Medical Reports: Funny bone

WSVN -- When we think about yoga, we think meditating, relaxing and stretching, but what about laughing?

Karmen Plasencia: "There's not a lot of light heartiness a lot of times in a yoga class. It can be very stiff and this actually kind of breaks the ice for people."

Karmen is a yoga instructor who recently discovered the new technique.

Karmen Plasencia: "This helped to release a lot of stress for me and myself, and so I felt a lot better after the exercises."

And now, she plans on teaching others that laughter is the best medicine. Julie has always done yoga but not like this.

Julie Blankenship: "It's like the name says. Its brought a lot of laughter into my life, a lot of joy into my life."

Jayne says it worked wonders for her.

Jayne Clendening: "In time of crisis, I came out in a very positive frame of mind, which a few years ago through my healing journey would have landed me in the psychiatric ward, and now I can manage."

As you might have guessed, its called laughter yoga.

Dr. Madan Kataria: "Laughter yoga is a new concept where anyone can laugh for no reason at all. We don't need jokes, no comedies or sense of humor."

Doctor Kataria came up with the concept with the help of his wife in India now he's bringing it to the U.S.

Dr. Kataria: "My wife is also a yoga teacher, so we combined laughter exercise with yoga breathing."

Research shows there are plenty of health benefits.

Dr. Kataria: "Laughter unwinds the negative effects of stress and it relaxes your muscles, brings down blood pressure and also it increases your blood circulation."

To get results, you must practice everyday.

Dr. Kataria: "With 10 to 15 minutes of this laughter yoga, it has a profound effect on your immune system."

And that's exactly what Jayne is doing.

Jayne Clendening: "You feel alive, you feel more focused. You have joy in your heart, you've had a good cardiovascular workout."

And Julie says everyone can give it a try.

Julie Blankenship: "It is great for children. It is great for older people. It is great for professionals who are having a lot of stress in their lives."

Diana Diaz: "Laughter yoga can also help people suffering from depression."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Laughter Yoga
www.laughteryoga.org

Synergy Center for Yoga & the healing Arts
www.synergyyoga.org