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On any given morning in many Indian parks, one may spot a circle of people laughing without any apparent reason. To an onlooker, the scene might appear frivolous—perhaps even absurd. Yet behind those ripples of laughter lies a profound science, a carefully structured practice known across the world as Laughter Yoga. It is far more than a moment of amusement; it is a deliberate physiological intervention, a mood-enhancing method, and a wellness routine grounded in research spanning decades.

🌱A Unique System of Voluntary Laughter

Laughter Yoga, or LY, was conceived as a simple idea: if the body and mind are intimately connected, and if laughter brings powerful benefits, why wait for humour, comedy, or jokes? Why not laugh intentionally, as an exercise?

This is the core of LY’s design. It is a laughter delivery system, a structured sequence of playful activities and deep yogic breathing that enables anyone—even those burdened with stress or pain—to laugh voluntarily. The emphasis is not on jokes, but on cultivating the childlike playfulness that unlocks spontaneous joy.

And this voluntary participation makes all the difference. Once laughter begins—even if artificially—the body responds as though the laughter is real. Every physiological system lights up.

As Dr Andrew Weil of Tucson, Arizona, puts it, “Laughter increases the supply of oxygen to body tissues, boosts immunity, relieves pain, lowers stress and even helps protect against heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, migraine and cancer. It is a powerful technique: safe, easy and a lot of fun.”

🌱The Healing Breakthrough: The Norman Cousins Story

The healing influence of laughter first caught global attention through the remarkable experience of American writer Norman Cousins. Struggling with a crippling spinal disease, he discovered that ten minutes of deep, wholehearted laughter—sparked by comic films—gave him two hours of pain-free sleep. This simple, joyous act triggered a scientific curiosity that changed the landscape of mind-body medicine.

Researchers later confirmed that laughter boosts the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers. Cousins called laughter “internal jogging”—a vivid image of how laughter sets internal organs into motion, enhances respiration, awakens optimism, and shifts the body’s chemistry towards healing.

🌱Laughter as Exercise: What Science Shows

For physiologists, laughter is no trivial matter. Dr William Fry, among the earliest laughter researchers, concluded that “most of the body’s physiological systems are stimulated by laughter. Mirthful laughter provides good physical exercise and decreases the chances of respiratory infections.” When we laugh heartily, our diaphragm dances, our lung capacity expands, our circulation improves, and stress chemistry gives way to relaxation.

At Loma Linda University in the USA, Dr Lee Berk and his team have repeatedly demonstrated that laughter reduces stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, while strengthening immune function.

Meanwhile, cardiologist Dr Michael Miller at the University of Maryland discovered that laughter dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow—mirroring the benefits of aerobic activity and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

When Laughter Yoga proclaims that ten minutes of hearty laughter equals thirty minutes on a rowing machine, it is not an exaggeration of the heart, but an observation of biology.

🌱Motion Creates Emotion: The Psychology Beneath LY

More than a century ago, psychologist William James proposed a revolutionary insight: emotions do not only produce bodily reactions; bodily actions can generate corresponding emotions. This idea, popularly summarised as “motion creates emotion”, sits at the heart of Laughter Yoga.

When we laugh—even if we begin without feeling joyful—the body signals the brain to experience happiness. The childlike body movements used in LY, the rhythmic clapping, the playful chanting of “ho-ho, ha-ha-ha”, all generate the emotional climate of joy.

This means that LY works both ways:

• Mind affects body.
• Body affects mind.

The two synchronise effortlessly, creating harmony between physical and emotional states.

🌱Training the Body to Laugh

Another powerful principle of LY is that laughter can be programmed into the body. Like cycling or swimming, it becomes muscle memory. Once learnt, it never quite leaves you.

In laughter clubs worldwide, people willingly laugh—often without any external trigger—and this voluntary laughter gradually becomes natural. Repeated practice lays down new neural pathways. The brain begins to release feel-good chemicals—dopamine, serotonin, endorphins—whenever laughter exercises are performed. Over time, joy becomes more accessible, irrespective of circumstances.

🌱The Social Nature of Laughter: Why We Laugh Together

Neuroscientist Robert Provine, in his book “Laughter – A Scientific Investigation”, explains that we rarely laugh because something is funny. We laugh because we are with people. Something as simple as greeting a friend with, “Hello, how are you?” often sparks laughter.

Human laughter is primarily a social phenomenon.

This phenomenon becomes even clearer with the discovery of mirror neurons—specialised brain cells that make emotions contagious. When someone laughs, we instinctively feel like joining in. Paul Ekman and Robert Levenson, pioneers in emotion research, found that even adopting a smiling expression can generate a real sense of happiness.

