1.   What are the benefits of Laughter?
  2.   What is unique about Laughter “Yoga”?
  3.   What if someone can’t laugh for no reason?
  4.   How did Laughter Yoga start?
  5.   How popular is Laughter Yoga today?
  6.   Why is it called “Yoga”?  
  7.   Is this an organized movement?
  8.   What is the goal of Laughter Yoga?
  9.   What does a typical Laughter Yoga class look like?
10.   Laughter Yoga in the Workplace
11.   Laughter Yoga with Seniors
12.   Laughter Yoga with Children
13.   Is there anyone who should not take a Laughter Yoga class?
14.   Have you met Dr. Kataria?
15.   Do you lead any Laughter Clubs?
16.   Are you a full time Laughter Yoga Leader/Teacher?
17.   How has Laughter changed your life?
18.   What are some sample Breathing & Laughter Exercises?

2.    What is unique about Laughter “Yoga”?

In Laughter Yoga, we laugh for no reason, without jokes or comedy and even if we don’t have a sense of humor.  The laughter comes from inside ourselves rather than from an external source so we’re not dependent on someone or something to laugh.

As adults, we typically laugh from our heads when we “think” something is funny or we’re laughing “at” someone, rather than from our hearts and souls like children do.  In Laughter Yoga we rediscover the childlike laughter that emanates from our hearts and souls and not our heads.

Many people think that laughing for no reason is odd, but in fact it is very natural. Preschool age children laugh between 300 – 400 times a day and usually for no apparent reason.  As adults, we currently laugh on the average of 15 times a day and a lot less than we used to just a few decades ago due to our lives becoming busier and more stressful.   

Initially, we may feel uncomfortable or self-conscious laughing for no reason, but eventually, we rediscover our childlike, joyful nature.  This is based on the concept that “Motion Creates Emotion”.  If we act happy we feel happy.  

Example of how "Motion Creates Emotion":
(1)  Frown/Smile three times
(2)  Frown and say "I'm so happy"
(3) Smile and say "I'm so worried"

3.    What if someone can’t laugh for no reason?

Laughter is contagious.  Usually, people find it pretty easy to laugh in a Laughter Yoga class because we are interacting with each other, making eye contact, being playful, and feeding off each other’s laughter.   And, even if we can’t laugh “for real”, we can always fake/simulate laugh.  Research shows that fake/simulated laughter has the same benefits as real laughter.  And, the fact of the matter is fake/simulated laughter usually leads to real, genuine laughter.


4.    How did Laughter Yoga start?

Laughter Yoga started in Mumbai (Bombay) India in March 1995, almost 13 years ago.  Madan Kataria, M.D., a family physician, was doing research for an article he was writing for his monthly health magazine and was surprised to discover all the benefits of laughter.  One night he woke up at 4 a.m. with the idea of starting a laughter club in the local park which he did the same day.  Initially, the laughter club members would tell jokes to generate laughter, but within two (2) weeks, the good, wholesome jokes ran out and the jokes started becoming more sexist, racist and generally hurtful/negative.  Some of the members were offended.  Dr. Kataria remembered reading that fake laughter has the same benefits of real laughter and the concept of laughing for no reason was born.  Dr. Kataria and his wife Madhuri, who is a hatha (physical) yoga teacher, designed laughter yoga classes that incorporate simple stretching, laughter exercises, and yogic breathing (pranayama).

5.    How popular is Laughter Yoga today?

The first Laughter Yoga Club started with 5 people in a park in India in March 1995.  As of January 2008, there were over 5,000 Laughter Yoga Clubs around the world in over 50 countries.  

In San Diego County, the first Laughter Yoga Club started in 2006 and as of January 2008, there were 10 weekly Laughter Yoga Clubs.  There is at least one Laughter Yoga Club everyday somewhere in San Diego County.  This does not include all the private Laughter Yoga one-time classes, seminars, and workshops.  

7.    Is this an organized movement?

No, Laughter Yoga is a grass roots movement.   It recognizes no hierarchy, positions or titles. The only classifications are Laughter Yoga “Leaders” and Laughter Yoga “Teachers” and the only difference between the two are that “Teachers” trained directly with Dr. Kataria and are authorized to train people to become “Leaders”.  

Laughter Yoga also is non-political, non-religious, non-competitive and non-threatening.  Everyone is welcome!
 

8.    What is the goal of Laughter Yoga?

Dr. Kataria’s stated goal is to bring joy, health and world peace through laughter.   As Alan Alda once said, “When people are laughing, they’re generally not killing each one another”.

