We have already heard about laughing and it’s benefits. In fact, our dear Dr. Asthana from Munnabhai M.B.B.S also demonstrated how joining a laughter club and being a part of this therapy can solve one’s problems. However, the city of Surat has set an example for India by introducing a first-of-its-kind ‘Crying Club’.
Yes, you read that right. You may have been a part of different clubs centered around Yoga, Culture or Gaming to release stress and live a healthier life, but you must never have been a part of a club that encourages you to cry to live happier.
This is a surprising and unique initiative that conflicts the common belief that crying makes one look weaker and keeping one’s emotions in shows how strong they are. The organizer of the club, Kamlesh Masalawala is a laughter therapist himself, but has started this club to encourage people to express their feelings properly, and vent their suppressed emotions.
On the last Sunday of each month, between 8 am to 10 am, people from all walks of life and ages join this ‘Healthy Crying Club’.
The crying programme with the theme of “Ansu (Tears) and Muskan (Smile)”, was aimed to make people feel relaxed and feel good before a new year began.
Masalawala explained about this unique theme of the club that it is both tears and laughter that shape a person’s lie. He told news agency ANI, that if anybody wants to cry,
“They should never stop themselves from doing so as tears contain a chemical known as cortisol, which is harmful to the human body and so it should be released no sooner than later, otherwise one would always remain in a state of stress, tension and depression.”
Masalawala told ANI, that the main of this crying club is to make a healthy heart.
He said,
“If our heart is healthy, only then our body, as well as our mind, will be healthy. Therefore it is necessary to keep ourselves in a good state of health, both mentally and physically. In addition, everybody is also giving a positive reaction to this process,”
Dr. Mukul Choksi, psychiatrist and one of the members of the club said,
We were not sure whether people will take this seriously, but more people have joined the club than we expected. We were doubtful about whether people would like to recall memories that make them feel sad, but their participation was encouraging. Many of them shared incidents from their lives and let themselves cry.
The participants of the club most definitely felt better after attending a session at this club.
