One of the applications of Laughter Yoga is for performing artists, singers, and actors. I have given many presentations in acting academies, Toastmasters, and public speaking institutions. You can explore business opportunities in these avenues. This article will be helpful when you’re talking about Laughter Yoga within their field.

Did you know I was a stage actor for nine years during my college days? Later, I became a doctor—what a combination! I believe both roles helped me spread laughter around the world. In this article, you will appreciate the difference between how laughter club members and stage actors laugh. Though both act out laughter, there is a significant difference between the two.

Body-Mind Link
Research has established a well-recognized link between the body and mind. It has been found that the state of mind, whether positive or negative, is mirrored in a corresponding bodily expression or body behavior. Bodily enactment of any emotional behavior triggers a similar change in the state of mind.

Dr. Dale Anderson (Minnesota, USA) shares the story of an American actor who performed tragic roles for so long that she fell into depression, exhibiting classic physical symptoms. Despite extensive physical tests, doctors found her to be in perfect physical health. After consulting psychologists, she was advised to stop playing tragic roles and switch to comedy. She followed their advice, and her symptoms and depression disappeared.

These facts highlight how actors, public speakers, and other stage artists can sometimes become victims of their own professions. Their biggest fears include stage and camera fright, as well as a lack of self-confidence. Laughter Yoga has the ability to overcome these negative emotions, foster a sense of well-being, and help individuals excel in their performances. It alleviates nervousness and shyness, thereby enhancing their talents.

As Laughter Yoga effectively combines yogic breathing with laughter exercises, it emphasizes diaphragmatic breathing. This enhances the supply of oxygen, which helps relieve stress and anxiety. All performing artists require good breathing capacity for delivering dialogues and managing voice intonations. Laughter Yoga helps develop deep breathing techniques, enabling artists to relax and overcome any negative feelings.

Actors and Laughter Yoga Members: Similarities and Differences
There is a notable similarity between actors and Laughter Yoga members: both learn to enact emotions and “fake” them. However, the difference lies in the outcome—fake laughter in Laughter Yoga eventually turns into real, contagious laughter, generating a state of total well-being.

Here are some distinct advantages of being a Laughter Yoga club member:
• Health Focus: Laughter Yoga club members laugh to stay healthy. Health is their priority, and they are fully committed to laughter exercises. In contrast, actors are trained to acquire skills for performance; health is often not their primary concern, as they are performing for a living.
• No Judgment: Laughter Yoga members are free from the anxiety of being judged. Actors, however, experience constant stress as their performances are evaluated and appreciated by others.
• Intrinsic Motivation: Laughter Yoga members are motivated by a feeling of well-being, whereas performers are driven by audience reactions and judgments.
• Participation vs. Performance: In Laughter Yoga clubs, there is no audience; everyone is an active participant. Actors, on the other hand, are primarily performers who must engage passive audiences.
• Laughter on Demand vs. Command: For laughter club members, laughter is on demand—it flows naturally and without external pressure. Actors, however, laugh on command as part of their performance.