Laughter Meets Yoga

Laughter Yoga is an alternative healing technique that consists of exercises designed to get people to laugh for no reason, combined with simple yoga breathing techniques. It uses a blend of playful and tension-releasing laughter exercises to improve health, reduce stress, and increase feelings of wellbeing.

Laughter exercises, even if begun by faking it, almost always lead to real laughter, especially when done in a group. However, research has shown that simulated laughter creates the same physiological response in the body as spontaneous laughter. So even if you're faking it when you laugh, your body does not know the difference. Therefore, you don't need to be happy to laugh and you don't need to have a reason to laugh. Even fake laughter can help relieve stress and bolster your mood.

Dr. Kataria--the Founder of Laughter Yoga--explains that: "When you start laughing, your chemistry changes, your physiology changes, your chances to experience happiness are much greater. Laughter Yoga is nothing more than prepping the body and mind for happiness."

(The "Laughter" photograph is courtesy of TyC).

Requirements for Laughter Yoga

- Laughter Yoga can be done indoors or outside.
- Some Laughter Clubs meet at the beach or in public parks, while others meet in conference rooms, classrooms, nursing homes, hospitals, etc.
- No equipment or props are required.
- There's no special clothing that you need to wear.
- Laughter Yoga can be practiced by people of all ages and fitness levels. Basically, you can practice Laughter Yoga whether you're young or old; fit or unfit; flexible or stiff.
- Laughter Clubs are led by Certified Laughter Yoga Leaders.
- Most Laughter Clubs are free, although some charge a small fee to cover costs or ask for a small donation.
- A session usually lasts from 20 to 30 minutes.

Is Laughter Yoga really "Yoga"?

Although some simple Yoga techniques are incorporated into Laughter Yoga sessions--such as deep breathing with inhalation through the nose and prolonged exhalation, as well as shoulder, neck and stretching exercises--you won't be asked to go into "Downward Dog Position" or the "Triangle Pose" during Laughter Yoga. The main reason it's called Laughter Yoga is because the word "Yoga" means union, or the integration of body with mind and soul.

How do I do Laughter Yoga?

Look for a Laughter Club in your area, find out when they meet, and go to a session. Most Laughter Clubs accept people on a walk-in basis. Below--in the next module--you will find more information on what you can expect in a Laughter Yoga session.

Can I practice Laughter Yoga alone?

Laughter Yoga is meant to be practiced in a group. When a lot of people start laughing, even if at first it's fake laughter, it almost always turns into real laughter. That being said, if there are no Laughter Clubs in your area and you would like to practice Laughter Yoga, you can do it on your own. Sebastian Gendry of the Los Angeles Laughter Club has several videos on YouTube where he shows you easy exercises you can do to get started. Scroll down this lens to find them.

(The photograph of the Laughter Yoga session above is courtesy of laughteryoga95.)

Laughter Yoga encourages unconditional laughter: it's possible for adults to laugh like children without the use of jokes, humor, or comedy. In a Laughter Yoga session you won't find people sitting in a circle taking turns telling jokes or using humor to make each other laugh. Instead, a session of Laughter Yoga consists of a series of exercises which include yoga breathing, funny gestures, systematic giggling and guffawing, and improv-like activities.

A Laughter Yoga session will probably begin with rhythmic clapping and chanting of "Ho-Ho-Ha-Ha-Ha" in unison, followed by a mixture of stretching, breathing, and silliness. Some of the exercises typical of a Laughter Yoga session are the following:

- People wandering around with their hands in the air, laughing hysterically.

- People of all ages squawking like chickens.

- Men and women rotating their hips while talking gibberish.

- Improv-style exercises such as playing on an imaginary swing set; flapping your arms and squealing like a seagull; and sitting in an imaginary rocket ship getting ready for take-off.

- At one point you walk around to different people with palms pressed together at the upper chest in the Namaste greeting or shake hands and laugh, making sure to look into other people's eyes.

- A popular exercise is "Lion Laughter": thrust out the tongue, widen the eyes, and stretch the hands out like claws while laughing.

- Another improv-style exercise is Airport Laughter: people pretend they're at the airport and are late for check-in, running around with their bags.

- There's also Regal Laughter: each person takes turns walking like a king or queen between two rows of applauding subjects.

- If the group of people has become comfortable with each other, you can come closer and hold each others' hands or hug and laugh.

All of these seemingly whacky exercises are meant to induce laughter to help participants combat stress and boost their immune system. For more ideas on laughter exercises, visit the following link: Forty Laughter Exercises.

(The photograph of the Laughter Session in Budapest, Hungary is courtesy of laughteryoga95)

Laughter can help your performance at work; it enhances your ability to think out-of-the-box and to think with more complexity, making it easier to find solutions to problems. Daniel Goleman, best-selling author of "Emotional Intelligence", stated in The New York Times that "humor can aid problem-solving as well as contribute to creativity in the business environment." Dr. Kataria--founder of Laughter Yoga--is also very well aware of this, and he's taken Laughter Yoga to the Boardroom.

Among his many other functions, Dr. Kataria is a corporate consultant to national and multinational corporations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Switzerland, Australia, India, Singapore and Dubai. Corporations that hire him have discovered the connection between laughter and productivity.

Some of the benefits of Laughter Yoga in the workplace incude the following:

- Laughter bonds people together and aids in team building.

- It improves cooperation and inter-personal relationships, enhances communication, and aids in conflict resolution.

- Laughter in the workplace increases job satisfaction and overall morale.

- It helps employees to keep a positive attitude on the job.

- It stimulates creative problem solving.

- Laughter Yoga sessions prior to brainstorming sessions makes those sessions much more productive.

- Laughing reduces stress, tension, frustration and anger among employees.

- Less stress means less sick leave.

- Laughter Yoga sessions are effective for enhancing group dynamics, especially in times of transition, heavy workloads or to help clear negative attitudes.

- Laughter improves performance and increases productivity and profitability.

Mark H. McCormick, author of "What They Don't Teach You At Harvard Business School", writes: "Laughter is the most potent, constructive force for diffusing business tension. If you can point out what is humorous or absurd about a situation or confrontation, you will be guaranteed the upper hand." The effects of Laughter Yoga are described by some companies as "revolutionary", and yet a typical program consists of inexpensive weekly sessions lasting 20 to 30 minutes.

(The photograph of the Laughter Yoga session above is courtesy of laughteryoga95).
(The photograph of "Joellen" in the Polaroid is courtesy of funfuncheese).

"The intellectual benefits of a good laugh are most striking when it comes to solving a problem that demands a creative solution. One study found that people who had just watched a video of television bloopers were better at solving a puzzle long used by psychologists to test creative thinking."

Daniel Goleman, "Emotional Intelligence", pg. 96

(The "Rubik" photograph is courtesy of Toni Blay).

This lens is for general information purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It may not be right for you and should not be relied upon in making decisions about your health. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.

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