On World Laughter Day, a Jalvayu club shows how to let loose

The Jalvayu Laughter Club, on Saturday began celebrations for the World Laughter Day at a park in Noida’s Sector 21.

The Day, an annual event, is observed on the first Sunday of May every year.

The celebration, a week-long affair, begins a few days before the Day at various places. Besides health benefits of laughing, it provides social connectivity and bonding between members.

The Club was started in 2014, taking inspiration from the TV show Satyameva Jayate. Dr Madan Kataria, the founder of laughter yoga, had shared how laughter yoga can help in being healthy and managing stress in an easy and simple way.

The club had been formed by around 20 residents of Jalvavu Vihar.

The strength of the club is now around 140. In the mornings, around 60 to 70 members meet at the Jalvayu Vihar Community Centre and perform laughter yoga for 30 minutes on a daily basis.

“I had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for over a decade. I joined the laughter club in May last year. Now, after a year, there is tremendous improvement in my lifestyle which has impacted not only my physical state but also my thoughts in a positive manner,” Usha Kakar, a 65-year-old member of the club, said.

“Natural, pure laughter has the ability to easily unite the body, mind and soul, bringing to the fore the abundant energy, wisdom and tranquility inherent in all of us,” Commodore (retd) Ashok Sawhney, ambassador and founder of the club, said.

“Laughing helps me escape negativity. This is the best medicine for depression. Laughter leads us to happiness. It also helps us heal faster,” Commander (Retd) Narinder Mahajan, the media coordinator of the Club, said.

Dr Santosh Sahi, founder of the Delhi Academy of Yoga and Dr Umesh Sahgal, president of the Gurgaon Laughterians Club, on Saturday, taught the members simple laughter lessons.

Besides the laughter session, the members also sang Bollywood songs.

“Music too has a healing property and can decrease depression. A combination of music and laughter is very helpful in living a healthy lifestyle and coping with depression,” Dr AK Aggarwal, former president, Indian Medical Association, Noida, said.