Laughter Yoga- The New Alternative Yoga On The Scene
Laughing your way to happiness and health! The Squeeze gives you the low-down on the latest alternative yoga practise
Laughter Yoga is the latest alternative yoga practice to take the wellness world by storm. Combining laughter exercises with yoga breathing techniques, this practice promises to enhance both mental and physical health. In this blog, we'll explore what laughter yoga is, its origins, its benefits, and how you can try it for yourself!
What Is Laughter Yoga?
Laughter Yoga is a unique form of yoga that combines laughter exercises with yoga breathing techniques (known as pranayama). The purpose of this practice is not just to laugh but to use laughter as a tool to calm the mind, boost energy, and improve mental well-being. In a typical Laughter Yoga session, laughter is intentionally simulated, combined with breathing exercises, body movements, and relaxation.
Laughter Yoga works on the principle that your body cannot distinguish between real and fake laughter – both provide similar health benefits. So even if you don’t feel like laughing, the mere act of engaging in laughter can help lower stress and improve your mood.
The History: Who Invented Laughter Yoga?
Laughter Yoga was created in 1995 by Madan Kataria, a medical doctor from Mumbai, India. His interest in the health benefits of laughter led him to gather five of his friends in a Mumbai park to start the first laughter club. From these humble beginnings, Laughter Yoga quickly spread across the globe. Today, there are over 5,000 Laughter Yoga clubs worldwide, all dedicated to sharing the healing power of laughter.
Benefits of Laughter Yoga
Laughter Yoga offers a wide range of benefits for both the body and mind. Below are just a few of the many advantages you can expect:
1/ Improved Immune System
Laughing reduces the levels the stress hormone, cortisol, in your body. Cortisol is an immunosuppressant so, as a result, your immune system gets a boost when you chuckle.
2/ Improved Mood
As well as suppressing cortisol production, laughing also triggers the release of endorphins. Endorphins are ‘feel good chemicals’ which improve your mood and relax your body for a happier day!
3/ Higher Pain Tolerance
The release of endorphins from laughing also helps to reduce how much pain we feel by increasing the body’s pain tolerance.
4/ Social Connection
Laughter Yoga clubs involve exercises in which attendees laugh together as a group. This helps build social connection and bonding. Positive and strong social connections between people have been linked to better mental health and longer lifespans.
How to Do Laughter Yoga: 3 Laughter Yoga Exercises to Try at Home Today
Lion Laughter:
Stick out your tongue, put your hands up to your head and make them into claws, and laugh deeply from your belly
Gradient Laughter:
Start by smiling and then progress to a small laugh. From here, increase the intensity of the laugh until you reach a big, deep laugh and then slowly bring it back down
Silent Laughter:
The name of this exercise explains it all! Close your eyes and open your mouth and laugh silently
