Laughter At Work
Laughter Yoga NI
Laughter Yoga in Northern Ireland & Beyond
Tové Kane (centre) with Co-Founders of Laughter Yoga: Madhuri Kataria, and Dr Madan Kataria
The Top Questions People Ask About
Laughter Yoga
Laughter Yoga is practiced in more than 120 countries
1. What is Laughter Yoga — and how does it work without jokes?
Laughter Yoga is a playful wellbeing practice that combines intentional laughter with deep yogic breathing (pranayama). It was created by a medical doctor, Dr Madan Kataria, in 1995.
No jokes. No comedy. No pressure to be funny.
We start with intentional laughter — and here’s the amazing bit:
Your body doesn’t know the difference between real and “pretend” laughter.
So even if it begins a little awkwardly at first, your brain still releases feel-good chemicals like endorphins and dials down stress hormones such as cortisol.
Translation?
Your nervous system relaxes.
Your mood lifts.
And the laughter usually becomes very real, very quickly.
2. What are the real benefits of Laughter Yoga?
People come for the laughs — and stay for how good they feel afterwards.
Regular Laughter Yoga is like most exercise, forest bathing, and mindfulness practices; you can:
-
Reduce stress and tension
-
Lift mood and energy
-
Support emotional regulation
-
Increase resilience during tough times
-
Boost creativity and confidence
-
Help people feel more comfortable being themselves
It’s simple,
powerful,
and surprisingly grounding —
joy with depth, not fluff.
3. Do I need to be funny or bring jokes?
Absolutely not.
In fact, please don’t stress yourself or the group ha ha!😄
Laughter Yoga isn’t about humour — it’s about playfulness and energy.
Dr Kataria often says that we don't all have to be "laughter blasters" that even the most introverted person can enjoy gentle laughter or even smiling in a session.
We use gentle movement, clapping, chanting, eye contact, and laughter exercises to spark laughter naturally. If the group has the fitness level and the curiosity, we can always enhance the movement with more play and energy and that can be really invigorating.
Because laughter is contagious, especially in groups, people often find themselves laughing genuinely within minutes — even if they arrived sceptical, tired, or “not in the mood.”
4. What happens in a Laughter Yoga session?
A typical Laughter Yoga session is light, accessible, and carefully structured.
It usually includes:
-
Gentle warm-ups and stretching
-
Clapping and rhythmic chanting
-
Playful laughter exercises (yes, the classic “ho ho, ha ha ha, and "very good, very good, YAY!”)
-
Deep breathing to calm the nervous system
-
A laughter meditation
-
Relaxation and grounding
You don't need mats, lycra, a specific location, equipment or anything special.
5. Who is Laughter Yoga for?
Honestly? Laughter Yoga is for almost everyone.
Laughter Yoga works across:
-
Corporate wellbeing & team building
-
Schools and education
-
Care homes and elder wellbeing
-
Community groups and festivals
-
Retreats, coaching, and memberships
It’s non-invasive, inclusive, and adaptable — making it ideal for all ages, abilities, and energy levels, and you don't even need to be in the mood to start at first.
People don’t need to talk about their problems…
They just get to feel better in their bodies!
The Bottom Line
Laughter Yoga is a deliberate, playful practice for mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
It doesn’t rely on jokes, talent, or personality — just breath, movement, and a willingness to try.
And once people do?
They usually leave lighter than they arrived.
As a Certified
Laughter Yoga Master Trainer &
Global Laughter Ambassador
I am so happy and grateful to run sessions and events and
to teach and certify new
Laughter Facilitators, Laughter Yoga Leaders, and Teachers.
