Dr. Kataria’s Laughter Yoga Diary

The Annual Laughter Yoga Conference, 2007 was held from September 6th - 8th in Trivandrum, India. Attended by more than 300 delegates from the country, the conference was an exhilarating experience for all.

Each day began with a rejuvenating laughter session early morning and ended with fun filled cultural programs and competitions.

Opening ceremony: The conference began with a colorful procession led by traditional percussionists from Kerala with their ‘Panchvadiya’ drums. The participants went round the hotel singing and chanting the magical mantra of ho ho ha ha ha. There was excitement in the air as the pageant culminated in the conference hall for the opening ceremony. After the formal introduction, Dr. Madan Kataria and his wife Madhuri made an impressive entry as they danced their way on stage. This was followed by the customary lighting of the lamp and a spectacular performance of ‘Kathakali’, a traditional dance form of Kerala.

Other highlights

Inter club exchange program: Dr. Kataria stressed on the need for more inter club exchange programs both in India and abroad. These programs would help leaders and the members to connect with each other and gather more information about the movement.

Laughter magazine: A new quarterly E- magazine on Laughter Yoga will be launched in January 2008. It will be a comprehensive journal giving all relevant information about Laughter Yoga, new trends and development and much more.

Stress on Laughter Yoga for children: Laughter Yoga among school children was a major highlight of the conference. Reports proved that Laughter Yoga is very beneficial to school children as it helped reduce their pressures and tensions in academics and interpersonal relations.

It’s usual to celebrate one’s birthday the day one is born. But not so for Mr. Vishwamohan from Vijayvada in southern India. He celebrates his birthday on the day he joined the Laughter club! He feels he got a new lease of life and was ‘Reborn’ in the club.

Constantly troubled by never-ending illnesses for the last 30 years he had almost given up on life. From chronic diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiac problems to diabetic neuropathy, he had been suffering immense pain and anxiety right through 53 years of his living.

He had a bypass surgery for his heart problem in 1999 but still had to endure other health complications. Disillusioned with constant medication and rising stress levels he decided to adopt an alternative method to help him feel better. On January 14th, 2002, he joined the local laughter club. Gradually his life underwent a remarkable change. His health improved considerably as his ECG, BP and blood sugar levels stabilized. He had never felt so much healthier in his entire life.

He firmly believes that laughter helped him rejuvenate and nurtured him to good health. He feels grateful to the day he joined the club and therefore now celebrates it as his ‘new found birthday.’

Healing of Des’s tumor through laughing alone proves that laughter heals not only when practiced in groups but even when done alone.

I met Dr. Madan Kataria and his wife, Madhuri on their trip to Melbourne in March this year. As they stayed with us, I had the opportunity to learn how to laugh alone.

Greatly inspired I started to laugh all by myself every day after meditation. The laughter exercises include chants of Ho Ho, Ha Ha and deep breathing. I also do these exercises even while walking. I allow myself to be spontaneous and childlike and make funny movements. I also sing some positive affirmations like:

I am happy tee hee hee; I am free tee hee hee; I am healthy tee hee hee; I am strong tee hee hee…

Regular practice of laughing alone has had a tremendous effect on my health condition. Though suffering from a tumor for some time, I can feel it getting smaller. Even my specialist was amazed when he realized it had shrunk remarkably. He cancelled the radiotherapy and said,’ I am happy to keep an eye on it for now. I really believe it’s laughter, meditation and positive affirmations that have worked so wonderfully together.’

I also think laughter is anti-ageing. Though I’m 60 I feel very energetic, there is less pain and I can easily do a lot of things. People remark I look much better and younger!

I’m very grateful to Dr. Kataria who taught me to laugh on a daily basis as the clubs only meet once a week. Now laughing everyday has completely changed my life and given me a more positive outlook.

Thank You,

Namaste,

Des Nicholson
(Eltham Laughter Club, Melbourne, Victoria- Australia)