Relaxation techniques of Patch Adams

A long time ago I had the opportunity to listen to one of Patch Adams conferences in Mexico City. Yes! The real Hunter "Patch" Adams, the visionary doctor who revolutionized medicine with laugh therapy.

Laugh improves mood for any patient but his teachings can help us not only in the field of medicine, but also to improve our daily lives and stop being so grumpy at work.

In his lectures, Adams provides some exercises that appear to be simple, but in reality are loaded with significance and are really good for relaxing. Try some of his techniques and see the difference in your mood.

The first exercise is to act as furniture, for example a sofa. "You do not necessarily have to be a living thing to be happy, I used to take people to the morgue and tell them don’t you feel better than that poor man?” said Adams.

The second is to act as a statue in a salute position; the third is to make funny or enthusiastic faces. The fourth is to approach a stranger and talk about the joys of life (if you don’t have, you must invent them). "As a doctor you have to know how to love people, I asked my students to greet everyone and achieve a dinner invitation after half an hour."

Other activities that help improve mood are: dance, have physical and visual contact with others, build strong communities and relationships that give a sense of belonging to combat loneliness and avoid depression. In addition, develop creativity (e.g., inventing things with just a sheet of paper).

Being grateful is vital. "To be grateful you got to turn and see famine and places like Africa," said Adams.

Joy is not only a reward for something (like graduating from college or getting a good job); we celebrate being alive. 

Aída Ulloa

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