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Laughter yoga

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Laughter Yoga (Hasyayoga) is a form of yoga employing self-triggered laughter. The "laughter" is physical in nature, and does not necessarily involve humor or comedy. The concept was developed by Indian guru Jiten Kohi.[citation needed] It was made popular as an exercise routine developed by Indian physician Madan Kataria.[citation needed] Kataria writes about the practice in his book Laugh For No Reason.[1]

Method

Laughter is easily stimulated in a group when combined with eye contact, childlike playfulness and laughter exercises. Fake laughter quickly becomes real. Laughter Yoga brings more oxygen to the body and brain by incorporating yogic breathing which results in deep diaphragmatic breathing. Laughter Yoga is based on the concept that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter - physiologically and psychologically the benefits are identical.[citation needed]

In the mid-1990's Laughter Yoga was practiced in the early mornings, primarily by groups of older men in open parks. Later, a more formalized version was created and popularized as "Laughter Clubs". Kataria's first Laughter Yoga Club began on 13 March 1995 in Mumbai. Beginning with five people in a local public park, the concept has rapidly spread worldwide. As of 2009, there are more than 6000 Laughter Clubs in 60 countries.[citation needed]


Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise routine, which combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can laugh without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is initially simulated as a physical exercise while maintaining eye contact with others in the group and promoting childlike playfulness. In most cases this soon leads to real and contagious laughter. Science has proved that the body cannot di$erentiate between simulated and real laughter. Laughter Yoga is the only technique that allows adults to achieve sustained hearty laughter without involving cognitive thought. It bypasses the intellectual systems that normally act as a brake on natural laughter.

Laughter Yoga sessions start with gentle warm-up techniques which include stretching, chanting, clapping and body movement. These help break down inhibitions and develop feelings of childlike playfulness. Breathing exercises are used to prepare the lungs for laughter, followed by a series of ‘laughter exercises’ that combine the method of acting and visualization techniques with playfulness. These exercises, when combined with the strong social dynamics of group behavior, lead to prolong and hearty unconditional laughter. Laughter exercises are interspersed with breathing exercises. Scienti!cally it has been proved that twenty minutes of laughter is sufficient to develop full physiological benefits.

A Laughter Yoga session may finish with ‘laughter meditation’. This is a session of unstructured laughter whereby participants sit or lie down and allow natural laughter to flow from within us like a fountain. This is a powerful experience that often leads to a healthy emotional catharsis and also a feeling of release and joyfulness that can last for days. This can be followed by guided relaxation exercises.


Why is it called Laughter Yoga?


The word “Yoga” arises from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’ which means to get hold of, integrate and harmonize. It means getting hold of our lives, integrating all aspects of life, harmonizing our bodies with our minds, spirits and society. There are many paths of Yoga. For example Hatha Yoga is concerned with balancing the energies through body postures or Asanas, Karma Yoga deals with actions of sel/ess service, kindness, and generosity, Bhakti Yoga is Yoga of devotion, etc.

The primary reason Dr. Kataria named this technique “Laughter Yoga” was because he incorporated Pranayama, the ancient science of yogic breathing into laughter exercises. This has a powerful and immediate e$ect on our physiology and has been used for more than four thousand years to influence the body, mind and emotions. According to yogic philosophy, we are alive because the cosmic energy from the universe flows into our body through our breath which is the Life Energy Force or “Prana”. The very essence of our life is breathing. Due to stress and negative emotions,our breathing becomes irregular and shallow, thus a$ecting the flow of Prana through our body.

From a medical point of view, the most important component of breath is oxygen. Dr. Otto Warburg, President, Institute of Cell Physiology and Nobel Prize Winner (Dr. Warburg is the only person ever to win the Nobel Prize for Medicine twice and be nominated for a third), said about the importance of oxygen:

“Deep breathing techniques increase oxygen to the cells and are the most important factors in living a disease-free and energetic life. When cells get enough oxygen, cancer will not and cannot occur.”

See also

References

  1. ^ Kataria, Madan (2002), Laugh For No Reason (2 ed.), Mumbai, India: Madhuri International, ISBN 9788187529019
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