About Laughter Yoga

Laughter Yoga is a unique approach to wellness that harnesses the power of laughter for physical, mental, emotional and social benefits.

Origins

In March 1995, Dr Madan Kataria, a medical doctor from Mumbai, India was writing an article on ‘Laughter – The Best Medicine’ for a health magazine, ‘My Doctor’. In his research he discovered many modern scientific studies that described at great length the many proven benefits of laughter on the human mind and body.

Eager to share his discovery he gathered the regular walkers in the local public park where he used to go for his daily morning walk and tried to convince them about the importance of laughter and to start a Laughter Club. They met for half an hour every morning to share jokes or humorous anecdotes. After ten days the jokes and stories ran out and people were losing interest in attending.

Determined to keep the Laughter Club alive, Dr Kataria furthered his research on humour and laughter, discovering that the body cannot differentiate between whether you are pretending to laugh or you are genuinely laughing. This was a breakthrough and he thought “why not use laughter yoga as an exercise”.

In collaboration with his wife Madhuri who is a yoga teacher they designed Laughter Yoga combining intentional laughter activities with the deep breathing from yoga. They came up with a series of warm up exercises, such as clapping and chanting Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha to loosen inhibitions and to help people laugh more easily. The laughter exercises which were developed included elements of role-play, childlike playfulness and acting out movements in an imaginative way. The principles of the ancient practice of pranayama, or yogic breathing, were included to create a complete workout for health and wellness.

The History of Laugh WA Inc.

Laughter Yoga arrived in Perth in November 2000, when Dr. Madan Kataria and his wife, Madhuri, trained 17 individuals to become Laughter Yoga facilitators. Among them were Grant Stone, Janni Goss, and Kath McKeown, who went on to establish the Perth Laughter Club.

Under Grant’s leadership, the club quickly grew, with regular gatherings attracting 20 to 40 participants. Meetings were initially held fortnightly on Friday evenings and evolved over time. Meanwhile, Janni established Shenton Park and Cottesloe Laughter Clubs, while Kath provided ongoing support to the Perth club.

The Birth of Laugh WA Inc.

As demand for Laughter Yoga workshops and presentations grew, it became clear that a more structured approach was needed. To expand its reach and train more facilitators, the community established Laugh WA Inc. as a not-for-profit organisation. A dedicated committee of seven to eight members led the initiative, organising facilitator trainings, producing brochures and T-shirts, and promoting Laughter Yoga across Western Australia.

Over the years, between 400 and 500 facilitators were trained by Grant and Janni, with the support of the committee. These facilitators brought laughter into businesses, hospitals, schools, aged care homes, and beyond, spreading the benefits of intentional laughter far and wide.

Milestones and Achievements

2012 – Laugh WA hosted Western Australia’s first Laughter Conference, featuring Sebastian Gendry (USA) as the keynote speaker. Dr. Kataria joined via Skype to share his encouragement.

World Laughter Day – Celebrated annually on the first Sunday in May, Laugh WA has held this event in Kings Park every year.

Laughter Clubs Across WA – Many laughter clubs have flourished across Perth and regional areas, including the Bunbury Laughter Club, which has thrived for over 14 years. Deb and Kath ran the Heathridge Laughter Club for a decade.

Global Impact – Kimmy O’Meara introduced Laughter Yoga to Rwanda, where it became a powerful tool for healing in the aftermath of genocide. Supported by Laugh WA and Rotary International, it continues to help communities recover from trauma. Kimmy also supports orphaned children in Rwanda by assisting with their education costs.

The Present and Future of Laugh WA

Like many organisations, Laugh WA faced challenges during COVID-19, but thanks to Jennifer and Penny, Laughter Yoga sessions resumed in Bayswater, revitalising the community. Today, a new, younger, and enthusiastic committee, led by Janet and Lize, is guiding Laugh WA into the future.

