Laughter yoga was developed by a physician from Mumbai, India, Dr. Madan Kataria. This relatively new form of yoga was first seen in 1995 and has grown to include programs in more than sixty countries throughout the world.
The concept of laughter yoga is designed to enhance the feeling of well being. Dr. Kararia uses the well known scientific concept that the human body doesn’t know the difference between real laughter and fake laughing and derives the same mood lifting benefits from either.
Laughter yoga uses laughter along with pranayama breathing. People who practice this form of yoga experience increased happiness, improved health, enhanced energy and inner peace. For many, the experience is life changing.
Laughter yoga is particularly useful for stress relief and for coping with the pressures of daily life. In addition, this form of yoga has been shown to lower the levels of stress hormones in the body. Often, people with mild to moderate depression experience a natural improvement in the condition.
The idea is that the mood is not fixed. The individual has the power to change the mood and the connection of the mind and body works to improve the mood, even in the face of serious challenges, including cancer treatment, other illnesses or life changes. The philosophy of laughter yoga says that happiness is a choice and you can choose to find joy in laughter.
One thing that sets laughter yoga apart from other programs is that the clubs are free. There is no membership fee or tuition. The leaders are volunteers who have been trained in the philosophy and technique of laughter yoga. They often meet in parks or other public areas. In India, the practice is used in some schools and is being implemented at work in countries throughout the world to enhance morale.
To learn more about laughter yoga, or to find a teacher in your area, you can visit their website at laughteryoga.org.