Laughter yoga, with its Indian origin, has become a regular practice in many countries. Many people wonder if it’s actually a type of yoga or not. But, trust me, it is. It is a breathing exercise to calm your mind and relax your body.

But, there are many breathing exercises already. Why is laughter yoga so popular among the people? The reason is very simple. The effect laughter has on your body can hardly be achieved by any other exercises. We love to laugh. In fact, laughter is one of the things that separate us from animals.

There are days, where you do not feel like laughing or even smiling. And it makes you gloomy. But, that’s when laughter yoga comes to the rescue. It is the simple trick to fool your mind with fake laughter. Fake or real, laughter generates ‘feel-good’ hormones, like endorphins. It reduces stress levels and helps in controlling blood pressure. And it’s cost-effective than any other therapy out there.

For first few years, laughter yoga was only practised by elderly people in parks or yoga classes. But, now slowly, this form of yoga is spreading its wings and reaching in corporate companies and business groups also. As much as it is surprising, it is also beneficial.

Practicing it on a corporate level has resulted in many positive factors. It helps in building a positive, friendly environment in the group. Laughing together makes the bond stronger. Companies arrange many team building programs, sometimes spending thousands of rupees on them. But, when you laugh with your employee, it brings you closer to each other.

We all are busy with work. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t laugh in office. In fact, doing laughter yoga in offices can improve your overall performance. You will be refreshed with 5 simple minutes of exercise and will have enough energy to focus on the work in hand.

When practised in companies, this exercise brings everyone on the same platform. Laughing is not about seniority or rank. It’s all about letting go of yourself for a bit. It helps in breaking the unnecessary barriers we have built against each other. And isn’t that important while working in groups? The power struggle will get us nowhere, but, laughter yoga will.

Though the effects of this yoga haven’t been measured on large scale, small-scale experiments had proved that it helps. And with or without any scientific evidence, do it! Laughter therapy will do no harm.