Vietnamese are now joing over 60,000 people in 60 countries worldwide in Laughter Yoga Photo: Vietdaily

Laughter Yoga, which combines Unconditional Laughter with Yogic Breathing, is the brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria, a Physician from Mumbai, India. He launched the first Laughter Club in 1995, which soon became a worldwide phenomenon. There are now more than 6,000 Laughter Clubs in 60 countries. 
Laughter Yoga was introduced to VN by Le Anh Son, which has been the Head of the Hanoi Laughter Yoga CLub for nearly two years. In the beginning, the club had just a few members, all retired persons. After Dr. Kataria visited VN in March to explain the physiological and psychological benefits of Laughter Yoga, the exercise has attracted increasing numbers of young people.  In a busy life full of pressures, the Hanoi Laughter Yoga Club provides a relaxing atmosphere where people can be happier and healthier together, with a more positive outlook and improved communication. 

 

“Wish you a joyful, happy, and uplifting new day", a start of an exercise Photo by: Ngoisao.neet

 

Men and women of all ages circle the instructor, who is performing funny antics to make people laugh. They clap their hands, breath yogically, hold their mouths open for several minutes, move their bodies and explode with laughter. They walk around and make funny faces to stimulate others to laugh louder. “Before, I lacked laughter. Now I join many others in the Laughter Yoga Club and I feel happier and healthier,” says Pham Quoc Loc, who has been practicing laughter yoga for a while.

70-year old Nguyen Thi The says the exercise lifts her spirits and releases her sadness. Instructor Pham Quoc Vinh says this exercise combines laughter with breathing, which has a profound impact on the cardiovascular system and internal organs. A Laughter Yoga session every day creates positive energy that makes it easier to cope with the stress of daily life and shields participants from depression. “The session is very helpful. I have heart and joint problems which make it hard for me to walk. But now I can walk normally”, a practitioner Hoang Thi Thanh said. 

Laughter Yoga helps lift practitioners' spirits and release their sadness Photo by: VnExpress.net

VNese people have a saying that a smile is worth 10 doses of medicine. This is also the central concept of Laughter Yoga, which is helping people achieve a healthier, more energized life. 

To Tuan