Laughter is the best medicine

Driving past Eastern Beach on a rainy Saturday morning, you might catch a glimpse of a cheery group of people laughing in the pouring rain. And you might have just discovered a Laughter Club.

We’ve all heard the saying laughter is the best medicine, and for those passionate about laughter yoga, that’s a philosophy to live by.

Laughter yoga, or Hasyayoga, is a style of yoga that integrates voluntary laughter exercises with yogic deep breathing and stretching techniques

It is the art of benefiting from laughing for no reason, without humour, jokes
or comedy.

The practice intends to reduce stress, boost the immune system stronger and keep your mind positive during challenging times.

Hasayoga was founded 28 years ago in India, when physician Dr Madan Kataria concluded that both voluntary and genuine laughter had the same physiological and psychological benefits, and with this in mind began the world’s first “laughter club”.

Nowadays, there are more than 10,000 laughter clubs worldwide, with some people even practising over Zoom.

Groups initiate laughter as a group exercise, with eye contact and childlike playfulness often turning into real and contagious laughter.

Laughter yoga boasts wellbeing and health benefits including mood improvement, a cardio workout, reducing stress and social connection.

Geelong local Phillipa Challis started the Laughter Club Geelong 20 years ago in June 2002 and has never looked back.

She started the group when she was public speaking on the topic “you are your best asset” and researching the benefits of laughing.

A friend put her down as a laughter yoga local contact and the group quickly came together.

“I would say in your day to day you need to have a segment of laughing,” Phillipa said.
“I got 500 phone calls alone interested in starting a laughing club, so we did.

“When we have a laughter yoga session, we do a series of laughs indispersed with some clapping and breathing and then we just start and do deep breathing and then a little bit of a stretch and there are literally hundreds of laughs.

“It’s not long before it becomes real laughter, and the body doesn’t know which one it is internally, and it releases the happy chemicals.”

Each week the groups meets to make eye contact, share a laugh and genuinely enjoy their time together practising laughter yoga.

“Laughter is infectious, and it lets the inner child out and relax, and lets out the inner joy,” Phillipa said.

She said since starting in June 2002, Laughter Club Geelong has never missed a Saturday morning of coming together.

“People come because they are wanting to enjoy the benefits of laughter and discover the way to have a healthier, happier, and more enjoyable life.

“It helps you connect with the community and form life-long friendships.”

Each month the group also has one yoga session outside, regardless of the weather.