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...

Corinne Cosseron, France: My husband Fred and I live a life of Parisian bobos. While he is a lawyer, I am a journalist and our two little boys, Armand and Orel go to Kindergarten. In the year 2000 we hit our 40s and decided to go and live on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea – a life more in tune with new ambitions. Arriving in the charming village of Frontignan, I wondered how to convinc...

Melanie Rudolph, USA: When I reflect upon meaningful life experiences and in this case, past Laughter Yoga presentations, one of my most rewarding and valuable experience was bringing Laughter Yoga to Appalachian Regional Healthcare Psychiatric Center in 2012. My mother Marilyn took her own life 32 years ago at the age of 42, when I was just 8 years old. She struggled with mental illness for more ...

Maria Manninen, Finland: At the end of last year my life was so tough that I spent lots of time crying alone at home. I had read about Skype Laughter Club in one Finnish magazine of well-being earlier that year and really felt that I should give it a try. I signed in and anxiously waited for the first on line session. In a couple of weeks’ time my life started to fill up with joy and laughte...