Hoot for health!

Laughter, truly, is the best medicine and groups in the city have taken the adage to heart! Today, people from all over the world are celebrating World Laughter Day, a day dedicated to those who believe laughter heals, and in certain cases — cures! The day was first celebrated on January 10, 1998, by Dr Madan Kataria, founder of the global Laughter Yoga movement, but was shifted to the first Sunday of May every year.

Though this form of fitness is very popular in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, its growth is rather slow in Chennai. That doesn’t pose a problem for the few Laughter Yoga  practitioners, who have formed groups that meet in places like Ambattur, Marina beach, Besant Nagar, Avadi and so on. Seeing a bunch of grinning people of varying ages, laughing about nothing in particular, has a way of drawing curious onlookers.

The ‘Ambattur Sirippu Arangam’, conducted by Sampath Subramanian, is a common sight and has between 15-20 to even 100 people joining in the hearty activity. “We don’t collect any membership and all are welcome to join. On an average, there are 50-60 people participating,” says Sampath, President of the club. Today, they are having a session on laughter in Avadi, near the Arivu Thirukoil temple. Having learnt from Kataria himself, Sampath says awareness about laughter yoga is growing steadily. “It’s definitely changing. I have been called to schools, corporates, orphanages and even prisons for sessions! So far, I have completed 2345 programmes since 2010,” he says.

Manohar Bokadia, founder of the Chennai Laughter Club international conducts regular sessions in Marina beach, starting at 5.30 am. “The health benefits are enormous — it helps beat depression and stress, weight-loss, brings happiness to people too! Of course, there are youngsters who sometimes find laughing for no reason embarrassing. But we have started dancing laughter. Essentially, we can attach any activity to laughter!” he says.

Even though jokes aren’t a necessity, they do help — comedian and laughter yoga instructor Papa CJ likes to mix a little humour with the activity. “I’ve always believed that you should let your smile change the world. Laughter is what helps us get through the hard times in life and enjoy the good times even more.

Sustained laughter is proven to have multiple health benefits and when done with other people it binds them together. So on World Laughter Day today, laugh, and keep it going for the rest of your life,” he concludes.