[…] Dr. Charles Schaefer, of Fairleigh Dickinson University, said he’s not surprised that laughing yoga has caught on. He studied similar laughter and found that people who laughed heartily, for no reason and for just one minute, had a significant increase in mood. “I don’t think the body cares what the stimulus is, as long as you do that with hearty laughter,” Dr. Schaefer said.

“This is more than fun and games”

People who take the class said it makes them feel seriously great.

“I walk in stressed, and I leave walking on air,” student Beverly Schutzman said.

“It keeps my spirits up, everything from my work to life,” Rob Marchesani said.

Studies have shown that laughter can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, reduce pain, improve breathing, and relax muscles. Prakash said yoga laughter can do the same.

“It’s very serious stuff. We’re not comics, we’re not standup types, we’re not jokers – we’re healers,” Prakash said. “This is more than fun and games.”

Read the full article at newyork.cbslocal.com