Laughing yoga: what it is, benefits, and how to practice
Have you ever heard of laughing yoga? Discover the benefits of adding laughter to yoga exercises, plus breathing techniques to promote more joy in your life.
Laughing yoga is a yoga practice that brings together traditional yoga, breathing exercises, and, well, laughter. Laughing yoga can help shake off stress, boost your immune system, and foster a sense of connection and community, bringing truth to the saying that “laughter just might be the best medicine.”
But what exactly is laughing yoga? What benefits does laughing yoga offer, and how can you give it a go?
What is laughing yoga?
Laughing yoga, also known as Hasya yoga, brings together the joyful act of voluntary laughter with the calming breathwork of yoga.
Madan Kataria, MD, a family medicine physician from Mumbai, India, and affectionately nicknamed, “the guru of giggling,” founded the first laughter yoga club in 1995. Dr. Kataria was inspired by the idea that laughter is the universal language of joy. He developed the practice of laughing yoga that offers multiple health benefits that are accessible to all people, regardless of age or fitness level.
The core principle of laughing yoga is quite straightforward: Laugh, and laugh heartily, in a group, even if there's no reason to giggle. The laughing yoga technique is made up of three key components:
Laughter exercises
Laughter yoga sessions begin with warm-up exercises that loosen you up, release nervous energy, and encourage a free flow of laughter. Simulated laughter often naturally transitions into real, spontaneous laughter during the sessions, thanks to the group dynamic.
Yogic breathing techniques
Moving from yogic breathing, or pranayama, to voluntary laughter and back to yogic breathing is intended to create a rhythmic flow of breath that can enhance your experience and ease you into mindfulness. These breathing exercises can help calm your mind and replenish your body’s oxygen levels.
This combination of laughter and breathing is quite powerful, especially when experienced with a group of people.
Community spirit
Laughing yoga is most often practiced in groups. A group practice for this form of yoga is preferred, as collective laughter in a supportive environment makes the benefits of laughing yoga even greater. Plus, it builds a sense of community and shared joy.
What are the benefits of laughing yoga?
Laughing yoga’s exercises and breathing techniques can lead to physical, emotional, and social benefits. Sometimes dealing with life’s stressors means there’s an absence of laughter in our day to day lives, which may ultimately decrease joy and reduce a positive outlook on life. Regular bouts of laughter might help you cultivate a more joyful outlook on life and improve day-to-day happiness. This could potentially increase your overall quality of life, further proving the idea that laughter just might be the best medicine after all. Here are some ways laughing yoga might help you to feel happier:
1. Laughing yoga may provide stress relief
Laughing out loud may trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in your brain and could reduce your levels of stress hormones, which may help you to feel relaxed and joyful. Feeling more relaxed can also help you to sleep better.
2. Laughing yoga could boost your immune system
Laughter has been shown to strengthen the immune system, which may help you fight off illnesses. By reducing stress hormones and increasing the production of immune cells and antibodies, laughing yoga could be a fun way of maintaining and promoting good health.
3. Laughing yoga may enhance respiratory function
Deep breathing techniques practiced during laughing yoga may improve the flow of oxygen in and around your body and brain. Improving the flow of oxygen within your body, and especially in your brain and lungs, may help your overall health, including your respiratory function, or the way your body takes in and uses oxygen.
4. Laughing yoga may improve cardiovascular health
The act of laughing enhances blood circulation, which may help reduce blood pressure and support your overall cardiovascular health. When you laugh, your heart rate increases and the amount of oxygen you take in increases, which may boost your heart’s function and exercise your blood vessels, thus strengthening them.
5. Laughing yoga could strengthen relationships
Laughter may strengthen connections by building camaraderie, trust, and a shared experience in groups of friends, coworkers, family, and more. Experiencing connection within personal or professional relationships ultimately can lead to closer and more fulfilling relationships.
6. Laughing yoga may increase joy and positivity
Practicing laughing yoga may help you reconnect with the simple joy of laughter, which is often an involuntary and natural reaction to finding something funny or pleasing that people begin to express when they’re babies.
