Laughter Yoga

There's a saying that if you have a problem, laugh it away. However, if it still doesn't work, you may want to try it with a group of Laughter Yoga practitioners. Otherwise known as Hasya Yoga, this is a form of Yoga that makes use of the infectiousness of laughter.

History
The Laughter Yoga movement began in March 1995 in Mumbai, India when Dr. Madan Kataria began writing an article called �Laughter � the Best Medicine� for his monthly health magazine. His research led him to discover the benefits of laughter to people.

The following day, he tried to test out the effects of laughter by going out to a public park and convincing the people to form a so-called Laughter Club with him. Four people agreed on the first day and eventually grew to over 50 members in a span of several days.

It started out with one cracking up a joke with everyone ending up laughing. But as good jokes became scarcer with every session, they were replaced with bad ones that started to hurt other people's feelings. In his search for an alternative to jokes as a catalyst for laughter, Dr. Kataria discovered in his research that the human brain cannot distinguish a fake laughter from a real one. That is to say that people can laugh for no reason at all so long as they see other people laughing. This method is still used today.

The combination of laughter and Yoga began when his wife, Madhuri, blended the practice that Dr. Kataria started with her experience as a Yoga teacher.

How it is done
The typical Laughter Yoga session begins with the clapping exercises while chanting Ho-Ho-Ha-Ha-Ha. This is followed by breathing exercises and stretching exercises. After what could be considered as a warm-up, a series of laughter exercises begins.

The exercises include the Hearty Laughter, Greeting Laughter, and the Intimacy Laughter. Other exercises involve laughing while talking on an imaginary mobile phone (Cell Phone Laughter), acting as if arguing (Argument Laughter), and asking for forgiveness (Apology Laughter).

The session, which lasts for 20-30 minutes, closes with members reciting a mantra that they are the happiest and healthiest people in the world and the assertion that they are members of the Laughter Club. With that, they close their eyes, raise their arms for a minute, and hope for world peace.

Benefits
The main benefit of this exercise, as you might have guessed, is the release of stress from the body. It is a common notion that laughter is a major stress reliever. Without stress, as Dr. Kataria says, most forms of illnesses which are stress-related can be avoided.

Aside from de-stressing the body, other benefits of Laughter Yoga include boosting the body's immune system, releases serotonin which is a natural anti-depressant, and releases endorphins which are the so-called feel-good hormones.

Still feeling stressed or depressed? Why don't you join a local Laughter Yoga club today and find out its wondrous effects to your body and your well-being. Stay happy!

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