I Could Use a Good Laugh

"We have taken Life too Seriously, and the time has come now to take Laughter Seriously." -Dr. Madan Kataria


So, remember back in June, how I was lamenting my lame laugh? Well, I worked the Google on the internet machine and found some YouTube videos on laughter yoga. Laughter yoga? Yes, it really is a thing. And this past weekend, my husband and I attended the Canada Laughter Yoga Conference in Toronto. Besides thoroughly enjoying the city and sharing a getaway weekend with the best man in the world, I learned A LOT. This is what I can tell you now about Laughter Yoga:
It was invented in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria under the premise "laughter is the best medicine". On the heels of the scientific discovery that our bodies cannot differentiate between spontaneous laughter and self-induced or contrived laughter, Dr. Kataria developed several unique laughing exercises. Some basics include repeating the mantra "ho ho, ha ha ha" , and a radiant laughter that begins with a chuckle that you then let flow naturally as it will. The yoga connection comes in with breath. Through breathing and laughter exercises, people are finding innumerable benefits. There are laughter clubs forming all over the world. People hold meetings in their homes or in parks and simply laugh together. It has significant effects for reducing stress, strengthening the immune system, and improving the ability to focus. The obvious added benefit is developing social connections. Laughter yoga has grown more quickly in Eastern cultures and is being practiced in Indian, Japanese, and South Korean prisons and military bases, as well as in senior centers and schools.
On a personal level, I was a bit discouraged by the amount of effort it took to maintain the laughing exercises. I had hoped that I would find myself enjoying genuine laughter that felt easy and fun. I would like to try again and see if it gets easier. I guess my next step is to find (or found, if need be), a laughter club or workshop near me. I would love it if you would join me.