Laughter Yoga, also known as Hasyayoga, is an exercise routine that combines self-activated laughter with yogic breathing to reduce stress and encourage positivity. It was created in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria and his wife, and has been used to treat inmates, people with disabilities, cancer patients, and more. Laughter Yoga benefits include stress relief, improved immune system function, and increased happiness and well-being.
Also known as Laughter for No Reason or Hasyayoga, Laughter Yoga is an exercise routine designed to reduce stress and encourage a positive attitude while reaping the benefits of traditional yoga. The practice involves the use of self-activated laughter, or laughter that wasn’t necessarily caused by humor, along with yogic breathing. Laughter yoga therapy has become a popular way to treat inmates, people with disabilities, and many other people around the world.
To participate in Laughter Yoga, one must typically participate with a Laughter Yoga group. The group can be an existing one, or one that the participant wants to create in their area. The group leader will present various yoga exercises to be completed along with laughter. Participants are expected to accept that they do not need a reason to laugh, and should simply start laughing together, as the effect tends to be contagious once it has started. Specific clapping, vowel sounds, hand placement, and other gestures are part of a typical Hasyayoga session.
This yoga practice began in 1995. It was created by Dr. Madan Kataria from Mumbai, India, and his wife, yoga teacher Madhuri Kataria. The two developed the concept around the idea that the body cannot distinguish between self-induced physical laughter and humor-induced laughter. The benefits of either laugh therefore remain the same. Since yoga has already established itself as a useful stress reduction tool, adding laughter, another well-known stress reducer, seemed to make practicing yoga even more beneficial for those who practice it.
In addition to stress relief, Laughter Yoga has also proven useful in treating or combating many other ailments. Cancer patients who engage in Laughter for No Reason have reported better immune system function as well as longer survival rates than patients who do not laugh regularly. Schools that use this type of yoga at the beginning of the day often note a more positive and productive environment, and it has also been used to treat conditions such as arthritis and asthma.
Laughter yoga benefits also include increasing overall happiness and feelings of well-being. Many people can remember how they feel after a laugh. It allows people to experience this version frequently, allowing them to let go of worry to some degree and enjoy their lives more fully. Seniors experiencing mental decline and reduced or absent humor may find that the practice allows them to continue laughing well into old age, as well as experience the other benefits of yoga.
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