Laughter is often known as the best medicine, known to cure many ills.
Victor Hugo once said, "laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."
Then there's laughter yoga.
"It's a blend of deep breathing, simple movements and laughter," said laughter yoga instructor Goji Leakey. "A lot of people have reservations about it because it's yoga, but it's not really about yoga. It's fake laughter, then it becomes real. I've seen people before who are reserved and aren't playful and afterward, they feel great. It's a complete transformation."
Leakey is organizing a laughter yoga flash mob on Saturday, May 3, 10:30 a.m. at the Farmers' Market on Third Avenue.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy a chuckle, or a giggle or two.
Leakey will guide participants through a series of laughter yoga exercises - greeting laughter, milkshake laughter, fake laughter, and hearty laughter.
Leakey first got hooked on laughter yoga in 2006 and has been leading the laugh-out-loud sessions ever since.
"At the time I was smiling but not laughing much," he said. "My friend Joerg Helms started up laughter yoga. It works when a group of people who take part and they love it. They're making an effort and a choice that will benefit them."
For Leakey, it's all about people finding their joy.
"Everybody needs to support their joy," he said. "Even if it's just taking a deep breathe in with laughter or letting it out with giggling. It's simple. It's simple to support your joy."
Laughter yoga was developed by Dr. Madan Kataria, a medical doctor in India and it's since spread to 72 countries.
Benefits include improved moods that come along with more laughter. It helps beat stress and strengthens the immune system. It also helps people connect with others.
