Laughter Yoga
... AND YOU MAY LIVE LONGER!
Why me and laughter yoga?
In March 2024 I decided that I want to spread more joy and signed up for two day training with Lotte and Melanie from United Mind, the UK’s leading specialist for laughter yoga wellness training and workshops.
Equipped with the background of laughter yoga, it’s benefits and reasons for practising it, and most importantly loads of laughter yoga exercises, I now run sessions for people who come to laugh for no reason to experience those health benefits and lift their mood.
Join me?
LOL with Hanyika in Leela Centre, Gillingham, Dorset. Or contact me to see if there is any laughter yoga club closer to you.
HOW DID IT ALL START?
Laughter yoga is an exercise program developed by Indian physician Dr Madan Kataria in 1995 where anyone can laugh without relying on humour, jokes or comedies. It is now practised in more than 110 countries.
Laughter yoga is based on studies suggesting similar physiological and psychological benefits for both REAL spontaneous laughter and VOLUNTARY intentional laughter done with willingness and energy.
Why is it called Laughter Yoga - where is the ‘yoga’ bit? Laughter yoga combines laughter exercises with yoga breathing.
WHY to do it?
Benefits of laughter:
*Elevates mood - releasing endorphins - good mood throughout the day
*Health benefits - reduces stress - strengthen immune system
*Work benefits - increases of oxygen to body and brain - improves efficiency and performance
*Social connector - laughter brings people together - friends, relationships and better quality of life
*Resilience - teaches to laugh even when times are hard - provides strength and coping mechanism to keep positive mental attitude
WHO is it for?
Anyone of any age can practise laughter yoga. There is laugher yoga for adults, teens, kids or seniors. It can be done seated or standing. It is adjustable to anyone's needs and capabilities.
If you brush your inner critic/judgement off your shoulders, you might never look back.
Get hooked on laughter.
It’s not about being funny - it’s about having FUN.
WHAT is it?
Laughter yoga involves gentle stretching, chanting, clapping, eye contact, and body movements and yoga breathing in between exercises.
Laughter initiated as exercise in group with eye contact and childlike playfulness simulated laughter changes into real and contagious laughter.
Extended intentional laughter practise means deep and hearty laughter from diaphragm and therefore more oxygen to the body and brain and feeling more energetic and healthy.
WHEN and WHERE to do it?
You can practice laughing yoga as often as you like, but many people find that adding it into their routine a few times a week can bring noticeable benefits.
Even just 10–15 minutes of laughing yoga two or three times a week can help you manage stress, lift your mood, or add more joy plus so many physical benefits.
You can laugh by yourself at home or join one of the many laughter yoga clubs in many parts of the country and the world.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that 10 minutes of laughter might mean 2 hours of pain free?
Did you know that even fake smile with mouth and eyes increases endorphins (the happy hormone)?
Check out 2011 Oxford University study.
Social laughter usually lasts 3-5 sec. Extended laughter 15-20 min brings us the full benefits. That's why laughter yoga is so GOOD for us.
Laughter is the best medicine.