This is exactly what unfolds in laughter clubs around the world. One person starts laughing. Others join. Soon, the entire group is vibrating with unrestrained mirth, creating a chain reaction of positivity.

🌱The Body Cannot Distinguish Between Real and Fake Laughter

Psychologist Charles Schaefer sums it up aptly:

“Forced laughter is a powerful, readily available and cost-free way for adults to regularly boost their mood and psychological well-being. Your body doesn’t know it’s fake, even though your brain might.”

Once the physical act of laughing begins, endorphins are released, stress shrinks, tension dissolves, and the psyche experiences relief.

This is one of the central discoveries that inspired Dr Madan Kataria to create the global Laughter Yoga movement. If the body responds positively even to voluntary laughter, then millions across the world can improve their health and emotional resilience without relying on humour or external triggers.

🌱The “Joy Cocktail”: Chemistry of Compassion and Connection

Dr Kataria explains that regular laughter releases a rich “joy cocktail” into the bloodstream—hormones and neuropeptides linked to warmth, bonding, forgiveness, compassion, generosity, and unconditional love. These biochemical messengers do more than uplift mood; they transform relationships, build emotional intelligence, and prepare the mind for peace.

Perhaps this is why laughter clubs often feel like families. Members develop deeper social connections, a sense of belonging, and a shared spirit of goodwill.

And as Dr Kataria famously says,

“When you laugh, you change; and when you change, the whole world changes.”

🌱A Practice Simple Yet Profound

To those who watch from a distance, Laughter Yoga may appear like a curious morning pastime. But beneath the cheerful surface lies a fusion of psychology, physiology, neuroscience, and yogic philosophy. It is a structured way to oxygenate the body, detoxify the mind, uplift emotions, strengthen immunity, and nourish social bonds.

It is not merely laughter—it is a pathway to well-being.

Safe, accessible, enjoyable, and transformative, Laughter Yoga brings science and joy into one harmonious practice. And in a world burdened by stress, anxiety, and disconnection, it offers a simple wisdom: sometimes the most effective medicine is found not in a bottle, but in a breath, a smile, and the shared rhythm of laughter.

#laughteryoga

The benefits of Laughter Yoga are amazing.

Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise routine that combines laughter exercises with yogic breathing which brings in more oxygen to the body and brain making one feel more energetic and healthy. It is a powerful cardio workout. In fact, 10 minutes of hearty laughter is equal to 30 minutes on a rowing machine. The foremost benefit of laughing is that one remains cheerful throughout the day. This sense of wellbeing comes from the release of feel good hormones called endorphins.

It decreases the negative effects of stress on your body which is the root cause of all illness. Laughter Yoga is a single exercise that deals with physical, mental and emotional stress simultaneously. It also strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and keeps your heart healthy. It is a powerful antidote against depression – the number one sickness today.

Laughing promotes a healthy heart. In a good bout of laughter, there is a dilation of blood vessels all over the body. We’ve all seen or experienced this as a flushed appearance and feeling of warmth. Pulse rate and blood pressure rise as the circulatory system is stimulated before settling down, below the original levels. In a nutshell, laughter helps tone the circulatory system of the body.

Laughter and breathing exercises help to increase the breathing capacity of the lungs and increase the net supply of oxygen to the body. Laughter sessions, along with deep breathing, are like chest physiotherapy – especially for those who smoke and suffer from bronchitis and respiratory airway obstruction.

A weak immune system is a major cause for almost all sickness and ill health. Laughter boosts immune system. Oxygen is one of the primary catalysts for all metabolic reactions in the human body. Ongoing scientific studies show that lack of oxygen is the major cause of most diseases. Laughter Yoga flushes the lungs and fully oxygenates the blood and major organs leaving one bursting with energy and vitality and free from disease.

Diabetes is emerging as a major health hazard worldwide. Japanese scientist Murakami’s experiment to ascertain the effect of laughter on the blood sugar levels has affirmed that laughter has a lowering impact on blood sugar. Murakami indentified 23 genes that can be activated with laughter. In addition, it also reduces the stress hormone cortisol responsible for increase in sugar levels and stabilizes the immune system, which if weakened, can affect the production of insulin in the pancreas.

Laughter has a profound positive impact on allergies, with many practitioners reporting complete disappearance of all symptoms of asthma, skin and other allergies. Though not an intervention for countering physical causes of allergies; Laughter Yoga is a definite tool to remedy stress. It helps to reduce the risk factors by boosting the immune system, encouraging deep breathing and flushing the lungs of stale air and generating a feeling of wellness.

