HOUSTON—There is just something about a good laugh. 

Some politicians start speeches with a good joke, and some priests even lead mass with good humor. And while people have laughed for ages, it was not until 1995 that something called Laughter Yoga started spreading around the world. 

Dr. Madan Kataria from India came up with the idea. 

There are no ‘yoga’ positions used, but the laughter exercises are designed to connect the body, mind and spirit.

Today there are ‘Laughter Yoga’ classes all over the world.  Sessions are held in community centers, nursing homes, hospitals and private homes.  The idea is that laughing is an “internal jog” that releases endorphins and positive energy.

Dr. Joan Bull of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center Cancer Center says that Laughter Yoga—and laughing in general—are very healthy.

In fact, some places around the country use laughter as a form of therapy. Here in Houston, Chaplains Christiana Liem and Stephen Findley of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center are both certified Laughter Yoga leaders.

There is a plethora of information about Laughter Yoga on the Web.  Many experts believe laughter reduces at least four hormones associated with stress.

And some say humor allows a person to temporarily “forget” about aches and pains from disability, injury or surgery.

For more about Laughter Yoga and where you can find a class in Houston head to Rosa’s In Your Neighborhood blog!