Laughter - The Universal Language

Would you join a club whose soul purpose was to gather together for a few minutes each day to laugh? It made me giggle to think about it and when I stopped, I realized something important . I alway feel so wonderful after a good laugh.

I've been told that I laugh too loud but I don't care anymore. It's a hearty belly laugh and I'm proud of it. Apparently, the members of laughter clubs all over the world feel the same way about their thundering gufaws.

This past Sunday was World Laughter Day. Groups gathered in cities all over the globe to laugh together. Some organized elaborate events and other groups simply met in a park and laughed for half an hour.

This phenomenon began in 1998 in India with the efforts of Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement. Dr. Kataria's philosophy - laughter is a positive and powerful emotion that has all the ingredients required for individuals to change themselves and to change the world in a peaceful and positive way. He feels that laughter is truly the universal language. Laughing together helps us build bridges between cultures, religions, and racial groups. It unites us all in a positive, happy activity. Dr. Kataria goes as far to say that he thinks practicing Laugther Yoga can bring about world peace.

Even Celebrity Fit Club on VH1 got one of its most serious participants into the act by taking her to a Laughing Yoga Class. Tempest Bledsoe looked happy, smiled from ear to ear, and had only good things to say about the class when she was finished.

It's just a thought but I wonder what would happen if we asked our lawmakers and the president to go to a laughter club meeting before they sat down to discuss important world issues.
Maybe there would be fewer filibusters and vetos and more progress toward solutions.

Maybe we should have laughter sessions before every stressful meeting with the school principle, PTA petition signing drive, marriage counseling session, or company board meeting.

"But that's only my humble opinion," she said with a sweet giggle.

If you would like to find out more about World Laughter Day and Laughter Clubs in your area (and there are many all over the USA) go to www.laughteryoga.org.