1. Laughter Yoga By Jeff An and Parth Vora

2. Description Developed by Indian physician Madan Kataria Practice involving prolonged voluntary laughter Based on the belief that laughing without reason provides the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter Best done in groups Promotes the idea that laughing without reason is okay

3. Benefits Lowers heart-rate by increasing oxygen flow throughout the body Naturally incorporates yogic breathing techniques resulting in relaxation of muscles Over time can increase lung capacity and decrease blood pressure Leads to stress release

4. Steps to Begin Laughter Yoga Accept that you don’t need a reason to laugh Begin laughing, alternating between syllables “Ha, ha, he, he, ho, ho” Make sure that you are engaging your diaphragm while laughing Alternate between your chest voice and your head voice Hum the “Om” Song after finishing (serves as a “cool-down”)

5. Conclusion Laughter Yoga is an effective and easy way to relax Conveys many physical benefits such as lowered blood pressure and heart rate Conveys many psychological benefits such as relaxation and happiness Can be employed throughout one’s life Does not only apply as a “one-time” technique