Laughing yoga, the best medicine

It’s common knowledge that having a long, loud laugh is good for you. But according to Doctor Madan Kataria, from Mumbai, putting laughter and yoga together is even better medicine.

Madan Kataria: "When you laugh, your immune system gets stronger, you don't fall sick so you're more healthy. Laughing together with other people we become happy."

In Dr Kataria’s “Laughter Yoga” method, exercises in laughter work without requiring comedy! These are used with a special breathing practice from yoga, which carries oxygen into the body.

Madan Kataria: "Laughter yoga is a unique concept where anyone can laugh without using jokes, humour or comedies. We laugh as an exercise, combined with the breathing techniques from yoga that brings more oxygen that makes you more healthy and happy."

One laughter yoga meeting on Bali island, Indonesia, attracted 11,000 people.

Visitors often come from abroad. Elke Seesing, a German fan, says the practice lifts her mood because levels of stress hormones fall.

Elke Seesing: "If you are laughing that happens a lot in your body, a lot of hormones get in action, you're feeling better, everything rises, and it makes you a better mood."

Medical research from both India and the US shows that this is definitely the case for laughter. The action lowers the amounts of stress hormones, as well as blood pressure.

Dr Kataria’s method mixes the techniques of both breathing and laughter. It teaches people to make use of it exactly when they need to, even at challenging times. Only 10-15 minutes daily practice is required and for stressed housewife Lilis Wardani, it’s just what she needs to help her manage.

Lilis Wardani: "Now my mind is wide open, even during the most difficult situation. Everything feels easier to bear and I become more easy-going to live my life with my family."

But is it possible to laugh when you’re told to? That was one reporter’s question to Ms Seesing.

Journalist: "One last question, can you laugh?" View Less