Laughing for no reason at your school?

Laughing for no reason at your school? Sounds too weird? Well, that is what Laughter Yoga is all about.

In a Laughter Yoga class, laughter is approached as an exercise by combining yogic breathing techniques with laughter exercises, i.e. imaginary skits to make people involved laugh at or with one another.

The mixture of both breathing and laughing increases the oxygen level of our body, while it also exercises our heart, diaphragm, abdominal, intercostals, respiratory and facial muscles.
Laughing also boosts our immune system, releases endorphins and acts as a natural painkiller. Needless to say, laughter boosts our energy levels!

So, who does Laughter Yoga? With its origins in India, where Indian Dr. Matan Kataria developed Laughter Yoga 15 years ago, the exercise is now offered for free in more than 10,000 social laughter clubs in about 65 countries.

In many countries the phenomenon of Laughter Yoga is also being used in hospitals, sporting clubs, orphanages, prisons and schools.

In schools, Laughter Yoga can be used among students to induct more laughter into their lives and promote a bonding function between pupils.

Laughter Yoga has proved to be also very effective when incorporated in the education system as it helps to decrease the factors that cause stress among students and hinder healthy relationship, i.e. low concentration, academic or parental pressure, lack of emotional bonding and lack of exercise.

Since Laughter Yoga promotes positive emotions and performance as well as coping skills, it is also a fun exercise for teachers before school starts in the morning.

There are currently around 20 Laughter Yoga clubs in NZ and many so-called Laughter Yoga leaders are willing to hold laughter sessions at your school.

If your school is interested in experiencing such a session, or if you want to learn more about this intriguing phenomenon, please visit www.laughteryoga.co.nz and learn to laugh for no reason at your school.