International Day of Yoga: What Is Laughing Yoga? How To Do It?

The International Day of Yoga is observed on 21 June every year to highlight the importance of yoga in our lives. Yoga has gained popularity all over the world due to its numerous health benefits.

What Is Laughing Yoga?

In recent years, laughing yoga has acquired some vogue - maybe it's because it's easy or maybe because it's effective - or maybe both! So to get clarity regarding why laughing yoga is so famous now, in this article, we will explore what laughing yoga is and whether it actually works.

Read on...

What Is Laughing Yoga? How To Do It?

1. What is laughing yoga?

Laughing yoga, also known as laughter yoga, is a form of yoga that involves prolonged voluntary laughter - yep, you just keep laughing! It was developed in the 1990s by Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician from Mumbai, India. The basic idea behind laughing yoga is that laughter has numerous health benefits, even if it is forced or simulated [1].

2. How does laughing yoga work?

In a laughing yoga session, participants engage in a series of laughter exercises that involve deep breathing, stretching, and simulated laughter. The exercises are usually done in a group setting, with participants making eye contact and using playful gestures to enhance the experience [2].

The idea is to trigger laughter, which in turn releases endorphins and reduces stress [3]. The positive effects laughing have on our health is a well-known fact anyway.

What Is Laughing Yoga?

3. What are the benefits of laughing yoga?

Proponents of laughing yoga claim that it has numerous health benefits. Some of these benefits include [4][5]:

- Reduced stress and anxiety

- Increased immune function

- Improved cardiovascular health

- Increased oxygen intake

- Enhanced mood and emotional well-being

4. Does laughing yoga actually work?

Now on to the real facts, while there is limited scientific research on the effectiveness of laughing yoga, anecdotal evidence suggests that it can be a beneficial practice for some people. The act of laughing itself has been shown to have numerous health benefits, so it stands to reason that laughing yoga could be a beneficial practice [6].

However, more research is needed to determine its efficacy.

What Is Laughing Yoga?

How To Do Laughing Yoga?

Laughing yoga is a unique form of exercise that combines laughter and breathing techniques to help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Here are some steps to follow to do laughing yoga:

1. Find a comfortable place to practice. You can do laughing yoga alone or with a group of people.

2. Start with some warm-up exercises to loosen up your body. You can stretch or do some light cardio exercises to get your blood flowing.

3. Begin the laughing yoga session by clapping your hands together and taking a deep breath in. As you exhale, laugh out loud and continue to do so for a few seconds - yeah, you may look like you've lost it laughing all by yourself, but keep going!

4. Take another deep breath in and repeat the laughing exercise. You can vary the pitch and tone of your laughter as you continue to breathe deeply.

5. Try to maintain eye contact with others in the group and encourage them to laugh along with you. The more you laugh, the more contagious it becomes.

6. Continue the laughing yoga session for 10-15 minutes, taking breaks as needed.

7. Finish the session with a final round of laughter and take a few deep breaths to calm your body and mind.

What Is Laughing Yoga?

On A Final Note...

While it may seem unusual to engage in simulated laughter, yoga enthusiasts claim that it laughing yoga has numerous health benefits. It is a fun and effective way to reduce stress, improve mood, and promote overall health and well-being.

Whether or not laughing yoga actually works is still up for debate, but it is certainly an interesting practice to explore for those interested in the benefits of yoga. Give it a try and see how it can benefit you!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.