Lachyoga is not primarily about posture or meditation – the focus is actually on laughter. We use three exercises to show you how Lachyoga works.
Lachyoga was developed in 1995 by the Indian doctor Madan Kataria in Mumbai. So it is a fairly new yoga style, which is becoming increasingly popular: there are now several thousand Lachyogacenter in the world – places where people laugh together.
In contrast to other yoga styles, there is no demanding posture or long meditations on the plan. Instead, it is primarily about laughing detached. However, there are also some aspects of traditional yoga forms in Lachyoga. We explain to you how Lachyoga works, what his goals are and what effect it has. We also present three exercises that you can try out at home.
How does Lachyoga work?
In the case of laughing yoga, also called HASYA yoga, one thing is on the program: laughter. First of all, this is triggered on a motor level. This means that unlike jokes or comedy, no cognitive stimulation is used to laugh. Instead, the participants intentionally begin to laugh until the initially artificial laugh passes into natural laugh – true to the motto “Fake It Until You Make” (freely translated: “Fish it until it becomes real”).
The participants are: inside in the laughing yoga course until they get into a state of childlike playback. In the typical laugh yoga exercises, a lot is practiced in the group and interacted with eye contact and playful exercises.
This is how a Lachyoga lesson runs
In courses, a Lachyoga class often begins with some loosening and stretching exercises as well as breathing exercises (pranayama) that relax body and mind and prepare for extensive laughter.
This is followed by some exercises that all have only one goal: laughing, laughing, laughing. Typical Lachyoga exercises include gossip and breathing exercises as well as pantomimous elements. Some of the exercises are connected to bouncing and dancing in laugh yoga. In addition, the laughing yoga often sang, played or spoken of gib.
At the end of a Lachyoga class, there are often some physical exercises (asanas), breathing exercises or guided meditation. Depending on the studio and teacher, these elements are also completely omitted. A lachyoga unit usually takes between 20 to 60 minutes.
Tip: Incidentally, there are also online courses for LACHYOGA.
Three simple Lachyoga exercises
Instead of visiting an (online) course, you can also approach Lachyoga with these three exercises at home.
1. Hoho-Haha laughing
Stand and start clapping. Repeat the syllables “Hoho” and “Haha”. If you carry out the exercise with someone else, look the other person in the eye.
2. Picking flower
Imagine you pick a flower. Row in the imaginary flower and take a deep breath. Instead of exhaling normally, you laugh out your breath.
3. The book of smile
Fold your hands together in front of your chest. Open it like a book in front of you. Imagine on the pages that you should smile. Smile and fold your hands or the book again.
Tip: An additional mini-lachyoga exercise is to smile at you every time you look in the mirror.
The basic principle
In the Lachyoga, participants should: Laugh warmly and casually. They forget everyday worries in a playful way. According to the inventor of Lachyoga, the body cannot distinguish whether laughter is real or played – but the positive effects are the same.
From a scientific point of view, this is not entirely absurd: the “facial feedback hypothesis” says that our facial expressions influence our emotions, not just the other way around. And there is also evidence that this hypothesis is right: Smile can trigger and reinforce a good mood.
Behind the Power Posing is a similar idea: not only more self -confidence can lead to an upright posture, but also the other way around – physical attitudes such as an upright back should also be able to influence the mood.
This is intended to have lachyoga beneficial on both physiological and mental and emotional levels.
Goals and effects of Lachyoga
Laughing itself should be: among other things:
-
Reduce stress and work against fear,
- Relieve pain and tension,
- the general well -being improved,
-
Pour off bad mood,
- Strengthen the cardiovascular system,
- Cad up the immune system,
- Strengthen the oxygen supply and
- improve social contact ability.
In the meantime there are also scientific studies on laughing yoga and its effects – especially as a therapy option in stress, anxiety and depression. Among other things, there are the following research results and studies on Lachyoga:
- A study of 38 male students in the medical care sector has shown that regular laughing yoga can improve general health and help with sleep disorders, inner restlessness and depression.
- A randomized controlled study with 50 older depressive women came to the conclusion in 2010 that lachyoga can help with depression and improve mental health. The results also show that lachyoga in this study was just as effective as group therapy for coping with depression in the control group.
- In addition, Lachyoga can effectively act against stress. This is the result of a study from 2014 with 37 cancer patients: inside that faced chemotherapy.
- Another study from 2019 comes to the conclusion that Lachyoga can improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients.
A review summarizes the known results: Lachyoga shows promising positive effects, especially for depression. However, it was not yet possible to prove that it is more effective than other group -based activities or forms of therapy. Other, larger and higher quality studies are necessary to establish Lachyoga as an evidence -based measure for psychological problems.
Who is Lachyoga suitable for?
In contrast to Ashtanga yoga, Jivamukti yoga or Hatha yoga, there is no demanding physical exercises in laughing yoga. That is why this yoga style is also suitable for people who are physically restricted due to injuries or old age.
Lachyoga is offered in old -age homes for senior: inside, at schools for children or in hospitals for patients: inside and new mothers. Lachyoga is also becoming increasingly popular in companies and universities. You can do Lachyoga with the exercises described above, but also at home.
Since Lachyoga lungs, respiratory tract, diaphragm and abdominal muscles use heavily, it is not recommended for some diseases and symptoms. This explains the laughing trainer Cornelia Leisch compared to the German Angst-Aid AV even with manic depression, it may not be a suitable measure because you could stimulate the manic phase, she explains.
Among other things, with angina pectoris, chair and urinary incontinence, aneurysms, glaucomas, rib breaks, diaphragm, extremely high blood pressure, very strong cough, herniated discs and epilepsy, caution is also required. In case of doubt, you should catch up with medical advice and speak to a Lachyoga teacher or a Lachyoga teacher before starting Lachyoga.
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Revised by Denise Schmucker
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