Maj Britt, Denmark: Short interview with Maj Britt, Denmark taken by Dr. Kataria. Laughter has really changed my attitude. I’m a gym instructor and when I first joined the club, I thought it would be good for the body and the immune system. But, later I realized that the mental and soul benefits were the ones for me. I started with the physical benefits but now I can feel my soul healing. Th...

Dianne Theil McNinch, USA: In January 1997, my thoughts of suicide became frequent and by April 1997 I was officially diagnosed with Clinical Depression. Over time my condition became severe and by this year I was spending over $400 on depression medication each month. I first heard about Laughter Yoga on the American TV show ‘Dancing with the Stars’. It seemed delightful. Then on A...

Jan MacQuarrie, Canada: I have had my abdominal surgery and have three incisions,. I made the most of what I had learned in the laughter movement and had fun doing it! I blew up balloons for two weeks ahead to strengthen my lungs and abdomen- and practiced laughing. For an hour and a half before surgery I laughed in the prep room. with ho, ho’s and very goods ! . I asked for my own music to ...

Zabotin Andrey, Moscow: I conduct the Osho dynamic meditation in a yoga studio in my city. Always on the lookout for something new for my participants, I stumbled upon Laughter Yoga where one had to just laugh for 30 minutes in order to get great health and spiritual benefits. It was a great idea. I felt laughter is what I needed. I went out to meet my wife and a friend to tell them about my explo...

Allison Marcotte, USA: Having gone through some tough times in recent years, including the heartbreaking deaths of loved ones, I can very well say that, if I hadn’t had the laughter, I’d probably be at a mental health ward. I was a very serious person and I would laugh only when all the work was done. So, in effect, I didn’t laugh a lot. It was only when I discovered Laughter Yog...

Eiko Saito, Japan: This is an account by Eiko Saito a 54 year old woman, who was a witness to the dreadful tsunami that hit Japan in 2011. She very well describes how a group of people, huddled in a building, amidst terror and panic eased their fears through Laughter Yoga. Laughing at a time of crisis may seem strange, but Laughter Yoga has the power to reduce stress almost instantaneously and len...

M. Cecilia Acuna, Chile: In 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my life was destroyed in a second with the news. I cried for few minutes and then asked God to help me to calm down so as not to scare my children and family. My prayers were answered and I could see some healing as a possibility. To begin with, my children helped me get cheerful by telling jokes, giving me comic books and sh...

Bakhyt Zhunussova, Kazakhstan: The last few years, I have been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. It is a disease when the pain migrates all the time. It hurts your hands, legs, the neck, and the knees – There is constant stiffness, fatigue, aching or shooting pains. I was hospitalized early this year and the tests results showed an index of rheumatoid factor 299.7, when the rate should be...

Laura Toffolo, Italy: I like to tell you what happened to me recently. Also, I was invited to share my experience by Dr. Kataria. On September 15th, I was in Milan railway station (Porta Garibaldi), coming back from one of my tours around Italy to share Laughter Yoga. I had taken part to a “white night” and to a Leader Training, with a very smart teacher, Elena Barbagallo. I also had b...

Cynthia Newsome, USA: For years, I knew about the importance of laughter and good health; but I have to admit that I had never heard of a laughter workout. Then, I met Maurine Pachter, a Laughter Yoga Instructor who invited me to her workout and I’m so glad she did. I met this group of lovely ladies who were welcoming and in a great mood which set the perfect stage to begin laughing. We bega...

Thomas TOPOLANEK, Austria: For many years I am fascinated by the story of HOTEI – a Japanese God of happiness, based on a true story of a monk, who travelled from village to village and was just laughing, laughing, laughing … Both – kids and grownups worshiped him a lot. Just before he died he told them his last wish: Burn me with the clothes I am wearing. When he passed a...

Kelsey Miller, USA: Some time back my boss sent me an article about the growing phenomenon of Laughter Yoga clubs, along with the simple directive: “You should do this.” It sounded great and as it turned out, it was. Initially reluctant, I’d hoped my class would be full of people I could hide among, but soon I found myself laughing and enjoying every minute of it. In Laughter Yog...