We’ve experienced that deep, peaceful quiet in Shavasana after an invigorating Yoga class. Now, how about a Yoga class that reduces your stress, lowers your blood pressure and most importantly releases endorphins? You get all of that, along with the added benefits of yoga, in the practice of Laughter Yoga.

Laughter Yoga was first developed in the mid-1990s by Indian physician, Madan Kataria. The practice is based on the fact that voluntary laughter can provide the same effect as a spontaneous laugh; and ever since, the practice has become widespread all over the world.

In research carried out at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, on the effect of Laughter Yoga on the general health of nursing students, the results showed that there was a significant positive difference in the general health of the participants. They experienced improvements in signs of physical and sleep disorders, lower anxiety and depression, and a better social function.

The Kyungpook National University Hospital, Korea, also looked at the effects of laughter therapy on depression, cognition and sleep among the elderly living in the community. The result revealed that laughter therapy had a positive effect on depression, insomnia, and sleep quality in the elderly.

These studies have therefore shown that adopting laughter as a form of exercise can be highly beneficial.

How does Laughter Yoga Work?

The sessions in this form of Yoga are initiated by a form of warm up with participants engaging in clapping, youthful playfulness, jokes and so on. The essence is to make the participants relax and get in the mood.

This form of Yoga combines breathing exercises with laughter to relax the bodies and minds of participants. When you take deep breaths, it calms your body and with a calm body lies a calm mind. It is impossible to be physically relaxed and stressed up mentally. The two parts work in unison. A calm body and mind are open and ready to receive happiness, which is triggered by voluntary laughter.

What are the benefits of Laughter Yoga?

There are several areas of our lives that can be transformed via laughter therapy. These include our health, personal life, business life, as well as social life. Here are the top 5 benefits of Laughter Yoga: