what is laughter yoga?

Laughter Yoga is a unique, fun, and powerful form of exercise that brings many benefits to the body and mind. It requires no special equipment and can be done in most indoor and outdoor settings.

Laughter Yoga Origins

The first Laughter Club was started in 1995 by Madan Kataria, MD. After coming across research on the benefits of laughter, he decided to start a laughter club in a local park where they shared jokes. Within two weeks, they were running out of jokes and funny stories.

Digging deeper into the research, Dr. Kataria discovered that the body does not distinguish between laughing at something funny and laughing for no reason. So he began leading the group with simulated laughter exercises that did not involve comedy or jokes. He also added breathing exercises to his laughter sessions and called it Laughter Yoga.

Laughter Yoga has spread around the globe! It is being practiced in workplaces, college campuses, senior centers, cancer centers, Zoom, and more.

What to Expect in a Laughter Yoga Session

Laughter Yoga includes breathing, laughter, clapping, and movement.

Participants are encouraged to either sit or stand and to stay within their comfort zone and physical limitations.

Laughter Yoga begins with a warm-up involving gentle movement, breathing, and a few giggles. It then progresses to more hearty laughter with movement. Deep breathing exercises that promote calm are interspersed throughout the class. The session usually ends with a guided relaxation.

Laughter leaders have their own unique styles and not all laughter sessions are the same. Marianne has led over 100 unique Laughter sessions.

Contact Marianne with your questions and to find out how Laughter Yoga can benefit you!

Contact Marianne

LaughterWellnessNow@gmail.com