World Laughter Day - 2014.

World Laughter Day 2014 was celebrated yesterday, 4th May. World Laughter Day is being celebrated on the first Sunday of May, every year. However the first celebration was on 11th January 1998, in Mumbai, and was organised by the founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement, Dr. Madan Kataria.

Laughter Yoga says: Laughter is a positive and powerful emotion that has all the ingredients required for individuals to master themselves and to change the world in a tubular way. The day is now celebrated worldwide. The celebration of World Laughter Day is meant to be a positive manifestation for world peace and to build up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. Its popularity has grown exponentially with that of the Laughter Yoga movement, which is now counting over 6000 Laughter Clubs worldwide, in all five continents.

It is being said that "laughter" is physical in nature, and does not necessarily involve humour or comedy. Laughter is easily stimulated in a group when combined with eye contact, childlike playfulness and laughter exercises. Fake laughter quickly becomes real. Laughter Yoga brings more oxygen to the body and brain by incorporating yogic breathing which results in deep diaphragmatic breathing. Laughter Yoga is based on the concept that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter - physiologically and psychologically the benefits are identical.

This blog post is in appreciation of this world event and the attached photographs… full of smiles; are some I could easily and quickly pick up and post, to amuse you and spread smiles and the importance of laughter, natural or even artificial!