Yoga BLOG

Laughter Yoga - The beneficial effects of unconditional laughter In 1995, the Indian physician Dr. Madan Kataria wrote an article on the topic "Laughter is the best medicine." He intensively studied research findings on the effects of laughter. He was so fascinated by these findings that he founded a laughter club in Mumbai. Initially, the members of the laughter club told each other jokes to get laughing. But it didn't stop there. With his wife, yoga teacher Madhuri Kataria, Madan Kataria developed special yoga exercises that induce laughter. Learn how the lion laugh, the hot soup laugh, and the cell phone laugh work in this article. How does laughter yoga work? A laughter yoga session is usually divided into four phases: 1. Warm-up phase Participants clap their hands to a specific rhythm and shout "Hoho Hahaha." This warm-up exercise begins while standing. Participants smile at each other. They then walk in a circle or dance while clapping and laughing. 2. Breathing exercises Afterwards, various breathing exercises from yoga are used. 3. Expressive exercises of childlike playfulness During this phase, participants imitate various forms of childlike playfulness and combine them with laughter. A well-known exercise is called "Very good, very good, Yeah!" When they say "Very good," they clap their hands, and when they say "Yeah!" they stretch their arms out in the air. 4. The actual laughter yoga exercises Dr. Madan Kataria has developed more than 100 Laughter Yoga exercises. These include yoga breathing exercises (pranayama) and elements from specific yoga postures (asanas). For example, the lion's laughter emerges from the lion asana (Simhasana) . While standing, the hands are held beside the head like lion's paws. The mouth is wide open. Then the participants stick out their tongues and simultaneously roar loudly. The hot soup laugh is based on imagining having eaten very hot soup. Participants fan themselves with their hands, breathe in and out, and laugh while doing so. With the cell phone laugh, participants hold an imaginary cell phone and imagine someone telling them something funny. They then laugh. Eye contact with the other participants plays an important role in all Laughter Yoga exercises. This transforms gratuitous laughter into a natural, liberating laugh. After the exercises, some instructors offer a guided deep relaxation at the end of the Laughter Yoga session. What can laughter yoga achieve? The human brain doesn't distinguish between "fake" and "real" laughter. When we laugh, so-called happiness hormones (endorphins) are released. These include serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. Serotonin and dopamine have a mood-enhancing effect. The release of oxytocin conveys a feeling of balance and well-being. Physical and emotional tension can be released. By reducing stress levels in the body, the immune system can be strengthened. Laughter yoga exercises and the associated intense breathing provide the brain with more oxygen. This can improve concentration and vitality. Furthermore, laughter in a group unites participants. A pleasant sense of belonging can develop, and relationships can be built. Conclusion There are now more than 6,000 laughter clubs in over 100 countries worldwide. The first Sunday in May was established by Dr. Madan Kataria as World Laughter Day. At 2 p.m. German time, people worldwide laugh together for a minute. Laughter Yoga requires no special yoga knowledge. Under the guidance of a qualified Laughter Yoga instructor, you can start at any time. Your body and mind can benefit from it. Laughter yoga is only discouraged in cases of certain conditions (angina pectoris, hiatal hernia, high blood pressure, glaucoma, herniated discs, aneurysms, severe depression, and those taking psychotropic medications). If in doubt, consult your doctor before beginning laughter yoga. Image © wavebreakmediamicro / 123rf.com