Aaron Covey, CLYL

I have been a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader since May of 2015, and have been practicing since June 2014. My style of teaching is very playful and taps into the childlike side of us through a series of Laughter exercises meant to cast off the inhibitions of the room and increase the blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain of each and every person in the class.

I welcome you to explore Laughter Yoga through the information below and perhaps join me in one of my public classes, listed on the calendar page. All ages and abilities are welcome!

What is Laughter Yoga?

Laughter Yoga is a fantastic way of keeping fit and healthy while having fun. It all started in a park in Mumbai in 1995 with just 5 participants, and now there are over 10,000 laughter clubs in 73 different countries – just showing the need to laugh around the world. Laughter Yoga is based on the principal that your body doesn't know the difference between fake and genuine laughter. As long as you are willing to laugh you will get the same psychological and physiological benefits of laughter. It is a combination of deep yogic breathing and playful laughter exercises. It is usually practiced in groups where you can make eye contact and connect with your sense of childlike fun. Laughter Yoga celebrated 20 years in 2015 and tens of thousands of individuals have benefited from this practice.  Laughter Yoga is now widely accepted by the medical and scientific world and large organizations are using Laughter Yoga to enhance the well-being of their staff. The first Sunday in May is WORLD LAUGHTER DAY when Laughter Yoga is celebrated around the world for Peace, Health and Happiness.

Laughter Yoga FAQ

I already laugh a lot. Why do I need Laughter Yoga?

The spontaneous laughter that comes throughout the day comes for a few seconds here and there. If you add it up, it is only 5-6 minutes in 24 hours. That isn’t enough to bring physiological and biochemical changes for health benefits.

Moreover, laughter that comes by using humor is not always positive. It can involve sarcasm, ridicule and at times it can be considered vulgar and offensive. Humor is based on individualism and different cultural traits and there is no guarantee how much we can laugh.

In contrast, laughter in Laughter Yoga is unconditional and we laugh with other people for the pure joy of it. In order to get scientifically proven benefits of laughter, one needs to laugh for at least 15 to 20 minutes with breaks of relaxation in between. That is only possible by doing laughter as an exercise.


These exercises are silly and ridiculous and I feel embarrassed…

The very concept of Laughter Yoga is based on cultivating your childlike playfulness. Physical playfulness leads to playful mental attitude, and one can laugh much more easily while doing laughter exercises.

As grown-ups we usually don’t indulge in childlike play. We stay sober and become more serious. Therefore, initially, you may feel awkward doing these exercises and may find them silly, but if and when you can get over your inhibition and shyness you will experience joy and relaxation from within. Laughter Yoga exercises are done in a group with like-minded people who believe in being joyful and playful. Within a supportive Laughter group, you will feel very safe and welcome.


My life is full of problems and terrible things have happened to me. I am not happy; so how can I laugh?

If you are unhappy, there is no point in punishing yourself forever and staying unhappy. How you feel is always a personal choice - you CAN change it. Laughter Yoga exercises can change your feelings and mood state within minutes.

You can laugh in a Laughter Club even if you are not happy and going through problems. Laughter Yoga is not about happiness, it is all about creating joy within you with some laughing and breathing exercises.

Happiness is a conditional response and depends upon fulfillment of desires and some external conditions, while joyfulness is the unconditional commitment to be happy from within.

When we approach laughter as a physical exercise, it brings physiological and biochemical changes due to release certain hormones that makes you feel good. Once you feel good within, your state of mind will change which will further change the perception of the outer world. You will see your problems differently.


How can I laugh when I’m sad or just not in a Good Mood?

You don't have to depend upon your mood to do something. You can change your mood at will. This can be explained by “Theory of Motion Creates Emotion”.  Observe sad and depressed people – they walk and talk slowly and their body movements are slower. This means that whatever happens to your mind happens to your body – your mind and body are connected. Very few people are aware that there is this two-way link between the body and the mind. 

Consider this: If you are experiencing sadness in the mind, try to keep your body active by doing some exercises or engage yourself in some physical work. Soon you will experience change in the state of mind.