Posted by Lauren on July 24, 2015

Laughter Yoga, also called Hasyayoga, was created in 1995 by Indian doctor Madan Kataria and his wife Madhuri, a yoga instructor. The Katarias created laughter clubs that met in the parks of Mumbai, and soon the concept grew into a worldwide phenomenon. Today there are thousands of groups in dozens of countries!

The practice of Laughter Yoga combines yogic breathing, stretching and laughing as a form of exercise. It has many benefits, such as relieving stress, reducing depression, improving cardiovascular health, and enhancing the immune system. When practicing, it’s not necessary for participants to have something funny to chuckle at; even simulated laughter has the same benefits as a genuine belly laugh. And as practitioners quickly find out, with good eye contact and an open mindset, even self-generated laughter quickly turns into the real thing when you’re practicing with a group.

To participate in Laughter Yoga near you, you can check out a number of websites including Dr. Kataria’s website LaughterYoga.org and Meetup.com. And for all your yoga needs, visit barefootyoga.com!

“We are paying very high price for taking life seriously. Now it’s time to take laughter seriously.”

– Dr. Madan Kataria

Posted under Health and Fitness, Styles of Yoga, Yoga News