9.    What does a typical Laughter Yoga class look like?

Every Laughter Yoga class is custom deigned to take into account the unique features of the group. For example: time limitations, availability of space, physical abilities of the people taking the class, whether they’ve taken a class before, etc.

A typical Laughter yoga class I lead in Balboa Park begins by gathering in a group and doing some general introduction, gentle stretching and breathing exercises for 5 to 10 minutes.

Then we do a number of laughter exercises that usually last 20 to 40 seconds each and in all last about 15 or 20 minutes.  We interact with each other, and through the use of eye contact and playfulness, the laughter quickly becomes real, genuine laughter.   An example of a typical laughter exercise is milkshake laughter where we hold our hands out in front of us like we're holding 2 containers, pretend like we're pouring the contents from one container to the other while we say "ahhhhhhhhh" and then back to the other container while we say "ahhhhhhh" and then drink it and . . .  LAUGH!

In between the laughter exercises, we clap in rhythm (ho ho ha ha ha) and engage in childlike playfulness (very good, very good, yay!).  The clapping actually stimulates the acupressure points in our hands, increases our energy and circulation, thereby allowing the oxygen and endorphins that are released from laughing to travel throughout our bodies and brains.

We usually spend 5 or 10 minutes talking, singing and telling jokes in gibberish and making animal sounds.

We typically end a class with 5 to 10 minutes of guided relaxation, similar to Sivasana in hatha/physical yoga.

10.    Laughter Yoga in the Workplace

Two (2) recent studies confirm the common sense notion that Laughter Yoga in the workplace is an effective way to decrease stress and increase productivity and employee satisfaction.

One study was done in India by SVYASA, one of the world’s leading Yoga Research Organizations.  The study looked at the effect of laughing for no reason on stress by measuring physiological, biochemical and psychological factors such as heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol levels, panas test, PSS test and TAS test.  In the study, seven (7) Laughter Yoga sessions lasting 20 minutes each were held every 2-3 days over an 18 days period.  The study found that the employees who participated in the Laughter Yoga sessions had a significant reduction in stress and significant improvements in the ability to cope with stress compared to a control group.  Although not specifically measured in this study, the researchers expect that regular Laughter Yoga sessions would result in increased productivity, quality of work, communication and interpersonal relationships, and decreased illness and disease with corresponding drops in absence and sick leave.

The second study was done in the U.S. and showed that after employees participated in one 15-minute laughter yoga session a day for 15 consecutive workdays, their work effectiveness improved by 28% and remained elevated 90 days after the Laughter Yoga classes concluded. Work effectiveness includes the effort put into working towards a goal, successfully dealing with obstacles, motivation, commitment, innovation, creativity, ability to work under stress, and ability to manage job demands.

11.    Laughter Yoga with Seniors

Laughter Yoga is wonderful for Seniors because as we grow older, our capacity to laugh decreases significantly due to less interaction with family, depression, and increased social isolation.  Additionally, as we age, our cognitive and hearing abilities decrease so it is harder to hear and/or comprehend jokes.  Since we laugh for no reason in Laughter Yoga, there are no jokes to comprehend or hear and we can just laugh when everyone around us laughs.

I have led dozens of Laughter Yoga classes with Seniors in their 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s.  Seniors tend to have less inhibition than younger adults and express great enjoyment after the class.  The big difference for Seniors is that the class is done sitting in chairs and the laughter exercises last a little shorter with slightly less vigorous laughing.

12.    Laughter Yoga with Children

Laughter Yoga is wonderful for children of all ages since it increases their stamina for school work and after school activities, helps boost their self-confidence and decrease their inhibitions especially when performing in sports, theater, etc., and allows them to do things they can’t normally do like act silly in front of adults without being told to “STOP IT” or get in trouble.

I have led a number of Laugher Yoga classes with children present.  Their reactions tend to depend on their age and who else is present.  Many children find it odd to see their parents and other adults laugh for no reason and don’t necessarily laugh a lot  during the class, but they almost always say they had a good time afterwards.  Also, when children get to be teenagers, they have a lot more inhibitions and tend to take social cues from the “leader” of the group.  Separating boys and girls from the ages 12 and up can help decrease their inhibitions and reservations.

14.    Have you met Dr. Kataria?

Yes, I met Dr. Kataria in May 2007 when I trained with him to receive my Teacher Certification.  I also spent a weekend with him and his wife Mudhuri at a Laughter Yoga conference in Miami in September 2007.  He is an incredibly gentle man.  One thing that stick out in my mind is that if someone’s cell phone went off during a lecture, rather than getting upset as most people do, he would simply start moving his body to the rhythm of the cell phone ring like he was dancing.  The other thing was that if someone came in late for a lecture, he would turn to them and say “I love you” and smile.  There was no judgment, criticism or anger and the effect was truly transformational in creating a positive environment for learning.

