Laughter Yoga Usa

Hello and Welcome to Laughter Yoga USA.org,

We are here to share laughter for health with our community and beyond.

Campaign

Our goal is to train more Certified Laughter Yoga Leaders in our region and beyond so that every community can launch an inclusive social laughter club, open to all. 

These leaders can start up a weekly laughter club at a school, hospital, community center, senior community, library, church space, park...

Laughter clubs offer a safe, welcoming space where people can spend an hour connecting in a light-hearted, positive way through laughter, yogic breathwork, and mindfulness. We also weave in the 4 Elements of Joy—laughter, singing, dance, and play—to create a rich, uplifting experience. A strong spirit of playfulness and improvisation invites each person to gently “let go,” feel at ease, and explore a more carefree, authentic way of expressing themselves. 

What is Laughter Yoga?

Laughter Yoga is a global laughter exercise program that began in India in 1995, created by physician Dr. Madan Kataria. He, his wife Madhuri, and three friends started the first laughter club in a Mumbai park, initially telling jokes to make one another laugh. As more people joined and the jokes ran out, they needed a new way to keep the laughter flowing.

In researching the benefits of laughter, Dr. Kataria discovered evidence that even simulated laughter can offer many of the same health benefits as “real” laughter. In other words, the body does not distinguish between spontaneous and intentional laughter; what it responds to is the increased oxygen intake from deep breathing, the rhythmic exhalation, and the associated relaxation response.

Dr. Kataria went back to his group and introduced simple laughter exercises inspired by everyday situations, encouraging participants to be mindful of their laughter and positive interactions. He added gentle movements such as clapping, chanting, improvisation, and even elements of singing and dancing. Over time, his 40 Foundation Exercises were created. Favorites include Greeting Laughter, Mental Floss Laughter, Penguin Laughter, Lion Laughter, and Argument Laughter. As word spread, laughter clubs began to mushroom across India.

Today, there are thousands of laughter clubs worldwide in more than 120 countries, meeting both in person and online. Laughter Yoga is also offered as dedicated wellness sessions for private groups and is now practiced in schools, hospitals, recovery programs, prisons, veterans’ organizations, corporations, government and NGO settings, and senior communities. Laughter Yoga professionals are frequently invited to deliver keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, and to appear at wellness fairs.

Our own laughter sessions are customized for each group we serve, and our laughter clubs remain open and welcoming to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Laughter Yoga is simple and can be practiced seated, standing or moving about. 

There are no yoga poses, special attire or equipment needed. 

To benefit, all you need is the willingness to laugh more.

Laughter Yoga is no political and non religious.

Laughter Yoga is mild aerobic exercise and you burn calories and have fun while doing it, HA!

Laughter Yoga is celebrated for its numerous health benefits:

• Improves mood and emotional resilience by triggering release of endorphins and fostering a more positive outlook on life.

• Reduces stress and anxiety by lowering stress hormones like cortisol and helping the nervous system shift into a more relaxed state.

• Supports the immune system, which can enhance the body’s ability to fight infections and recover from illness more effectively.

• Increases oxygen to the brain and body through laughter combined with yogic breathing, which can boost energy, alertness, and mental clarity.

• Benefits cardiovascular health by stimulating the heart and blood vessels and supporting healthier blood flow.

• Lowers blood pressure and reduces muscle tension, promoting overall physical relaxation and recovery.

• Helps manage depression by buffering low mood, increasing positive emotions, and supporting other treatments for mental health conditions.

• Enhances pain tolerance and can reduce the perception of pain through the release of endorphins and relaxation responses.

• Improves sleep quality indirectly by reducing stress, calming the body, and improving mood before rest.

• Builds social connection, reducing loneliness and strengthening a sense of belonging and support in groups.

• Increases life satisfaction and overall quality of life, even for people living with chronic disease or high-stress roles (e.g., caregivers, nurses).

• Promotes resilience and a more flexible attitude toward life’s challenges, helping people “laugh through” difficulties and cope better.

We all know that's it's really easy to laugh when things are going well for us. The Art of Laughter Yoga is to allow yourself to laugh when things are not going so well- to use these laughter skills to help us stay positive, resilient and to foster inner harmony.