The first time I heard the term "Laughter Yoga", I went like: HUH!!!

I think some of you must have heard or even practiced laughter yoga, but let me share with you my own experience in this field.

A couple of years ago when I was living in Dubai, I was presented with an opportunity to participate in a laughter yoga session, and I was very excited at the prospect of trying something new. We were gathered in the front yard of a friend's house (and ex boss), and the instructors were at the very front. We were standing randomly in a group.

The instructor started out by explaining to us how laughter is known to help us relieve some of the internal stress that we suffer, and he also explained that analyzing the laughter act; it is a bunch of movements and acts that the body performs, hence we can actually practice it.

And then the session began.

We were instructed to start the laughter by bending our heads to the front and imitate laughter saying ho ho and then expand the arms as we raise our heads way to the back till we see the stars as we go ha ha ha, and repeat this till he tells us to stop.

At the beginning; it all seemed strange and I was uneasy about how stupid I must have looked ho ho'ing and ha ha ha'ing, but as he changed the exercises and varied the movements, we really picked up the pace and soon we were all moving around, facing all parties in the group as we continue to ho ho and ha ha ha. We were even given instructions to increase and decrease the pace of the ha ha ha, and before we knew it, we had been laughing our hearts out.

I remember this phone move!

By the time we finished, we were extremely exhausted, as if we had done heavy exercises but we were very happy and relieved.

I have to tell you that this experience was fantastic and I really wish we had it here so that I can go and do it all over again.

Laughter Yoga was started around 10 years ago in India by a Dr Madan Kataria and his wife Madhuri. Their initiative has extended to forming hundreds of laughter clubs around the world and they hold lots of events internationally; you can get all the exciting info here.

Founder and Co-founder of Laughter Yoga Organization

At the end of this post; I have to say: laughter is really one of the best medicines I have ever come across!!