Does Laughter Yoga Work?

Yoga has been around for at least 5,000 years, but has only become popular recently in the U.S.  One of the newest forms of yoga is laughter yoga, which did not develop until 1995.  Since that time, it has been used particularly by the business world. 

Although laughter yoga is based on standard yoga, it combines meditation and stretching techniques with "laughter exercises."  It doesn't mean that you sit around watching bad comedy movies (although that sounds fun), but rather, you are taught to laugh in order to relieve stress and anxiety.  It's a practice meant to purge anxiousness and relieve tension.

Many people have reported that laughter yoga is good for helping with relaxation, but they have even reported that this form of yoga can help relieve chronic pain from conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis.  Other chronic illnesses, like post traumatic stress disorder, have also been treated through laughter yoga.

While this form of yoga did not debut until 1995, it is currently practiced in more than 50 countries around the world.  It is gaining in popularity in the Western nations, thanks to its ability to relieve stress and tension, as well as teaching the participant to focus on a communal spirit, rather than focusing on the ever-present "I."