Laughter yoga, or Hasya yoga, is a relatively new wellness practice that combines playful laughter exercises with yogic breathing (pranayama). This was conceptualised in 1995 by an Indian physician Dr Madan Kataria. Its based on the premise that the body cannot tell between fake, simulated laughter and more genuine, spontaneous laughter; resulting in you get the exact same physical and psychological health benefits either way. (1, 2)
The structure of a typical session
Laughter yoga involves no traditional yoga poses. There may be some fun stretching complemented with music or pranayama. A typical class usually lasts 5 to 90 minutes and is broken down into a few segments: [1, 2,]
- Clapping and Movement: Sessions may start with rhythmic clapping and movement to ease inhibition and create a fun atmosphere. [1 ]
- Laughter Yoga Exercises: Group participants ( can be any number ) are guided through playful, creative exercises combined with eye contact. Examples include shaking hands whilst laughing , pushing an imaginary laughing lawnmower or waving to a crowd. [1, 2, ,]
- Deep Pranayama: Activities are interspersed with deep breaths, holding the breath, and exhaling with laughter, which can emit stale air out of the lungs. (1, 2,)
- Laughter Meditation and Deep Relaxation: The laughter workshop may conclude with a sustained period (typically ten or fifteen minutes) of spontaneous, uninhibited laughter with eyes closed followed by a peaceful lying down or seated meditation/relaxation. [1, 2]. This is a very effective way to finish the session leaving all in a relaxed state after feeling the numerous benefits – increased relaxation, stress reduction etc.
Various Health Benefits
Advocates and various studies suggest that sustained laughter acts as an excellent physical and mental workout. Key benefits include: [1, 2, 3]
- Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Deep laughter and breathing reduce stress hormones like cortisol. [1, ]
- Mood Boost: Laughter increases the sustained release of “feel-good” brain chemicals, including endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. [1, 2, 3]
- Immunity: Increased oxygen levels and reduced stress induce general improved immune system functioning and pain relief. [1, 2, 3]
- Social Cohesion and Bonding: Participating in a group or team makes laughter extremely contagious and helps break down barriers, counteracting isolation. [1, 2, ]
There are thousands low-cost community-based Laughter Clubs operating in-person and virtually across the UK and the world [1, 2, ]. Some have been going for many years. Different ages and all sorts of backgrounds can come together to experience this joyful experience.
However we offer a service where we come to your event or team and lead the session. The experience is then totally dedicated to your group or team. This can be done any time of the day. You simply need a private spacious room where we can do this. Please see www.teambuildinglaugh.co.uk for more information.