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Laughter Yoga

A class where the only thing you’ll stretch is your smile.

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What is Laughter Yoga?


Laughter Yoga: A Joyful Path to Wellbeing

No mats. No Lycra. No Downward-Facing Dog. Just pure, unfiltered joy.

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Laughter Yoga is a unique practice developed by Dr Madan Kataria, a medical doctor from Mumbai, who recognised the powerful connection between laughter and health. Rooted in the idea that the body cannot distinguish between real and voluntary laughter, this practice blends playful laughter exercises with deep yogic breathing to promote both physical vitality and emotional balance.

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Laughter Yoga doesn't rely on jokes or humour. Instead, it uses intentional laughter as a tool for releasing tension, boosting mood and encouraging social connection. When practised in a group, laughter becomes contagious, naturally transforming into genuine joy.

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At its heart, Laughter Yoga is a blend of childlike playfulness, breath awareness and gentle movement. The sessions are accessible to everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. Even if the laughter feels a little ‘pretend’ at first, the body still receives the full benefits—such as increased oxygenation, reduced stress hormones, and the release of feel-good endorphins.

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Created in 1995 with just five people in a Mumbai park, Laughter Yoga has since grown into a global movement, practised in over 100 countries. It's a simple yet profound reminder that we can choose joy in any moment.

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Whether you're seeking a light-hearted way to de-stress, a tool to support emotional wellbeing, or simply an invitation to laugh more freely, Laughter Yoga offers a safe and uplifting space to reconnect with your inner vitality.

Who is Laughter Yoga for?

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Laughter Yoga is for anyone looking to bring more lightness, connection and vitality into their life. You don’t need a particular sense of humour, physical flexibility, or experience with yoga. In fact, you don’t even need to feel particularly joyful to begin. Just a willingness to show up, breathe, and let go—bit by bit.

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It’s especially supportive for those who:

  • Feel overwhelmed, anxious or weighed down by stress

  • Spend a lot of time in their heads and want to reconnect with their bodies

  • Are seeking community, playfulness and deeper emotional resilience

  • Struggle with low mood, fatigue or tension

  • Are curious about holistic approaches to wellbeing that don’t feel too serious

 

Whether you’re navigating a life transition, looking for tools to support your mental health, or simply craving a regular mood boost, Laughter Yoga creates space to release, recharge and restore.

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What are the benefits?

Laughter Yoga offers a surprising range of benefits for body, mind and spirit. Practised regularly, it can help:

  • Reduce stress and tension in the body

  • Lift mood by releasing endorphins (the body’s natural feel-good chemicals)

  • Support cardiovascular and respiratory health through deeper oxygenation

  • Strengthen the immune system

  • Improve emotional resilience and mental clarity

  • Foster a sense of connection, community and inner playfulness

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It’s also a gentle reminder that joy isn’t something we need to wait for—it’s something we can consciously cultivate, even on the tough days.

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What to Expect in a Laughter Yoga Session

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Each session is gently structured to guide you from light-hearted movement into deep relaxation, creating space for both joyful release and inner calm.

 

We begin with a simple laughter warm-up to ease into the practice. This may include gentle clapping, playful eye contact, and rhythmic breathing to awaken the body and invite a sense of openness. From there, we move into a series of laughter exercises—easy, accessible activities designed to encourage spontaneous laughter, often interwoven with calming breathwork. There’s no pressure to be funny or perform; we’re simply allowing laughter to arise naturally, even if it starts out as a choice rather than a feeling.

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These exercises help to release tension, boost mood and bring us into the present moment. The laughter, paired with conscious breathing, increases oxygen flow, lifts energy and gently quiets the mind.

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We close the session with a deeply restorative Yoga Nidra practice—also known as yogic sleep. This guided meditation invites the body into stillness and the nervous system into deep rest, supporting integration and inner balance.

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You’ll leave feeling lighter, clearer and more connected to yourself—with a renewed sense of ease that lingers well beyond the session.

 

 


I’m in the process of setting up Laughter Yoga groups. If it’s something you’d like to be part of, feel free to send me a message or email with your name and the area you’re based in—I’ll be in touch as soon as a group near you is ready to begin.

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