Laughter Yoga Is A Real Thing In Iran, And It Looks Hilarious

[New]

Laughter Yoga Is A Real Thing In Iran, And It Looks Hilarious
The Huffington Post | By Amanda Golden
Sometimes laughter really can be the best medicine.

Combining deep breathing exercises with special laughing techniques, laughter yoga is a cheerful take on traditional yoga practice. The concept was developed in 1995 by Indian physician Madan Kataria, nicknamed the Guru of Giggling.

Instructor Mahroo Sameni teaches laughter yoga classes in an unexpected place: Tehran, the capital of Iran. She told the Associated Press that her course aims to help people from various age groups and social background to take a break from their stressful lives. "It's great when we practice laughter technics in natural resorts and reflect back our happiness to the universe," Sameni said.

Take a look at some hilarious pictures from Sameni's class. And who knows, maybe they'll inspire you to try out laughter yoga yourself.

Laughter Yoga instructor Mahroo Sameni, right, leads a class in an outdoor session in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A group of Iranian women take part in an outdoor session of Laughter Yoga in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Laughter Yoga instructor Mahroo Sameni, right, leads a class in an outdoor session in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A group of Iranian women take part in an outdoor session of Laughter Yoga in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

An unidentified Afghan man and an Iranian woman take part in an outdoor session of Laughter Yoga in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian men and women take part in an outdoor session of Laughter Yoga in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

An unidentified Iranian woman participates in an outdoor session of a Laughter Yoga class in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Participants of a Laughter Yoga class gather in a circle in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Laughter Yoga instructor Mahroo Sameni, right, leads a class in an outdoor session in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A group of Iranian women practice an outdoor session of their Laughter Yoga class in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

The first time I saw them I thought they were some stupid dudes escaped from a madhouse, now I see they are doing something real.

 

[rmi5]

Moral police would catch them immediately.

 

[Leader]

 

[New]

Crying Yoga would do me better I guess.

 

[acetophenol]

Its pretty common in Kerala,and its indeed hilarious!

 

[787B]

I lol'd at this thread

 

[OrionHunter]

 

[dravidianhero]

Moral police would catch them immediately.

I saw a Persian movie in which one man does yoga.I think Iran may not be as religious as theymake out in western media.

 

[Tshering22]

I never knew Yoga was there in Iran.

But it is a good exercise to clear the body and mind. People remain positive minded and are more productive in their work.


We had this group of government officers who'd come to a park near my house during my student days in Delhi. Every morning they'd laugh their guts out and have coconut water after their daily therapy session.

They were virtually our morning alarm.

 

[MOHSENAM]

I see people exercise in parks at daybreak and afternoon.Sometimes Yoga as well..

 

[rmi5]

I saw a Persian movie in which one man does yoga.I think Iran may not be as religious as theymake out in western media.

There is nothing wrong with being religious.

 

[iranigirl2]

Urban Iranians definitely need to get out and exercise more.

 

[IndoUS]

Laughter is the best medicine.

 

[New]

I have a question from any expert here (I guess Indians should be expert in the stuff)
Is Yoga something real or it is just a kinda mental suggestion?

 

[Tshering22]

I have a question from any expert here (I guess Indians should be expert in the stuff)
Is Yoga something real or it is just a kinda mental suggestion?

It is very real. Not just laughter but there are hundreds of body postures. They are to increase blood flow, increase flexibility and agility of the body and connect the mind with the body as one.

There is an exercise for example that I do called sheershasana (head exercise). You basically fold your elbow joints across your head area and stand upside down for as long as you can.

This is actually pretty tough for beginners but once learnt it clears your mind so well. You remain positive all day and happy.