15.    Do you lead any Laughter Clubs?

Yes, I currently lead four (4) laughter clubs every week.  They are all free and open to the public.  Two of the clubs are held in Balboa Park (one on Fridays at noon and the other on Saturday mornings).  The other two (2) weekly clubs are held at the College Avenue Senior Center near San Diego State University and at St. Paul’s Manor in Banker’s Hill.

16.    Are you a full time Laughter Yoga Leader/Teacher?

I still practice law part-time, but the majority of my time is spent spreading laughter and joy through Laughter Yoga.

In addition to the free weekly laughter clubs, I also lead classes, seminars, and workshops at a variety of places including businesses, conventions, festivals, retreats, health fairs, churches, senior independent living facilities, convalescent homes and any other place that could use more laughter – which is everywhere, including Disneyland, the “happiest place on earth”!   

I also hold monthly Laughter Yoga Leader Trainings either by myself or in partnership with other Laughter Yoga Teachers.  They are two-day trainings and I have trained and certified people from many States across the Country, including California, Maryland, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Arizona, Illinois, Hawaii and Florida. 

Laughter is universal and I am available to go anywhere in the country or world to lead Laughter Yoga classes, workshops, seminars and trainings.

You can find out more information about the trainings and the laughter yoga classes I and other Laughter Yoga Leaders lead in San Diego County on my website at www.LaughingInSanDiego.com or by giving me a call at 619.255.4622.

17.    How has Laughter changed your life?

I received my B.A. in Psychology from the University of Illinois and a law degree from University of San Diego.  I spent over 10 years practicing law as a civil litigator with the hope of making a change in the mental health system.   Not surprisingly, I tended to take myself and life pretty seriously and really didn’t laugh that much.  I didn’t find most jokes funny at all, or, at the most, a joke would generate a couple of chuckles.   Although I made hundreds of court appearances and handled many jury trials by myself, I always felt nervous, self-conscious and anxious when I went to court.  

I started taking physical/hatha yoga classes as a way to get out of my head and I did receive great benefits.  But, as much as I love physical/hatha yoga and believe it is one of the best things I can do for my body, I find it to be a pretty serious and individual discipline.  In most physical/hatha yoga classes, there is no laughter and very little interaction with other students.

I took my first laughter yoga class in September 2006 at a retreat called “The Whole Being Weekend”.   A laughter yoga class was offered and I signed up for it.  I almost left in the middle of the class because I felt so self-conscious laughing for no reason.   But, I stayed and in the end I had one of the most genuine, cleansing laughs I can remember.  I immediately decided to take the Laughter Yoga Leader training offered the following month in Laguna Beach without really having an idea of what I was in for or what I was going to do as a Laughter Yoga Leader.

I decided to take a leave of absence from the full-time legal job I had and started my first weekly Laughter Yoga Club in Balboa Park in February 2007.  My Laughter Yoga business has grown steadily and although I still practice law part-time by making court and court-related appearances for attorneys from all over California, I consider myself primarily a Laughter Yoga professional.

Laughter Yoga has helped me to not take myself so seriously, not get overly anxious/stressed, not be so defensive when I am accused of doing something that hurts another person’s feelings even if it was not my intention to hurt their feelings, and generally laugh at myself when I feel stressed, anxious, uncomfortable or self-conscious, or when someone else is making fun of me.

I like to say that Laughter Yoga has helped me “lose my mind” – and that’s a good thing!

18.    WHAT ARE SOME SAMPLE BREATHING & LAUGHTER EXERCISES?

SAMPLE BREATHING EXERCISES
-Hands on stomach
  -inhale/exhale
  -inhale/exhale with sound (ahhhhhh)
  -inhale/exhale and laugh

-Raise hands over head
  -inhale (raise hands over head)
  -exhale (lower hands to thighs with bent knees to protect lower back
  -repeat with sound on the exhale (ahhhhhh)
  -repeat with loud sound on the exhale (AHHHHHHH)
  -repeate with exhale lasting as long as possible (get all stale air out of lungs)
  -repeat with light chuckle on exhale
  -repeat with loud, full laugh on the exhale

SAMPLE LAUGHTER EXERCISES FOR FUN
  -shy
  -mirror
  -vitamins
  -laughter shake
  -laughter engine
  -flight attendant
  -cell phone
  -cold out
  -hot soup
    
SAMPLE LAUGHTER EXERCISES FOR STRESS RELIEF
  -mental floss
  -naughty/naughty
  -forgive me
  -running late
  -big visa bill
  -red light/green light
  -car alarm
  -missed the bus