The Best Medicine 笑出健康人生‏

Laughter is the best medicine. One Indian doctor believes this so strongly that he developed a club devoted to laughter. Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician1 from Mumbai, has created a social club, which he calls Laughter Yoga. The idea is simple—get together with other people and laugh for your health. To prevent chest and stomach pain caused from laughing too much, Laughter Yoga involves deep-breathing techniques used in yoga. 　 歡笑是最好的藥方。一位印度醫師對這點深感認同，因此便創辦一個致力於令人歡笑的俱樂部。馬丹‧卡塔利這位來自孟買的內科醫師創立了這個他稱之為愛笑瑜珈的社交俱樂部。其背後的發想很簡單，就是和其他人共聚一堂，為自己的健康好好大笑一場。為了預防因為笑得太過頭而產生的胸痛及胃痛，愛笑瑜珈遂將瑜珈中所使用的深層呼吸技巧納入其中。 　　The groups do not use jokes or funny things to make people laugh. Instead, a laughter coach begins the laughing and spreads it by using different techniques like clapping, movement, and talking gibberish2. The members are encouraged to develop childlike playfulness3 so that they can laugh without any reason. 這個團體不用笑話或是趣事來引人發笑。相反地，是由一位『笑練』開始『起笑』，然後藉用像是拍手、做動作及胡言亂語等不同技巧來把笑聲傳染給大家。成員們會受到鼓勵來發展出如孩童般嬉鬧的心境，如此一來他們不需任何理由就可以盡情歡笑。 　　The body cannot tell the difference between real and fake laughter, so the benefits are identical. Laughter has been shown in studies to relieve stress, increase energy levels, and strengthen the body's natural defenses4 against diseases. Laughter Yoga is bringing this message to people with its over 6,000 social clubs in more than 60 countries. Why not join one and have a good laugh for your health?

因為人體分辨不出真笑和假笑的差別，所以得到的益處完全相同。研究顯示，笑能抒解壓力、提振精神，並加強人體對疾病的自然抵抗力。透過遍及六十多國的六千多個社交俱樂部，愛笑瑜珈將這項訊息傳遞給世人。何不成為其中一份子，盡情笑出屬於您的健康人生呢？

Questions

1. Which of the following is true about Laughter Yoga?
(A) It was created by an Indian physician named Mumbai.
(B) Breathing methods from yoga are combined with laughter.
(C) Members get the chance to share jokes with the group.
(D) The benefits of a real laugh are greater than a fake one.
1. 關於愛笑瑜珈，下列何者為真？
(A) 它是由一位名叫孟買的印度內科醫師所創。
(B) 它將瑜珈的呼吸法與笑結合在一起。
(C) 成員們有機會能跟團員分享笑話。
(D) 真笑的好處比假笑要來得大。
2. Which is NOT a benefit of Laughter Yoga?
(A) The body's natural defenses against diseases are improved.
(B) It helps reduce stress and increase energy levels.
(C) It strengthens a person's social skills.
(D) Members can get in touch with the child inside them.
2. 何者並非愛笑瑜珈的好處？
(A) 身體對疾病的自然抵抗力會得到改善。
(B) 它有助於減輕壓力及提振精神。
(C) 它會增強一個人的社交能力。
(D) 成員能夠發掘內在的赤子之心。
答案：1. (B)　2. (C)

Building Your Vocabulary

1. clap　vi. & vt. 拍手，鼓掌
Peggy clapped her hands in excitement after her father promised to buy her a doll.
佩姬聽到她爸答應買洋娃娃給她後就興奮地拍起手來。
2. fake　a. 假的；冒充的；偽造的
Angie bought a fake LV purse at the night market.
安琪在夜市裡買了一個假的LV皮包。
3. benefit　n. 好處，益處
The discovery of oil brought many benefits to the small town.
石油的發現為這個小鎮帶來了諸多好處。
4. identical　a. 完全相同的
James and his wife are wearing identical T-shirts.
詹姆士和他太太穿著一模一樣的T恤。
5. relieve　vt. 減輕，減緩
Taking a hot bath helps relieve muscle tension.
泡熱水澡有助於減緩肌肉的緊繃。

Phrases for Learning

1. be devoted to + 名詞∕動名詞　　致力於（做）……
These volunteers are devoted to helping the poor.
這些志工致力於幫助貧困人家。
2. get together with + 人　　與某人相聚
I often get together with my friends on Sundays.
我常在週日跟我的朋友們聚會。
3. encourage + 人 + to + 原形動詞　　鼓勵某人做……
It was Lily who encouraged me to take up dancing.
鼓勵我去學跳舞的人就是莉莉。

Extra Words

1. physician　n. 內科醫生
2. gibberish　n. 胡言亂語，胡扯
3. playfulness　n. 嬉鬧，玩笑
4. defense　n.（人體對疾病的）抵抗力

Tips In Use

...believes this so strongly that he...
（……對這點深感認同，因此便……）
...develop...so that they can laugh...
（……發展出……如此一來他們……可以盡情歡笑。）
1. so + 副詞∕形容詞 + that + 主詞 + 動詞
如此……以至於……
注意:
在上述句構中，so 為副詞，故其後須接副詞或形容詞以供修飾；而 that 則為副詞連接詞，引導副詞子句以修飾其前的 so，且 that 在此用法中可予以省略，用逗號來取代，或甚至連逗號也不用。
I was so upset, I couldn't stop crying.
（我難過到無法停止哭泣。）
2. so/in order that...　　如此∕以便……
注意:
"so that"、"in order that"為表『目的』的副詞連接詞，引導副詞子句以修飾主要子句，其所引導的副詞子句中，通常要有助動詞 can, may 或 will。在"so that"用法中，可省略 that 而單獨用 so，但"in order that"中的 that 則不可省。
The teacher used a microphone in order that every student could hear her.
（老師使用麥克風好讓每位學生都能聽見她的聲音。）