English Literature – Articles ☆ Laughter Yoga ☆ Shri Jagat Singh Bisht ☆

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator, and Speaker.)

Authored six books on happiness: Cultivating Happiness, Nirvana – The Highest Happiness, Meditate Like the Buddha, Mission Happiness, A Flourishing Life, and The Little Book of Happiness. He served in a bank for thirty-five years and has been propagating happiness and well-being among people for the past twenty years. He is on a mission – Mission Happiness!

🌌 Laughter Yoga 🌌

Everyone knows that laughter is the best medicine, but how many of us actually get a good dose of it every day?

Laughter has a deep and profound impact on our health, happiness, and peace of mind. It works like a form of internal jogging, stimulating most of the body’s physiological systems. It expels stale air from the body and refreshes the lungs with a new supply of oxygen.

Mirthful laughter provides excellent physical exercise, reduces the level of stress hormones, and strengthens immunity. It dilates and expands the blood vessels, improving blood flow and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

We need to laugh more today because stress is the no. 1 killer and depression the no. 1 disease. Laughter breaks physical, mental, and emotional stress instantly by releasing feel-good hormones. For the same reason, it is also a powerful antidote to depression.

Laughter Yoga is a unique concept in which anyone can laugh without relying on jokes, comedy, or humour. It encourages unconditional laughter. We initiate laughter with simple exercises, and it soon turns into genuine, contagious laughter through playful eye contact among participants.

Scientists say the body cannot differentiate between real and simulated laughter — the benefits remain the same. This does not mean that the laughter in a session is unreal; in fact, it is often deeper and more fulfilling than the brief laughter we experience in daily life.

Laughter Yoga blends laughter exercises with yogic breathing. It was founded by a physician, Dr Madan Kataria, in Mumbai. The first session on 13th March 1995 had just five participants, and today it is practised in more than a hundred countries across the world.

There are three reasons why you must try Laughter Yoga:

First, to enjoy its health benefits, one needs to laugh for at least ten to fifteen minutes a day.

Second, the laughter should be deep and hearty, coming right from the diaphragm.

Third, laughter should not be left to chance. It must be unconditional and practised with the intention of gaining its benefits.

The health benefits of Laughter Yoga are remarkable. It serves as a powerful cardio workout and ten minutes of hearty laughter equals thirty minutes on a rowing machine. When you laugh, the body releases endorphins — the feel-good hormones — that keep you cheerful throughout the day. Your body receives an abundant supply of oxygen that boosts immunity. Laughter is one of the best stress busters.

A laughter session has four steps. It begins with clapping and chanting, followed by deep breathing exercises and cultivating childlike playfulness. Then come the laughter exercises.

Laughter meditation is the natural culmination of the session. Here, laughter is allowed to flow on its own. It becomes something divine — pure and pristine bliss. The mind turns serene and radiant like the full moon.

A laughter session ends with a prayer for universal health, happiness, and peace.

When we begin our journey with laughter, the focus is on our own health and happiness.

As we move along, we notice inner changes — warmth towards others, kindness, compassion, optimism, and positivity. We become more loving, caring, and sociable.

The inner spirit of laughter is truly life-changing!

#laughteryoga