Laughter Yoga for better, stress-free life

Started accidently by Dr Madan Kataria, Laughter Yoga has become an important therapy to overcome stress.

Kataria was a family physician in Mumbai when he started experiencing prolonged stress. He then started writing about methods to overcome stress and in the process came across a quote which said, “Laughter is the best medicine”.

And so the journey began. Kataria started practicing Laughter Yoga with only five people before setting up the first Laughter Club in Mumbai on March 5, 1995. He now operates more than a thousand laughter clubs in India.

On the occasion of the 29th Laughter Yoga Day, Ishvinder Pal Singh Teji, a certified laughter yoga teacher, highlighted the benefits of Laughter Yoga, especially nowadays when stress, depression and anxiety have become so common.

He added, “Laughter Yoga not only has physical benefits, but also addresses mental health problems. Seeing the current situation, a mental health pandemic may not be very far.”

Laughter Yoga is a concept where anyone can laugh without relying on jokes, or any other reason. It involves initiating laughter as an exercise in a group, but with eye contact and childlike playfulness. It soon turns into a real and contagious laughter.

Laughter Yoga combines laughter with breathing exercises. It leaves one feeling energetic and fresh. It is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. Therefore, the body gets the same physiological and psychological benefits.

Teji has been laughing and making others laugh since September 2015 when he started Laughter Yoga training.

He stated further, “I laugh alone for 10 to 15 minutes daily and so should everyone. Whether I am in my room or driving, or working, I practice it and it boosts my confidence. Every Delhiite can relate to the anger and irritation one goes through while driving through city’s traffic and roads. I laugh and all my ego mellows down to a state of mind that is loving, caring and giving.”

Teji took sessions even for children on Laughter Yoga during Covid, and got an amazing and positive response from each one of them. He still takes one on one personal sessions and has a channel on Youtube, where he teaches Laughter Yoga. (https://www.youtube.com/dailylaughteryoga)

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 200 million people suffer from depression worldwide. For issues like these, Laughter Yoga has proven to be an instant mood booster.

Laughter Yoga has been scientifically proven in helping elevate mood, strengthen immune system, healing chronic health conditions faster, and increasing the net supply of oxygen to our body, while increasing efficiency and performance. There are so many more benefits.

“Teach them young” is Teji’s mantra as he states the benefits of Laughter Yoga for school-children.

“It promotes healthy emotional development, helps in increasing academic performance, builds physical stamina, develops self-confidence and enhances creativity. This concept should not just be incorporated in schools but also in the corporate sector, offices, hospitals, old-age homes, among other places.”