Today, we’re answering a popular question: How did Laughter Yoga start?

Laughter Yoga is an increasingly popular mind-body wellness technique, but how did Laughter Yoga originate?

The day Laughter Yoga was created became the start of the best holistic medicine (in our humble opinion).

The History of Laughter Yoga

The history of Laughter Yoga is fascinating, and it is behind this rapidly life-transforming holistic practice.

In 1995, Dr Kataria wrote an article for My Doctor magazine about why laughter is considered the best medicine. The meetup was designed to gauge the group’s feelings after they laughed together and shared jokes.

On 13 March 1995, Dr Madan Kataria, a medical doctor, and his wife, Madhuri, invited three friends to a park to practice laughing. They only knew how to tell jokes to make them laugh.

The small group became more significant daily, but the jokes became awful after a few weeks. Hence, that is why we no longer tell jokes.

Overnight, Dr. Kataria created Laughter Yoga exercises, and Madhuri, a keen Yoga student, confirmed that deep breathing to sustain laughter should be included.

The early morning practice of Laughter Yoga exercises, lasting 10-30 minutes, has grown in popularity in parks across India, then spread to the USA, and subsequently to Europe. Laughter Yoga arrived in the UK in 2003, when Julie Whitehead established her group on Clapham Common. Due to unreliable weather, many community Laughter Yoga Clubs run their activities indoors.

Today, the Laughter Yoga Movement Has Grown

Laughter Yoga is now practised in over 120 countries, with thousands of Laughter Yoga regular clubs and corporate workshops, and is slowly integrating into schools. The benefits of regular cardiovascular exercise, which is accessible and boosts mental strength and overall health, are a testament to its effectiveness.

What are the Benefits of Laughter Yoga?

Regular practising of Laughter Yoga exercises has already transformed thousands of lives, helping to boost morale and provide stress relief. More benefits of Laughter Yoga are shared below:

• Mood booster – without the need to be happy, simulated laughter stimulates genuine laughter through the release of endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin
• Stress relief – reducing cortisol
• Brain function – oxygen to the body and brain
• Social connection – a social bond, strengthening relationships and friendships
• Resilience to cope with challenges

Mental and physical conditions may benefit from Laughter Yoga.

People with Multiple Sclerosis, poor mental health (depression and anxiety, Parkinson’s, and pain-ridden conditions like fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis can benefit from regularly practising Laughter Yoga.

At Serious Laughter, in addition to our corporate work, we have conducted Laughter Yoga sessions with charities for the blind through audio description, as well as with mental health charities for teenagers, older age groups, and carers.

We deliver very popular talks, titled “Laughter For The Health Of It,” to conferences and community groups.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

“Laughter is the best medicine” is a famous phrase, and it is indeed true: numerous studies are conducted worldwide on this subject.

Scientists and gelotologists are discovering and confirming the benefits of health and well-being.

Remarkably, thousands of people are still being introduced to Laughter Yoga as a new concept. If you know someone who would benefit from these morale-boosting and stress-relief exercises, please share this website with them.

There are now an infinite number of Laughter Yoga exercises available.

What Laughter Yoga exercises to try

Two of the original Laughter Yoga exercises from 1995

1. Laughter milkshake – Try a Laughter Yoga exercise – Imagine holding 2 glasses before you, pouring from side to side, saying “yey” 3 times, then cup your hands around one glass and drink with laughter.
2. Hot Soup Laughter – This is a great Laughter Yoga exercise. Imagine holding a mug of hot coffee and savouring its warmth. It’s very hot, so say “ho ho ho ho” whilst trying to cool your mouth down by waving your hand in front of your mouth.

Bollywood Laughter Yoga Dance

In 2019, Dr Kataria created Bollywood Laughter Yoga Dance. At Serious Laughter, we are proud to be one of only a handful of Laughter Yoga companies in the UK that offer this in workshops to communities and organisations for corporate wellness.

Laughter Yoga is here to stay, and in this stressful, busy world, it is one way of having an instant holiday that boosts positivity and de-stresses simultaneously.

For more information about Laughter Yoga workshops or the latest concept, Bollywood Laughter Yoga Dance

Email us at happy@seriouslaughter.co.uk or fill in this enquiry form