Those suffering from life threatening diseases not only go through physical pain; they also face immense psychological trauma. Not just the patient, but family, friends and care givers all need positive reinforcement. Having a positive mental attitude greatly influences the course of the disease. We have had many members suffering from cancer, immune disorders, multiple sclerosis and other chronic diseases who have reported relief from their symptoms, thereby reducing their medications.

Depression is often associated with physical pain, feelings of despair, loss of appetite, immobility, insomnia and other cardiovascular problems. Practicing Laughter Yoga regularly helps to resolve most of these ailments as it is one of the fastest ways of boosting heart rate, reducing blood pressure, providing an excellent cardio workout and alleviating pain. Extended hearty laughter is a body exercise with powerful body-mind healing effects.

The combination of natural pain killers with movements in laughter exercises makes Laughter Yoga a powerful tool for physiotherapy. Many practitioners have reported reversal of frozen shoulder and other movement limitations due to stroke, arthritis, and injury. Endorphins released as a result of laughter help in reducing the intensity of pain in those suffering from arthritis, spondylitis and muscular spasms of the body.

Scientific studies have proved that a few days of laughter exercises and deep breathing lowers blood pressure thus reducing the risk of a heart attack. Having too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to the hardening and narrowing of the arteries in the major vascular systems. A daily dose of laughter opens the arteries and allows the blood to flow freely to all parts of the body thus preventing a cardiac failure.

Stress is the number one killer today, and most illnesses are stress related. Laughter Yoga is an instant stress buster which takes care of physical, mental and emotional stress simultaneously. It has been scientifically proven that laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine and enhances positive emotions.

Laughter exercises are short and easy and can be added to your existing fitness programme. It can be a value addition to Yoga groups, Tai-Chi groups, aerobic centres, meditation centres, health clubs, sports and fun activities. Laughter Yoga is the latest health craze sweeping the world where anyone can laugh without any reason. It is truly a life changing experience for millions. It is scientifically proven and a lot of fun. People can feel the benefits right from the very first session.

#laughteryoga

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

☘️The Bliss of Early Mornings🌷

There is something divine about early mornings. Something that words can touch, but not quite capture. Mornings are ethereal, blissful, and sacred. They carry an aura of stillness that makes one feel connected to something larger — something timeless and pure.

Some mornings are calm, some are windy, some wear a veil of clouds. Yet, each one brings its own fragrance of freshness, its own symphony of birdsong. The koel coos softly from a distance; sparrows chirp in cheerful chorus; and pigeons flutter from one roof to another — as if the entire world is waking up in prayer.

On the quiet streets, old men walk leisurely, their footsteps unhurried. Some ride bicycles, their bells chiming like gentle reminders of life’s rhythm. A few jog with steady determination. Old ladies, with baskets or cloth bags, pick flowers from neighbourhood gardens for their morning puja — their movements calm and purposeful. The milkman arrives faithfully, as he has for decades, on his clinking, milk-laden rounds.

I rise much before the sun does. It is the most peaceful time of the day — the hour when the world sleeps and the soul awakens. This is when I sit for meditation. The silence feels alive. The mind grows still; the breath turns deep and steady. It is also the best time for yoga — for asanas and pranayama that gently align the body, mind and spirit. One feels tuned, cleansed, and ready for the day’s unfolding.

As dawn softly brushes the sky, I step out for a walk to the nearby park. The first rays of light begin to spread, painting everything with a quiet glow. I greet familiar faces — a silent namaste with folded hands and a bowed head, as if acknowledging the divine spark in each being. Mornings, to me, are temples of silence. Words feel unnecessary.

After a few rounds, I stretch and bend, twist and turn, breathe deeply and gaze up at the sky. The trees sway gently, the birds swoop gracefully, and the blue above looks boundless. For a few moments, one simply is.

On the way back, I smile and wave to children waiting for their school bus — their chatter and laughter bring a tender joy. Back home, I turn on the washing machine and prepare tea, with the same mindfulness one brings to prayer. Devotional music plays softly in the background, and a cup of tea with biscuits marks the quiet beginning of the day.

We sit together with the morning newspaper — reading, reflecting, and sharing thoughts. My wife moves to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. The gentle clatter of utensils, the aroma of tea, the sound of bhajans — all blend into a symphony of serenity.

Those early hours of the morning are divine indeed — tranquil, uplifting, and full of grace. They remind us that life, at its core, is beautiful when lived slowly, consciously, and gratefully. And as the sun rises higher, one feels ready — ready for a beautiful, blissful day.

