Laughter yoga

Laughter Yoga (Hasyayoga) is a form of yoga employing self-triggered laughter. The "laughter" is physical in nature, and does not necessarily involve humor or comedy. The brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician from Mumbai, India, launched the first Laughter Club at a park on March 13, 1995, with merely a handful of persons. Today, it has become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 6000 Social Laughter Clubs in about 60 countries.

Laughter Yoga combines Unconditional Laughter with Yogic Breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can Laugh for No Reason, without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group; with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on the scientific observation that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits. It was made popular as an exercise routine developed by Indian physician Madan Kataria. Kataria writes about the practice in his book Laugh For No Reason.

Method

Laughter is easily stimulated in a group when combined with eye contact, childlike playfulness and laughter exercises. Fake laughter quickly becomes real. Laughter Yoga brings more oxygen to the body and brain by incorporating yogic breathing which results in deep diaphragmatic breathing. Laughter Yoga is based on the concept that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter - physiologically and psychologically the benefits are identical.

In the mid-1990's Laughter Yoga was practiced in the early mornings, primarily by groups of older men in open parks. Later, a more formalized version was created and popularized as "Laughter Clubs". Kataria's first Laughter Yoga Club began on 13 March 1995 in Mumbai. Beginning with five people in a local public park, the concept has rapidly spread worldwide. As of 2011, there are more than 8,000 Laughter Clubs in 65 countries.

Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise routine which combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can laugh without needing to rely on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is initially simulated as a physical exercise while maintaining eye contact with others in the group and promoting childlike playfulness. In most cases this soon leads to real and contagious laughter. Scientific studies have demonstrated that the body does not differentiate between simulated and real laughter. ("Make 'Em Laugh Laughter can keep you happier and healthier." Rebecca Fast. “Our body doesn’t seem to know the difference between simulated laughter and stimulated laughter. We experience the benefits of laughter whether it is simulated or actually stimulated by something funny,” says Dr. Gerald Ellison of Cancer Treatment Centers of America. http://www.okmag.com/April-2011/Make-lsquoEm-Laugh/) Laughter Yoga is the only technique that allows adults to achieve sustained hearty laughter without involving cognitive thought. It bypasses the intellectual systems that normally act as a brake on natural laughter.

Laughter Yoga sessions start with gentle warm-up techniques which include stretching, chanting, clapping and body movement. These help break down inhibitions and develop feelings of childlike playfulness. Breathing exercises are used to prepare the lungs for laughter, followed by a series of ‘laughter exercises’ that combine the method of acting and visualization techniques with playfulness. These exercises, when combined with the strong social dynamics of group behavior, lead to prolonged and hearty unconditional laughter. Laughter exercises are interspersed with breathing exercises. Twenty minutes of laughter is sufficient to develop full physiological benefits.

A Laughter Yoga session may finish with "Laughter Meditation." This is a session of unstructured laughter whereby participants sit or lie down and allow natural laughter to flow from within like a fountain. This is a powerful experience that often leads to a healthy emotional catharsis and also a feeling of release and joyfulness that can last for days. This can be followed by guided relaxation exercises.

Why is it called Laughter Yoga?

The word “Yoga” arises from the Sanskrit root "Yuj" which means to get hold of, integrate and harmonize. It means getting hold of our lives, integrating all aspects of life, harmonizing our bodies with our minds, spirits and society. There are many paths of Yoga. For example: Hatha Yoga is concerned with balancing energies through body postures or Asanas, Karma Yoga deals with actions of selfless service, kindness, and generosity (Mother Theresa was a famous Karma Yogi), Bhakti Yoga is a Yoga of devotion, etc.

The primary reason Dr. Kataria named this technique “Laughter Yoga” was because he incorporated Pranayama, the ancient science of yogic breathing, into laughter exercises. This has a powerful and immediate effect on our physiology and has been used for more than four thousand years to influence the body, mind and emotions. According to yogic philosophy, we are alive because the cosmic energy from the universe flows into our body through our breath which is the Life Energy Force or “Prana.” The very essence of our life is breathing. Due to stress and negative emotions,our breathing becomes irregular and shallow, thus affecting the flow of Prana through our body.

From a medical point of view, the most important component of breath is oxygen. Dr. Otto Warburg, President, Institute of Cell Physiology and Nobel Prize Winner (Dr. Warburg is the only person ever to win the Nobel Prize for Medicine twice and be nominated for a third), said about the importance of oxygen:

“Deep breathing techniques increase oxygen to the cells and are the most important factors in living a disease-free and energetic life. When cells get enough oxygen, cancer will not and cannot occur.”

See also

• World Laughter Day

External links

• Official Website: Dr Kataria School Of Laughter Yoga
• UK School Of Laughter Yoga, certified laughter yoga training and laughter yoga facilitation skills
• International School Of Laughter Yoga, professionnal school to learn laughter yoga and laughter therapy
• American School Of Laughter Yoga, a comprehensive resource on Laughter Yoga
• [http://www.LYInstitute.org The Laughter Yoga Institute, certified training and program development, USA and worldwide
• Indian Website: Hasyayoga Kendra Delhi
• Laughter for Africa, a comprehensive resource on Laughter Yoga in Africa
• Seniors Laughter Yoga in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
• What's So Funny?, article in Yoga Journal
• FRENCH institute of laughter yoga, laughter yoga training
• [1], Laughter Yoga Training and training webinars
• Frederiksberg Latterklub, listen to laughterclub laughter.