Dr. Madan Kataria, the merry medicine man from India, the Guru of Giggling (London Times), was in Boston on September 24, 2004 to conduct a three-hour seminar on laughter yoga for the general public. He has given similar sessions in Australia, UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy and Singapore.

“The world is about to laugh as it has never laughed before,” according to Dr. Madan Kataria the Indian Physician who claims that his laughter exercise routine, which combines both yoga and laughter, not only improves health by reducing negative effects of stress but it might promote world peace. For the first time he has developed a new yogic technique of laughter workouts where anyone can participate in a group laughter everyday without taking help of jokes.

The author of “Laugh For No Reason,” he is the catalyst for more than 1300 laughter clubs in India, USA, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Australia. Thousands of people gather to get daily dose of laughter exercises before they set of to the office or factory. His concept has been widely accepted all over the world and appeared in prestigious publication like National Geography, Wall Street Journal, Los Angles Times and Colours Magazine (Italy). It has also flashed on BBC, CNN, NHK Japan Star TV, ABC and many television networks in Europe.

The local event was held at the Hotel@MIT. “Laughing is infectious and fun when you laugh in a group. Kids laugh for no reason and they laugh from their heart. On the other hand, as we grow up the brain takes over. We only laugh after the brain decides if there is the reason to laugh,” said Kataria.

There are two sources of laughter:
1. Outside the body that lasts as long as there is stimulus.
2. Inside the body that one can create and laugh

However, the biggest barrier to laughter is mental barrier. As such, Dr. Kataria has developed a number of warm up techniques including clapping 1-2-1-2-3 (this simulates certain reflexes) and saying Ho-Ho-Ha-Ha-Ha (motion creates emotion as there is strong link between the mind and the body). When one is busy, you can’t be depressed. This is one of the reasons when you are sad, people tell you to go and take a walk.

According to Kataria, there are three major myths about laughing:
1. You need a reason to laugh:- kids don’t laugh because there is a reason
2. You need a great sense of humor:- if you start laughing, you break barriers which leads to an increased sense of humor
3. You need to be happy to laugh:- or is the reverse true that if you start laughing, you will be happy.

It is important to distinguish between happiness and joyfulness/cheerful. Happiness is getting what you want. If you get it, you are happy for a short while. Then you want more and it soon becomes an addiction and it is no fun when you don’t get it. Happiness is out in the future, and most of the time, therefore, you are not happy and tend not to laugh, says Kataria. On the other hand, laughing/joyfulness is having fun. This does not get rid of the problems but you tend to look at the problem differently. You tend to be more creative and can deal with the problem better. Try to name one person you have met who is creative but depressed all the time?

It is important to laugh from your heart and believe in the spirit of laugh. Spirit is aliveness. It is not easy to laugh when things are not going well but it is important to understand that there is a strong link between the mind and human behavior. Every one knows that you cannot live without breathing for more than three minutes, with water for three days and without food for three weeks. Just as the battery needs charging, the body needs charging, which is proper breathing and laughter.

Some of the most popular types of laughters are: greeting laughter, double hand-shake laughter, milk shake laughter, mobile phone laughter, winter car laughter and the lion laughter.

It was an absolutely amazing experience for everyone present there and congratulations to Thomas Varkey for taking the time to coordinate the session.

Some of the comments from the attendees were:
“I have not laughed this much in 15 years” – Sudansu
“I loved it, the more you try to stop, the more you laugh” – Lorrie
“I am very happy I came here” – Jitendra, a senior gentleman
“I found out that one does not need a reason to laugh and it is simple to laugh” – Jeffry

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