JOHOR BAHRU: In a world weighed down by stress, depression, and disconnection, one man found an extraordinary solution: laughter.

Dr. Madan Kataria, a Mumbai-based medical doctor, is the unlikely founder of the global Laughter Yoga movement — a wellness practice that blends unconditional laughter with yogic breathing and playful exercises.

What began as a simple idea in a park with five people in 1995 has since blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon practiced in more than 120 countries.

He was speaking to ApaKhabartv.com at the sidelines of 2nd Malaysia Laughter Yoga Conference held at New York Hotel from July 25- 27. Some 150 participants from 21 countries are currently attending the conference.

Present for the event were Koh Mui Cheng, president of Johor Bahru Happy and Joyous Club, Lee-Jean Fung, Founder of Johor Bahru Happy and Joyous Club, executive committee members of the club and the organizing team.

Dr. Kataria’s journey began not with a punchline, but with a purpose. “I was writing an article called Laughter — The Best Medicine,” he recalls.

“I came across scientific studies that confirmed laughter reduces stress, boosts immunity, and improves mental wellbeing.”
Intrigued, he decided to test laughter as a daily practice, gathering a handful of strangers in a Mumbai park.

They started with jokes, but when the humour ran dry — and some stories turned offensive — he stumbled upon a game-changing realization:

“The body doesn’t know the difference between real and fake laughter.” Even simulated laughter, when practiced regularly, had powerful effects. “That’s when Laughter Yoga was born,” he says — an exercise regime requiring no comedy, only a willingness to laugh.

It all started on March 13, 1995. Kataria, walking with his wife Madhuri, spontaneously shared his vision of a “laughter club.” That morning, five morning walkers agreed to laugh with him — just for health.

Within minutes, their faces lit up. “One elderly man told me, ‘Doctor, I haven’t felt this good in years.’” It was a moment of validation — the idea that laughter could be not just a response to joy, but a generator of it.

Initially, the idea faced resistance. “Many medical colleagues thought I’d lost it,” Kataria admits.

“A doctor promoting laughter seemed absurd.” But Madhuri, a yoga teacher, became his first supporter and co-architect of the movement.

As people began reporting real benefits — better sleep, lower anxiety, improved pain tolerance — scepticism gave way to scientific curiosity.

Over time, research confirmed what Kataria witnessed firsthand: laughter changes brain chemistry, reduces stress hormones, and triggers the body’s natural painkillers.

“Most people only laugh when something is funny,” Kataria explains. “But life isn’t always funny.”

That’s why Laughter Yoga emphasizes unconditional laughter — laughing on purpose, without jokes.

“It creates emotional independence. You’re not waiting to feel happy — you use laughter to become happy.”

The physiological effects are measurable: endorphins rise, cortisol drops, muscles relax, and the mind enters a calmer, more resilient state. “It activates the parasympathetic nervous system — what we call ‘rest and digest’ mode,” says Kataria.

Why has Laughter Yoga spread so far, from Tokyo to Toronto? According to Kataria, “Laughter is a universal language. It bypasses culture, politics, and beliefs.

You don’t need to understand a single word to laugh with someone.” It’s also accessible — no athletic ability, yoga experience, or sense of humour required.

He recounts one particularly moving story of a woman in the U.S. battling clinical depression. “She said she couldn’t even smile at first. But after weeks of pretending to laugh, something shifted. Eventually, she laughed for real — and wrote to me saying, ‘Laughter Yoga gave me back my life.’”

Of course, promoting laughter as a wellness therapy hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Cultural norms, especially in more reserved societies, sometimes made public laughter seem inappropriate.

“In some places, women were hesitant to laugh openly. We had to build trust and create safe, inclusive spaces.”

In the professional world, convincing workplaces and healthcare systems took time. “We needed solid science to back it up. But now, even hospitals and corporations are integrating Laughter Yoga into wellness programs.”

Kataria encourages people with stressful routines to start small: “Just five minutes of laughter in the morning can change your whole day. Take ‘laughter breaks’ like coffee breaks. Practice silent laughter in public. Join a Laughter Club. Bring it into your workplace.”

And for those who say they don’t feel like laughing? “Don’t wait to feel good — laugh to feel good. The body responds even if the laughter is fake. It becomes real, and so does the happiness.”

Now 30 years into his mission, Dr. Kataria’s dream is even bolder: “I want Laughter Yoga in every school, hospital, and workplace. I want it recognized by science and embraced by society — not just for health, but for harmony.”

He sees laughter as a peace movement. Not mincing his words, he said, “When people laugh together, all barriers disappear. Laughter creates connection, trust, and compassion — and that’s what the world needs most right now.”

As Dr. Kataria puts it: “When you laugh, you change. And when you change, the world changes.”

In a time when mental health crises and chronic stress are on the rise, Dr. Madan Kataria’s prescription — one that costs nothing, requires no equipment, and can be practiced anywhere — may just be the medicine the world has been waiting for.

Those wanting to know more of Laughter Yoga , may visit this website: http://www.laughteryoga.org/ or may join the free international laughter club at: https://www.laughteryoga.org/zoom-laughter-club/