Recent research highlights the power of laughter yoga as a promising supportive therapy in pediatric healthcare.

A systematic review by Dur, Erkin, and Çetin explored how laughter yoga—a practice combining intentional laughter with yogic breathing—can benefit children’s health in medical settings. 
Key Benefits Identified

Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Laughter yoga helps lower anxiety in children undergoing medical treatments or hospital stays. Laughter triggers release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, helping kids feel calmer and more relaxed.

Supports Emotional Well-Being: Group laughter sessions promote social connection, emotional support, and a sense of belonging—important factors in children’s mental health. Children often respond well to play and joy, making therapeutic sessions less intimidating.

Improves Physical Health: Laughter exercises can boost respiratory function and oxygenation, increase energy, and support overall physiological resilience. These effects may complement traditional treatments, aiding recovery for chronic illnesses or post-surgery healing.

Helps with Pain Management: In some cases, laughter yoga reduced children’s perception of pain (e.g., in juvenile arthritis), suggesting a role in non-pharmacological pain relief.

Enhances Hospital Environments: Incorporating laughter yoga into pediatric care can make clinical spaces more welcoming and supportive, improving interactions between staff and young patients.

Research Context

The review emphasizes the potential of laughter yoga as a holistic adjunct to pediatric care, bringing together physical, emotional, and social benefits. It also calls for more long-term studies to understand how regular laughter yoga might shape children’s health outcomes over time.

Conclusion

Laughter yoga is emerging as a valuable, child-friendly approach that supports well-being beyond conventional medical treatments. It offers joy, community, and healing—helping children cope with the challenges of illness with confidence and resilience.

Courtsey: BIOENGINEER.ORG