Laughter Yoga which initially started as a social club movement has now entered the business world, where it provides companies and organizations with powerful operational benefits.

Companies around the world are starting to introduce Laughter Yoga and employers find that it can have a profound influence on their business even making their company more profitable. By introducing laughter sessions for all staff, companies have reported a happier workplace.  Other benefits companies have experienced are: increased efficiency; better communication; increased sales and productivity; increased creativity;  better teamwork; decreased illness and absenteeism and a reduction in employee turnover.

How Laughter Yoga Helps Improve Business and Performance:

Workplace Stress

While there are many tools available for stress management, Laughter Yoga is a unique system that helps to reduce physical, mental and emotional stress at the same time. It works simultaneously both on body and mind. A research conducted in December 2006, on 50 IT professionals in Bangalore, India, found a significant reduction in stress levels as shown by reduction in cortisol levels in saliva.

Improved Efficiency

At any given time, the performance of an employee depends upon their mood.  Laughter Yoga has the capacity to change the mood state within minutes as the process of laughing releases neuro-peptides (endorphins) from the brain cells. Science tells us that the brain needs 25% more oxygen than other body organs. Laughter Yoga increases the net supply of oxygen which helps in optimal performance and boosts energy levels.

Team Building

“People who laugh together, work together”

John Cleese, a renowned British comedian, once said during his visit to Mumbai that Laughter is a great connector of people. It breaks all hierarchies and is a force for democracy. Laughter Yoga has the ability to change the work environment drastically by making people happy and cheerful, creating a positive mental attitude, hope and optimism in the workforce. It also increases communication skills essential for team building.

Leadership skills

A good leader is the one who has the ability to effectively get in touch with his/her emotions and be sensitive to the emotions of others. Laughter Yoga helps all participants to connect with colleagues in the workplace and helps bring emotional balance to work groups. This is particularly helpful in achieving targets and accomplishing goals.

Innovation and Creativity

The most creative people in the world are children. The essence of the Laughter Yoga system is to cultivate childlike playfulness. This playfulness stimulates  right brain activity which is the seat of creativity. This helps to generate new ideas and insights about workplace issues and challenges.

Increasing Attention Span in HR Trainings

The human brain can only concentrate for up to 90 minutes after which time the attention span reduces. Even a 5-10 minute Laughter Yoga session can provide a great energy boost during long HR training sessions and conferences. This in turn will help increase the attention span, thereby enhancing learning skills and concentration.

Positive Work Environment

Job dissatisfaction and hostile work environments compel people to change jobs more frequently thus affecting productivity and profitability. Laughter Yoga creates positive energy and improves communication between people. The Bangalore study also confirmed an increase in positive emotions and decrease in negative emotions, thereby assisting the development of emotional intelligence. This helps to create a more constructive work environment and ensures loyalty and commitment.

Motivation and communication

For people working in the front office, sales and marketing, Laughter Yoga evokes spontaneous smiling and an overall sense of  feeling good about oneself. This enhances communication and motivation, creating an environment which can lead to increased customer satisfaction and a larger client base.

Health Benefits

The basic objective of every human being is to enjoy life, live in harmony with family and have lots of friends to connect with. But, one cannot enjoy life if one is sick. Laughter Yoga is a single exercise routine which brings physical, mental and social well being in the shortest period of time. People can feel the benefits from the very first session.

Ideal Exercise for Busy People

Dr. Kataria says that in his 30 years of experience in medicine, the two most common causes of ill health are wrong food habits and lack of exercise which leads to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and many stress related illnesses.

Business people are very busy and often have little time to exercise. Dr. Williams Fry of Stanford University proved that 10 minutes of hearty laughter is equal to 30 minutes on the rowing machine. This is not in term of muscular movements but with respect to cardio pulmonary endurance. The purpose of all aerobic exercise is to stimulate heart rate, increasing blood circulation which increases available oxygen and speeds up the removal of waste products. If you do laughter exercises for 10 minutes you don’t have to run for 30 minutes you will get the same benefits.