhi b) Darjeeling c) Mumbai Rebecca: answers Kate: Well, according to research laughing releases endorphins into the body which bring on a natural high. Endorphins are a chemical naturally released in the brain which can reduce pain and make us feel relaxed or energetic. Before we listen to the next extract about the benefits of laughing, let's go over some of the health-related vocabulary we might come across. First, immune system. What does immune system mean? Rebecca: Yes, the immunue system is the ability of our body to protect itself against infection. If we have a strong immune system we are able to fight off illnesses and remain fit and healthy most of the time. To boost means to make stronger so if something boosts our immune system it means that it helps it become more powerful and therefore prevents us from getting ill so often. Kate: And anesthetic? Rebecca: An anesthetic is a substance which make your pain disappear. Kate: And the expression burning off calories. Rebecca: A calorie is a unit of energy which is used as a measurement for the amount of energy which food provides. So to burn off calories is often used to refer to an activity which helps you lose weight. Kate: A BBC reporter, Rob Crossan tried laughter yoga while he was in India and we're going to hear him talk about the health benefits that laughter can bring. Have a listen and try to hear the words and expressions we've just learnt. Insert 1 It's got incredible health benefits. The fellow who started up the whole concept of laughter yoga, Dr Gore Bredan Getaria believes that laughter can boost the immune system, it can act as an anesthetic, it burns off calories, it's exercise, it's a muscle relaxant…' Rebecca: So he said that that the health benefits of laughter yoga include boosting the immune system, acting as an anesthetic, burning off calories, it’s good exercise and it's also a muscle relaxant. Kate: Well it all sounds good to me! But how does it work? Does everyone just wait for someone else to say something funny? What actually causes people to laugh in the first place? Rebecca: Well, apparently people all round the world are learning to laugh for no reason. You don't need a sense of humour or indeed any jokes… Insert 1 You know, rather than just waiting for someone to say something funny which often can take quite a while, let's just do it deliberately. ...