6 laughing yoga exercises
Laughing yoga exercises are simple to do, fun, and can be incorporated into your regular routine with ease. The following laughing yoga exercises are typically practiced in a group setting under the guidance of a certified laughter yoga leader. However, once you get the hang of it, you can easily continue them on your own or with friends.
The goal is to let go, be in the moment, and allow the laughter to flow naturally, even if it starts with a simulated laugh.
1. Greeting laughter
Stand in a circle with your group. Instead of the typical "hello," greet each person with a hearty laugh. The idea is to replace verbal greetings with a laughter exchange, promoting a fun start to the group activity, outing, or meeting.
💙 Laughing yoga is meant to be joyful and fun. For more fun mindful movement, check out Move for Fun from the Daily Move.
2. Cell phone laughter
This one might seem a little silly or awkward, but it’s effective – we promise! All it requires is a little imagination. Pretend you're having a hilariously engaging conversation on the phone. Laugh out loud as you share imaginary funny anecdotes with your friend on the other end. Although you’re not really talking to anyone on the other line, this exercise is a surefire way to encourage the use of imagination to trigger genuine laughter.
3. The “ho ho, ha ha ha,” exercise
Stand in a circle and clap to the rhythm of, “ho ho, ha ha ha," while reciting the words a few times through, or for as long as you need to allow the laughter to flow. This rhythmic clapping and chanting not only induces real laughter but also creates a sense of communal joy, much like a singalong!
4. Laughter milkshake
Imagine you’re pouring a milkshake on yourself. Stick with us here. Imagine the feeling of the milkshake. Maybe it’s cold and that shocks you. Maybe it’s thick and goopy. Pick your favorite flavor of milkshake and imagine it’s dripping into your mouth, and that delights you. As the imaginary milkshake pours over you from head to toe, let out a hearty laugh.
It might start off feeling forced but should evolve into a genuine laugh. This exercise helps you visualize fun and silly scenarios that can lead to spontaneous laughter.
💙 Eager to involve your brain more in your movement practice? Check out Moves for Brain Health from the Daily Move.
5. Lion laughter
This exercise starts off by getting into the lion yoga pose. You’ll get on your hands and knees and lean back onto your heels while keeping your hands on the ground, or knees, in front of you. Extend your neck, widen your eyes and mouth, and stick out your tongue.
Next, you’ll let out a big laugh, kind of like a lion’s roar. Do this a few times through. Lion laughter is a great exercise to release inhibitions and embrace playfulness.
6. Appreciation laughter
Appreciation laughter requires group participation. First, you’ll look around at the group you’re with and make eye contact with each person. Next, you'll laugh appreciatively together, as if you're both admiring a job well done. Make this connection and share laughter with everyone in your group. This exercise teaches us the feeling of appreciation and participation while enriching community between participants.
💙 When it comes to mindful movement, it’s all about quality over quantity. Press play on Quality Moves Over Quantity with Mel Mah.
Laughing Yoga FAQs
Q: Is laughing yoga a real thing?
Yes, laughing yoga is indeed a real and recognized form of yoga. It combines laughter exercises with yogic breathing techniques, also called pranayama, to promote holistic wellbeing. Laughter yoga sessions are conducted in laughter clubs, wellness centers, and even in corporate or educational settings to bring the therapeutic benefits of laughter to people everywhere.
Q: What is the laughter yoga technique?
Laughter yoga combines simulated laughter exercises with yogic breathing techniques to promote physical and mental wellbeing.
Q: Where did laughing yoga come from?
Laughing yoga was developed by Madan Kataria, MD, in Mumbai, India, in 1995. Dr. Kataria was curious about the many studies showcasing the benefits of laughter on a person’s overall health and wellbeing. He started the first laughter yoga club with a small group of people in a local park in Mumbai. The concept quickly gained traction and has now blossomed into a global movement with thousands of laughter yoga clubs in more than 100 countries.
Q: How can you do laughter yoga on your own?
While laughter yoga is designed to be practiced primarily in a group setting, it’s still possible to have fun and reap the benefits of laughing yoga as a solo practice. One way to achieve this is to warm up by clapping your hands and chanting, “Ho ho, ha ha ha” until your laughter starts flowing naturally.
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