What is Laughter Yoga?

Laughter Yoga is a revolutionary idea – simple and profound. An exercise routine, it is sweeping the world and is a complete wellbeing workout.

The brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria, a Physician from Mumbai, India. He launched the first Laughter Club at a Park on March 13, 1995, with merely a handful of people. Today, it has become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 6000 Social Laughter Clubs in about 60 countries.

Laughter Yoga combines Unconditional Laughter with Yogic Breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can Laugh for No Reason, without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group; with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits.

Laughter Yoga offers: an alternative aerobic exercise (according to Dr. William Fry of Stanford University one minute of laughter is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine); a supplementary and preventative therapy against other ailments; natural pain relief through increasing the level of endorphins in the body; an aid in the prevention of depression, anxiety and psychosomatic disorders; improved breathing capacity (laughter yoga is beneficial for asthmatics, athletes, actors and singers); strengthened immune system; increased confidence and positive outlook.