As we celebrate 25 years of Laughter Yoga in Perth, our mission remains the same: to bring joy, connection, and wellbeing to people through laughter.

Written by Kath and Janni
March 2025

As a not-for-profit, we rely on the generous support of individuals and organisations to continue our impactful work. Your donations help us:

Train new Laughter Yoga Leaders
Run Community Programs
Bring laughter to those who need it most

Please consider making a donation to support our mission and help us spread laughter and joy to even more people. Thank you for your generosity.

Donate Today

Health Benefits of Laughter Yoga

Laughter, often regarded as the best medicine, has been celebrated across cultures for its ability to bring joy and foster connections. However, beyond the immediate pleasure of a good laugh, there are numerous science-backed health benefits that underscore its importance in our daily lives. Laughter offers a holistic approach to health that is both natural and enjoyable. The various ways laughter positively impacts our physical, mental, and social health demonstrate its profound power in enhancing overall well-being.

Physical Health Benefits

Boosts Immunity: Laughter can increase the production of antibodies and activate immune cells like T-cells, which help in fighting off infections and illnesses.
Reduces Pain: Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, which can help reduce pain and promote an overall sense of well-being.
Improves Heart Health: Laughter enhances blood flow and improves the function of blood vessels, which can help protect against heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems.
Relieves Stress: Laughter lowers the levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, reducing overall stress.
Enhances Oxygen Intake: When you laugh, you take in more oxygen-rich air, which stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles, increasing the oxygen levels in your body.

Mental Health Benefits

Reduces Anxiety and Tension: Laughter can relax the whole body and relieve physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
Elevates Mood: It decreases the production of stress hormones and increases the production of endorphins, leading to improved mood and reduced feelings of anxiety and depression.
Improves Resilience: Laughter can help you build resilience by enabling you to see situations in a more positive light and better cope with difficult circumstances.
Strengthens Relationships: Sharing a laugh with others can strengthen social bonds and improve interpersonal relationships, which is vital for mental well-being.

Social Benefits

Enhances Social Interaction: Laughing with others can improve communication, foster a sense of connection, and increase a sense of community and belonging.
Promotes Group Bonding: Laughter is contagious, and when shared, it binds people together, enhancing group cohesion and camaraderie.

Cognitive Benefits

Enhances Creativity: Laughter and humour can stimulate both sides of the brain, enhancing creative problem-solving and improving overall cognitive function.
Improves Memory: Positive emotions and laughter can improve the retention of information and memory recall, making it easier to learn and remember new things.

Laughter Yoga Featured

The wellbeing benefits of Laughter Yoga were profiled in Have a Go News, with Kimmy O’Meara’s living proof story of the benefits of Laughter Yoga, and how it has helped her health challenges.
See the full article →

Kim O’Meara © Serena Kirby

Book A Laughter Yoga Leader Today!

Enquiries

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Our People

Janet Whitfield

Chairperson

Mobile: 0450 351 473

Email: admin@laughwa.org.au

Vacant

Vice Chairperson

Mobile:

Email:

Lize Prinsloo

Treasurer

Mobile: 0400 213 891

Email: lizeprinsloo69@gmail.com

Rebecca Tuesley

Secretary and Marketing

Mobile: 0429 343 029

Email: happybeck@live.com.au

Jennifer Grose

Belmont Laughter Club Rep

Janet Whitfield

Willetton Laughter Club Rep

Penny Thomas

Perth Laughter Club Rep

Tammie Reid

Bunbury Laughter Club Rep

Lize prinsloo

Online Laughter Club Rep

Anne Stewart

Committee

Carolyn McKee

Committee

Kath McKeown

Committee

Geoffrey Smyth

Committee

Lizzie Smyth

Committee

Contact Laugh WA Inc.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have a question, want to book a session, or are interested in supporting our mission, there are several ways to get in touch.

For Donations and all other general questions, please fill out the contact form and our team will get back to you promptly.

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