What is Laughter Yoga? 

Laughter Yoga is a unique practice that combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing, or Pranayama. Laughter Yoga is based in science and research in that it has been shown to benefit us both physiologically and psychologically. 

Laughter Yoga sessions take place in community with others, led by certified Laughter Yoga instructor, Meg O'Toole. Participants engage in a series of laughter exercises designed to cultivate JOY.  Throughout the class, we move, clap, chant, and tap into playfulness. These activities are designed to stimulate laughter.  Between exercises, we engage in breathing that help us increase oxygen to our blood flow and sooth our nervous systems. 

Laughter Yoga is known to have several physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Physically, it can boost the immune system, improve circulation, and increase oxygen levels in the body. Mentally and emotionally, Laughter Yoga can reduce stress and anxiety, elevate mood, enhance resilience, and improve overall well-being.

Laughter Yoga is not dependent on humor or jokes. It is a practice focused on promoting laughter as a form of exercise and stress relief, rather than relying on external stimuli for amusement. The aim is to create a playful and joyful atmosphere that encourages laughter, even without a specific reason or joke.

In a Laughter Yoga class, there is light movement that requires sitting and standing, though it is not strenuous and we don't do Yoga postures.  Participants would want to wear comfortable clothing they can move in, and bring a bottle of water.  You don't need Yoga mats or even a sense of humor to participate!  

  What are the benefits of Laughter Yoga? 

Laughter Yoga has many scientifically reserached benefits, including: 

• Increase flow of Oxygen to your mind, improve circulation and boost immunity. 

• Elevates your mood (and is a lot cheeper than therapy!).  With sustained laughter, we increase seratonin, endorphines, oxytosin, and dopamine flow in our minds thereby making us feel good.  

• Improves relationships.  "When you smile, the whole world smiles with you." Laughter Yoga helps us to cultivate laughter and joy and express that to other people.  This supports the development of connection with others.  

• Outlook.  We do everything better when we are in a good mood. Our problems will always be there for us, but looking at them with a positive state of mind may help us overcome challenges in a healthy way.  

• Theory of motion creates emotions.  Laughter taps into the joy that lives within us and can help to cultivate joy in our minds. 

• Intentional and unconditional laughter connects us to the present moment.  While laughing, we do not have conscious thought process.  All of our senses naturally combine in a moment of harmony to give peace, joy, and relaxation.