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'Good vibes are contagious at laughing yoga'

Andy Bennett & Sacha Bigwood
BBC Radio Bristol
Laughter Yoga with Joe People in a festival tent holding up their arms and smiling and laughing. There is a woman near the front in red with her arms wide apart and her mouth open, as well as an older man in a blue shirt, doing similar.Laughter Yoga with Joe
Laughter yoga is "a great way of connecting", said Joe Hoare

As the laughter yoga movement celebrates its 30th year, a long-running practitioner has explained its health and wellbeing benefits.

Laughing yoga was started by Dr Madan Kataria, a GP in Mumbai, India, in 1995.

Joe Hoare, who runs Bristol Laughter Club, has been teaching the same practice for more than two decades, including at work conferences and festivals.

He said it works as a mindfulness practice because "good vibes are contagious".

"When we hear someone else [laugh], part of our brain says, 'oh wow, I want to do that too'," he said.

"It helps our breathing and helps us relax."

Joe Hoare, a man wearing a red, blue and white checked shirt, glasses and a cap with multicoloured letters on it, smiling for the camera.
Joe Hoare said laughter yoga is "naturally contagious"

Mr Hoare explained Dr Kataria had been researching the health benefits of laughter for his newsletter.

After a number of trials, the GP discovered human brains are unable to tell the difference between fake or real laughs.

"He thought 'since you get all these benefits from laughter, why not just get together and laugh?'," said Mr Hoare.

The doctor was joined by some friends in the park that day to give it a go.

"Most people did think they were a bit barking, but on day two there was eight and by the end of the week there were about 25, and it grew from there," added Mr Hoare.

Laughter Yoga with Joe Seven women, alongside Joe Hoare, standing in a line with the hands in the air, smilingLaughter Yoga with Joe
In the sessions "people share good vibes and appreciation", said Mr Hoare

The practice is "based on the insight is that the benefits of laughter come from the laughter itself", said the specialist.

He told BBC Radio Bristol it was a "wellbeing practice", similar to how people jog.

"We know it's going to be good for us. It's going to improve our mood, energise us.

"Once we get into the zone then it just naturally happens.

"Willingness is the key - and looking to enjoy it."

He explained he will often encourage people to move their body a bit to find an "enjoyable way" to get laughing.

The sessions can run from five minutes to an hour-and-a-half.

"It releases a whole range of self-generated hormones," said Mr Hoare.

"When life's getting a bit intense it's a really good way of bouncing back," he added.

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