Are there mental benefits of Laughter Yoga?
Definitely. I think for many people the mental benefits are even more important than the physical improvements. Depression and loneliness are major problems for older people. It is impossible to be depressed while you’re laughing. With sustained hearty laughter, your body releases hormones and chemicals that make you feel happy. I get reports every week from people who have come out of severe depression, and stopped taking medication because of the practice of Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga also tackles the loneliness issue. We practice Laughter Yoga in groups. When you laugh together, a special bond is formed between the people in that group. They start to care for one another; they celebrate each other’s birthdays and provide support in times of distress. In a way, you could say that our international Laughter Club Movement is one big extended family. But the social effects extend beyond the Laughter Group. Laughter Yoga improves social skills, gives people confidence, and makes them b
