This Saturday (April 20th, 2024), I will share with you all a Laughter Yoga session.
Since 2003, when I started visiting Mumbai, India, I have had these curious encounters while walking around the city, which is home to more than 20 million people. In the parks, people would gather in circles and laugh, move, and laugh again... I always felt uplifted seeing people laughing; it brightened up my day. However, I had never considered joining a group like that elsewhere, nor did I know how to start my search for such a group while staying in Mumbai.
In 2023, after 20 years of practicing yoga, I began a yoga teacher training program. I asked if Laughter Yoga would be taught during the course, but the answer was “no.” So, during this Easter vacation while in Brazil, I decided to study a little about Laughter Yoga and practice it to bring the joy of laughter to the sessions I conduct at Shanti.
The Laughter Guru, Dr. Madan Kataria, a family physician seeking better ways to manage and alleviate the stress of daily life for himself and his patients, discovered something scientifically proven: "Laughter is the best medicine." Consequently, he started something with a small group of people. They would gather and share jokes, but after a few sessions, they ran out of jokes. So, he came up with a better idea: to move the body, clap hands, breathe, and engage in laughter exercises.
Now, his Laughter Yoga has spread around the world, bringing lightness and joy to thousands of people's lives.
I hope to bring some of that joy to our next session, and I invite you to join, enjoy, and laugh with me!