What is Laughter Yoga? Is it Yoga? Laughing Yoga? Do we laugh whilst doing Yoga poses? Yes and no…
Simply put, officially named Laughter Yoga (sometimes you’ll hear it referred to Laughing Yoga) – is intentional laughter combined with deep Yogic Pranayama breathing.
Laughter Yoga was created as a wellbeing exercise by medical practitioner Dr Madan Kataria in 1995 after writing an article about Laughter for the health of it. Guess what? There’s no need to rely on jokes, comedy, humour, friends, relatives, alcohol to create laughter anymore. Dr Kataria solved that reliance on external sources.
We could be sharing intentional laughter with some Laughter Yoga exercises such as making a milkshake, answering/sharing a phonecall, or electric shock handshake. Since going online in October 2019, there have been many exercises which use the Zoom facility – bringing things out of the Zoom cupboard, passing and connecting the Zoom boxes. My favourite is the laugher shower.
Laughter Yoga is made fully inclusive in ages and abilities. I’ve encouraged wellbeing laughter with 4 year old up to 103 year olds. Even blind children. Standing or moving or sitting. Online or in-person. All abilities and ages are catered for.
Do I see a change in participants as a wellbeing Laughter Yoga Professional? What is magical about Laughter Yoga? Why should you try it?
The number of mind and body benefits are quite incredible and numerous (too many to write in a short blog even). The feeling of becoming happy when you’re just not feeling it, renewing your brain energy and working that creative side too. The main thing I see is transformation from the slightly awkward feeling to fully active participation within 1-3 sessions, the comfort zone is stretched – your self-esteem and confidence grow – increased immune health – reduced stress and anxiety – and the benefits compound too!
Oh by the way – did you know that your brain can’t tell the difference between pretend, intentional laughter and real genuine laughter? This is the real background behind Laughter Yoga.
The most recent profound comment came from a carer after a Laughter Yoga session. He said to me “That was great! More people should do this”.
For more information on Laughter Yoga sessions, happiness workshops
and Bollywood Laughter Yoga Dance
contact Sara Kay – email HAPPY@SERIOUSLAUGHTER.CO.UK
or call 07974 778091
