Everyone knows laughing is contagious, but “Laughter Yoga”?
Dr. Kataria in a "Laughter Yoga" t-shirt. Photo from wordpress.com
According to the article by Marcelo Gleiser’s from npr.org, the “laughter yoga” movement developed by an Indian doctor, Dr. Madan Kataria continues to spread among celebrities, people, and places around the world.
Gleiser explains how Dr. Kataria has invented exercises and techniques that “induce laughter” on people, naming it “laughter yoga.” Laughter is very good for both the physical and psychological well-being, and doing “laughter yoga” can change your life, claims Kataria.
This short video from the TV show “Celebrity Fit Club” shows just how the “laughter yoga” works and is growing throughout the world in clubs and a part of resorts.
According to Gleiser, Kataria’s movement has “spread like wildfire around the world.” In the event called Pangea Day in fall of 2010, Kataria’s ideas were showcased. During this event, Kataria was introduced by Goldie Hawn from Sony Picture Studios in LA. He trains “people interested in opening laughing clubs” for free, Gleiser said.
But can laughter really improve your health? Gleiser attempts to answer this question by going to Robert Provine, a neuroscientist from the University of Maryland and author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation.
Provine claims, “Faster and better physical health through laughter remains an unrealized, tantalizing, but still reasonable prospect.”
Gleiser explains how many studies have been done to try and “measure the medical benefits of laughter.” However, studies have not shown conclusive evidence to support that the health is actually improved by laughing.
While science may not convincingly show how laughing directly improves one’s health, Dr. Kataria’s “feel good” exercises continue to spread around the world as people seem to catch the contagious feeling of laughing.
As Gleiser says, “Apart from the occasional stomach cramp, it surely can’t hurt.”
One thing’s for certain, the next time you hear the terms, “laughing yoga” or “laughing club”, you can knowingly smile.
Photo of Dr. Kataria can be found here.
8:43 pm - 4-4-2011
I’ve heard of a laughing technique. But laughter yoga is new to me.
I never thought Yoga meditation could be in any form. Nice article!
9:52 pm - 7-15-2011
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9:53 pm - 8-2-2011
People don’t truly understand the risks of being overweight. Why do most want to lose weight? Most would say to look better. Looking better certainly is a benefit of losing weight, but this shouldn’t be the sole reason to lose weight. There is a 1000 pound gorilla in the room and it’s often ignored. Being overweight for a long period of time kills thousands of people each year.