Shri Ajeet Singh 

(We present an article ‘Entering My 80th Year… Count your blessings, not your troubles’ written by Shri Ajeet Singh ji, Ex-Director (News), Door Darshan.)

☆ Entering My 80th Year… Count your blessings, not your troubles… ☆ Shri Ajeet Singh ☆

(November 2025)

About ten months before India woke up to freedom in 1947, a farmer in a village near Panipat celebrated the birth of his first son. He had waited years for this moment. He had married four times—his first three brides, married in childhood as per the tradition of those times, passed away due to illness. His fourth wife, nearly twenty years younger than him, finally fulfilled his dream by giving birth to a son.

Being born on the eve of India’s independence felt like a blessing in itself.

Around the same time, a long-drawn court case over a piece of village land—after a bloody clash—was finally decided in the farmer’s favour. He believed he had won not through legal brilliance but through sheer strength.

So he named his son Baljeet — the one who wins through strength — hoping the boy would fight life’s battles with physical might.

But destiny had other plans.

The child grew up to gain the strength of education instead. His friends called him Jeeta, and the village schoolteacher recorded his name as Ajeet Singh. For a boy from a village with no electricity, no tap water, no paved streets and only mud-brick houses—becoming the first graduate of the village was a blessing beyond measure.

Following tradition and his ailing father’s wish, he was married even before he had cleared his matriculation exam. His young bride turned out to be the perfect partner—standing by him through every storm. Another precious blessing.

A graduate of Kurukshetra University in 1967, he cleared the UPSC’s Indian Information Service exam in 1970. His first posting was at All India Radio, Shimla as a Sub-Editor. A beautiful hill station for a first job was a blessing. A  bigger blessing was that this is where he learned the art and soul of radio journalism. For a boy from a small village, this became the perfect grooming ground.

History kept unfolding before his eyes. From the Shimla Agreement after the Indo-Pakistan war to nearly 35 years of reporting across corridors of power in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Haryana—his journey was remarkable.

He reported from Srinagar in the militancy infested, turbulent 1990s—covering the terrorist siege at Hazratbal Shrine, and the Kargil War. That Srinagar posting was a real test of grit—but a blessing nonetheless, for in 1990 he received All India Radio’s Best Correspondent Award.

A four-year stint in New Delhi deepened his understanding of broadcast journalism.

His last posting was at the newly opened Doordarshan Kendra, Hisar, where he learned the ropes of television journalism. During his AIR and DD career, he covered Prime Minister’s visits to three foreign countries and equal number of Presidential foreign visits.

Shri Ajeet Singh – A Media Man at 79.

He retired in 2006 as Director News, Doordarshan Hisar. For a village boy to rise to Director level—was that not a blessing? None of his classmates had achieved anything similar.

Retirement, too, has been a joyful 19-year blessing. As a founding member of Vanaprastha, a voluntary senior citizens’ group, his writing blossomed. Initially, he wondered what he would do after retirement—no press notes, no newsroom invites.

Then he discovered stories of the ordinary persons. The media rarely covers them, yet every person has an extraordinary story to tell. He listened, wrote in his own style, and people loved it. Local media and friends encouraged him, and his storytelling found new wings.

Even the Covid-19 period nourished his writing. Retired IIS colleagues started writing experience-based essays. These were later compiled into a book—ten of those essays were mine.

Yes, I am that boy who was blessed so abundantly.

Technology became another silent companion. The smartphone is a magical fusion—my typewriter, my stenographer. I speak; it types. Google is like Aladdin’s Genie—ready with answers at one command. WhatsApp is my graceful courier—carrying messages to and from friends. If only such tools existed during my service years! Today, they are yet another blessing.

I often feel that journalism doesn’t count its blessings enough. It remains trapped in sufferings, conflicts, and crises—and in doing so, may actually magnify them.

Through my good stories, am I perhaps making amends for my past journalistic “sins”? Readers will decide. But I know this: telling the stories of common people fills me with joy. For every person carries many beautiful and exclusive stories within.

On my 80th birthday, 5th November, I seek your blessings once again.

Life had its fair share of struggles and stress—but time melted them away. Why count them, when nature has showered countless blessings?

I count my blessings, not my sorrows.

To me, that is the right way to live.

Do you feel the same way? Comment—who knows, we may discover a story right here.

© Shri Ajeet Singh 

Shri Ajeet Singh, Independent Journalist based at Hisar…   Formerly with All India Radio & retired as Director of News, Door Darshan Hisar in 2006.

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≈  Blog Editor – Shri Hemant Bawankar/Editor (English) – Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM ≈