About Laughter Yoga
What is Laughter Yoga?
Laughter Yoga is based on the simple, yet revolutionary idea that anyone, anywhere, can laugh for no reason! You don’t need jokes, comedy or even a sense of humor. You don’t even need to be in the mood to laugh. In fact, if you’re feeling depressed, the depression will have a hard time hanging around!
Bombay Salsa and Greeting Laughter
Why is it called “Yoga”?
The reason we call it Laughter “Yoga” is because we combine laughter exercises with Yogic deep breathing. The deep breathing brings more oxygen to the body and the brain and makes us feel healthier and more energized. Don’t worry. You won’t be asked to put your foot behind your head and it’s not a religion! We also end our Laughter Yoga sessions with deep relaxation, also known as “Yoga Nidra” which gives the body the chance to fully absorb all of the wonderful physical and emotional benefits of the exercises and deep breathing.
What if I don’t feel like laughing?
Dr. Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga says, “Bring your body to the laughter and your body will know what to do.” In Laughter Yoga, we laugh as a form of exercise in a group, although we also have laughing alone practices. When we look at each other in a group and have eye contact, the laughter becomes contagious and even if we fake it at first, it soon becomes genuine. It’s a scientific fact that the body doesn’t know the difference between “fake” and real laughter, so you will still get all of the tremendous health benefits, whether your laughter is self-stimulated or real.
How did this all start?
“When people are laughing, they're generally not killing each other.”
— Alan Alda
A medical doctor from India, Dr. Madan Kataria and his Yoga teacher wife, Madhuri, started the idea of Laughter Yoga clubs in 1995 with only 5 people in a park in Mumbai, India. Today the idea has spread to 60 countries on all 5 continents, with over 6,000 laughter clubs!
Laughter Yoga has been featured on CNN, ABC News, Oprah Winfrey, Discovery Channel, Dancing with the Stars, Good Morning America, NPR, Time magazine, the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic magazine, and many other major TV, radio, internet and print media.
What are the benefits of Laughter Yoga?
“A clown is like an aspirin; only it works twice as fast.”
— Groucho Marx
Everyone knows that it feels good to laugh! That’s because when we laugh, our bodies release an “inner pharmacy” of hormones and chemicals that have healthful and positive effects on our bodies, minds, and spirit. Research shows that when we laugh, there is an actual chemical change in our bodies that helps to ease pain and relieve physical, mental and emotional stress.
Laughter improves cardiovascular health, lifts depression and strengthens the immune system. It also improves communication skills, creativity, self-esteem and personal relationships. Laughter Yoga has helped many overcome severe shyness. A recent study at Stanford University concluded that laughter stimulates the parts of our brain that use the “feel good” chemical dopamine. And guess what? Vigorous laughter, involving whole body movements, can burn calories!
Norman Cousins, celebrated author of Anatomy of an Illness, described the benefits of laughter in his recovery from a potentially fatal and very painful disease. He found, for example, that 10 minutes of hearty laughter gave him 2 hours of pain-free sleep.
Are there any contraindications?
“What is laughter? What is laughter? It is God waking up! O it is God waking up!”
— Hafiz
Laughter Yoga is not a miracle cure and should not be considered as a substitute for medical consultation for physical, mental and psychological illnesses, but it is a powerful natural complementary form of healing.
Laughter Yoga may not be suitable for everyone. It involves some physical exertion and a rise in intra-abdominal pressure. It is contraindicated for people suffering from diseases that are in a severe and uncontrolled stage such as, but not limited to: advanced piles and hemorrhoids, any kind of hernia, any persistent cough, epilepsy, heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, major psychiatric disorders, severe backache. People who have undergone major surgery should wait at least three months before doing Laughter Yoga. If in doubt consult a medical professional for guidance. One of the cardinal rules of Laughter Yoga is “No new pain!”
Anyone undergoing physician-prescribed therapy who experiences improvements through Laughter Yoga should seek the advice of their doctor before reducing dosage or stopping treatment.