Laugh your way to good health

With just 15 laughter clubs, Hyderabad’s “Laughterians” say that their numbers are very less compared to cities like Bengaluru where there are 200 clubs. The members who practise seven different kinds of laughter every day and yoga claim that it is the best medicine.

There are 34 different types of laughter, but only seven are used for group therapy.

Shirin Panjwani, the founder of Always Be Cheerful Laughter Club of Public Gardens, said, “People have felt the difference. That is why they have been with us for the last 15 years. There was a businessman named Ashok Bhosale who had to undergo bypass. Now he is fine with our club, laughing and regularly taking medicines.”

Laughter Yoga Movement founder Dr Madan Katria said, “The clubs are therapeutic. We have done six studies on laughter therapy and found that it cures many ailments.”

Shyamala Reddy, 71, who conducts the laughter club at Indira Park, said, “I had chronic sinusitis. Once I joined the club, I saw the effect in just three months."

"Since 1997, I have been practising laughter therapy and have given up medicines," Ms Reddy added.