You're rushing to finish a work presentation, your credit card bill arrives, maybe you're stuck in traffic....I bet you've never thought to let out a big laugh. 

It may sound like the exact opposite of what you should really do in a stressful situation, but laughter is the best medicine after all. Laughter Yoga is a radically different approach to stress management that will give you plenty to laugh about. 

I've been told I'll have to step out of my comfort zone, but once the laughter starts it doesn't stop and as you can imagine, the stress just lifts away. 

When you think of taking a Yoga class...I bet you don't think of or hear laughter. 

But laughter is just as much a part of Yoga as putting your body in a different posture.
What's become a world-wide phenomenon with more than 6 thousand laughter clubs in 60 countries, was developed in 1995 by a doctor in India. 

Laughter Yoga Instructor Jill Johnson says, “You don't need any funny jokes. You don't need to be in a good mood.” 

You don't have to be in a good mood to laugh? Who would have thought?
But Jill Johnson, Laughter Yoga instructor and owner of the Dharma Room, says by forcing yourself to laugh, and engaging in childlike activity...you begin to laugh like no one's watching. 

She says, “Before you know it the fake laughter turns to genuine laughter, spontaneous laughter quite quickly.” 

Maintaining eye contact and using gentle yoga breathing is key to triggering stress management and physical fitness. 

Johnson says, “You're creating a positive hormone cocktail in your body. You have the increase of endorphins which are natural pain killers and just increase your overall good feeling. You increase a serotonin in your brain which is good for relieving depression.” 

And Johnson says your body doesn't know the difference between fake laughter and the real thing...so even if you have to force a chuckle...you're still getting its benefits. 

The Dharma Room - Yoga & Wellness Center

Laughter Yoga