“Aloooha-ha-ha!” my instructor bellows, laughing before finishing the Hawaiian greeting. The other students and I follow his lead, laughing with him and at our own silliness in the Balboa Park sunshine. Not your typical medical treatment, cardio exercise or social gathering, the Laughter Yoga class I crashed one morning swept all my stress away.

Get a healthy kick out of laughter yoga.

_{Photo by Julianne Amstutz}

In a Laughter Yoga class, an instructor leads a group through simple laughter exercises, causing the students to laugh for an hour-long session. The idea is that forced laughter leads to genuine laughter because, scientifically, the body cannot distinguish between the two. In the end, the combined laughter of the group escalates to a contagious laughing cycle.

Cathy Rader, a citizen of San Diego, has practiced laughter yoga for three years, enjoying the freedom and mood boost of the classes. “I feel energized and relaxed at the same time,” she says. “I feel comfortable. And I like the variety of people that you get to know. You get a cross section of people in the San Diego community that come.”

The practice of Laughter Yoga began in India in 1995, and has since become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 6,000 groups in about 60 countries.

In San Diego there are several free weekly groups at different locations. One instructor calls herself “Dr. Funshine.”

Michael Coleman, my intructor, says his favorite part about the class is watching a transformation in new students. “At first they are more critical, but then there’s a shift.”

According to the American School of Laughter Yoga’s Web site, laughter has myriad health benefits. With laughter, blood pressure drops, circulation improves, depression lifts, endorphin levels rise, immune, lymphatic, digestive and sexual systems improve, and self-confidence, communication skills and creativity increase. The site also claims that “stress levels reduce by 75 percent or more and we become more stress resistant.” Plus, laughter stimulates the brain’s use of dopamine, making laughter pleasurably addictive.

With so many health benefits, laughter appears to be the best medicine. Coleman says, “By the end of the class, I always feel great.”

San Diego celebrates the 12th annual World Laughter Day on May 2.

To Schedule a Laughter Group in San Diego County contact Coleman at 619-255-4622 or Michael@LaughingInSanDiego.com; or visit his Web site.

CLASSES

Saturdays

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. (Balboa Park) Free

In the grassy area south of the playground at Sixth Avenue & Spruce Street

Michael: 619-255-4622 or Michael@LaughingInSanDiego.com

Louis: 858-722-3119 or ljrhci@san.rr.com

Sundays

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. (Mission Bay) Free

Mission Bay Park (off I-5 & Clairemont Drive exit, on the grass just south of the Visitor's Center)

Dr. Funshine: 858-490-6288 or www.DrFunshine.com

Tuesdays

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (Banker's Hill) - SITTING CLASS Free

St. Paul's Manor, 2635 Second Avenue (between Maple & Nutmeg)

Michael: 619-255-4622 or Michael@LaughingInSanDiego.com

2 to 3 p.m. (Clairemont) - SITTING CLASS Free

EVERY 3RD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

LiveWell San Diego (Clairemont) 4225 Bannock Avenue, San Diego

Dr. Funshine: 858-490-6288 or www.DrFunshine.com

(NEW CLASS)

7 to 8:15 p.m. (Chula Vista) Free

Green Hills School, 2400 Fenton Street

Karen: 619-250-2080 or krosen77@aol.com

7:00 to 7:45 p.m. (SDSU/College Grove Area) Free

Oak Park Library, 2802 54th Street

Kristen: 619-582-1892 or kristensmith64@yahoo.com

Thursdays

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (SDSU Area) - SITTING CLASS Free

College Avenue Senior Center (Everyone Welcome)

4855 College Avenue (parking lot is off Mesita Drive)

Michael: 619-255-4622 or Michael@LaughingInSanDiego.com

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Carlsbad) - SITTING CLASS Free

Carlsbad Senior Center (Everyone Welcome), 799 Pine Avenue, Carlsbad

Gaga: 760-889-6114 or gaga@laughteryogausa.com

(NEW CLASS STARTING APRIL 15)

3 to 4 p.m. (El Cajon) Free

El Cajon Library, 201 E. Douglas

Marianne: 619-261-2327 or marianne.avon@gmail.com

Fridays

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (Balboa Park) Free

In the grassy area across the street and west of the Organ Pavilion.

Michael: 619-255-4622 or Michael@LaughingInSanDiego.com

4 to 5 p.m. (Serra Mesa) Free

EVERY 2ND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Serra Mesa/Kearny Library, 9005 Aero Drive, San Diego

Dr. Funshine: 858-490-6288 or www.DrFunshine.com