Look on the bright side.0:10
A day without laughter is a day wasted.0:11
By the time I got to the community center, I was already 5 minutes late.0:16
When I finally found the room, a diverse group of young and old people were were wandering around, pointing at each other and giggling.0:21
It was one of the most ridiculous sights I had ever seen, but I shouldn't have been so taken aback because this was a laughter yoga class.0:30
Laughter yoga was started in 1995 in Mumbai, India, by Madan Kataria, a doctor.0:39
He had been looking into the medical advantages of laughter and found that a great way to relieve stress was to laugh for 15 to 20 minutes every day.0:48
He formed a public laughter club in a park and before long, a new movement combining laughter and special breathing exercises had been created.0:58
The idea took off and unbelievably, there are now around 5,000 laughter yoga classes taking place around the world.1:08
At first, I was very skeptical.1:17
How could a bit of silly giggling feel like exercise?1:19
Our instructor, Marianne, explained that laughter reduces stress, improves circulation, tones muscles, and even helps the respiratory system.1:23
In fact, just the simple act of smiling, she said, tricks our bodies into thinking we are happy, as it releases stress-fighting hormones called endorphins.1:33
Well, I was certainly willing to try it to help me let off steam after my stressful week.1:45
As warm-up exercises, Marianne asked us to walk around the room while chanting and clapping.1:51
Afterwards, we lay on the floor kicking our legs in the air, and to my surprise, I started to snigger.1:58
Then, we pretended to joke with old friends and drink from imaginary teacups.2:05
The room was soon full of chuckles, giggles, and roars of laughter.2:11
I have to admit, the laughter was contagious.2:15
At the end of the session, I felt refreshed.2:19
It was as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.2:22
Before we left, Marianne gave us a list of easy actions for joyful living and told us to try out some before the next class.2:26
The list included simple things such as meditation, helping a neighbor, learning a new skill, or even stopping to admire a wildflower or looking up at a starry night sky.2:35
That should be easy enough, I thought.2:48
Firstly, I tried meditating for 10 minutes each morning.2:51
I sat silently with my eyes closed and focused on my breathing while observing my thoughts.2:55
At first, that was hard, But as the week progressed, the clutter in my mind was eventually replaced with a feeling of peace and calm.3:02
The next thing I did was offer to help an elderly neighbor carry her shopping bags home.3:12
She appreciated it, and I felt lighter in my step afterwards.3:18
Friday was a terrible day.3:23
I stepped in a huge puddle, got soaking wet on my way to college, and then my car wouldn't start, so I had to catch two trains home.3:25
Taking advice from Marianne's list, at the end of the day, I wrote down three positive things that happened that day.3:34
My friend brought me a warm drink when I arrived at the college.3:43
I listened to my favourite music on the journey home.3:47
My brother promised to look up my car for me the next day.3:50
I read somewhere that happiness doesn't just happen.3:54
You have to work at it.3:57
But I found that it doesn't actually take that much work.3:59
So try it out for yourself.4:03
You don't have to go to a laughter yoga class.4:06
You can smile and laugh more, look for small ways to bring joy to others and yourself, and focus on the positive things in your life, not the negative.4:08
I don't think you'll regret it.4:18
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