What Is Laughter Yoga or Laughter Therapy

Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise routine which combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing (pranayama).
It is based on the fact that anyone can laugh without relying on humor, jokes or comedy.
So in this practice laughter is initially simulated as a physical exercise while maintaining eye
contact with others in the group and promoting childlike playfulness.

The pracice has many scientifically proven healthy benefits as enhancing immune system, reducing stress, elevating mood and several more.

Laughter Yoga sessions vary according to the group and its objectives.
Nevertheless the usual duration is around 50’ to 60’ and there are three main phases of a complete experience of Laughter Yoga:
• Laughter Yoga Session – Four steps of Laughter Yoga that is to say the core of the session, which includes breathing and laughing exercises
• Laughter Meditation, when the energy of laughing is balanced and distributed
• Guided Relaxation (Yoga Nidra), which allows to fix the benefits of the experience at physical and emotional leel

Simple rules to participate to a Laughter Yoga Session:
Faking is fine: You will get benefits of laughter even if you laugh intentionally.
Keep moving: When laughing in a group one should keep moving around and meeting
others while maintaining eye contact.
No strain: Do not over exert or apply too much force while laughing. Try to be playful.
Less force translates into more enjoyment
Laugh longer: Since we do voluntary laughter exercises try to laugh for longer in order
to get rid of the residual air in your lungs. Each laughter exercises will last between 30
seconds and 1 minute. However there are no hard and fast rules. You can keep laughing
as long as the group is enjoying.
Deep breathing: Laughter exercises should be interspersed with deep breathing.