What Is Laughter Yoga

Laughter Yoga is also called Hasya Yoga and is a technique that makes use of a combination of empowering playful exercises, such as laughter, which are simple and tension-relieving. With the help of soft, soothing Yoga stretching and breathing exercises, clapping rhythmically and chanting of Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha in a group, what starts out as feigned laughter soon becomes real laughter? The path of Laughter Yoga postulates that one can laugh one’s way to good health, improve overall well-being and promote world peace through personal transformation.

One of the techniques used by laughter clubs is the grounding dance that is performed subsequent to a laughter session and meditation. Since Laughter Yoga is a very strong and lively workout, it energizes the whole body while, simultaneously, opening up deep layers within one’s the sub-conscious mind. This facilitates release of all negative emotions.

Benefits Of Laughter Yoga

A study conducted and presented at the American Society of Hypertension 2008 Annual Meeting, clearly proves that laughter through laughter yoga can has succeeded in lowering blood pressures and reducing cortisol drastically, the stress hormone levels. Laughter yoga is an astute blend of simple yoga breathing techniques, stretching and laughter exercises. It is a rare experience of dancing while laughing away in a group in tune and rhythm to traditional Indian and African music that makes the whole program exhilarating and extremely enjoyable.

Since dancing and laughing are both expressions of pleasure and happiness, the form the very basis of this form of Yoga. A normal Laughter Yoga session goes anywhere from 20 – 30 minutes, with session are adjusted and modified to suit different motivations, abilities and needs.

So, to put it in a nutshell, Laughter Yoga is an exercise form that blazes a jovial laughter trail across the world.  It is now practiced in more than 60 countries of the world. People come together to laugh with each other to improve their health and well-being.

When Did Laughter Yoga Came In To Existence

Laughter Yoga was brought into being, and practice, by Dr. Madan Kataria, a Mumbai family physician. He started his first laughter club in 1995 and, since than, has been a catalyst for more than 5,000 Laughter Clubs in 40 countries of the world. Most of them are free.

Then again, as everywhere, the critics of Laughter Yoga (who call it unbridled howling) say that real stress relieving benefits are to be found in inner stimuli rather than in the mere physical activity of laughter. But, as has been rightly proven, laughter is beneficial to the mind and body – and today everyone requires lots of it. Laughter Yoga, which starts out with simulated laughter, then really starts to affect the mind and, subsequently, the body in a very positive way.