A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being invited to lead a laughter therapy yoga workshop for carers in Mansfield,Nottinghamshire. This was for The Carers Federation ltd:
The Carers Federation, a company limited by guarantee, was established in 1992 as a small local charity and has grown steadily to become an organisation which works throughout England.
They currently run two fantastic carer services; Carers Hub Service in Nottingham/Nottinghamshire and Caregivers Connected Gateshead, an Independent Advocacy Service in the North East, and a range of specialist in-person and online training in social care and advocacy. There Quality Standard in Carer Support has been developed in consultation with carers to help organisations raise awareness, develop appropriate policies and procedures, remove some of the barriers for carers and improve access to support. So they do a great job supporting vulnerable carers in tough conditions which can be stressful. Hence the need for some laughter.
The session was hosted in Mansfield Civic Centre; a large council centre in Mansfield, Nottingham. Interestingly last time I came here was to take part in a play 25 years ago. We used a large meeting room which was ideal; open windows to to let air in and private not to disturb anyone with our laughter cacophony. Its important the room either has ventilation or air conditioning whilst also being private as the sessions can get very jocular and loud. Inhibitions are also eased in a private secluded area. The more space in the room the more mental space is opened up.
There was about 12 participants: a mixture of carers and people with caring needs. Any number is possible; from 2 to 2000! Please contact us to discuss your potential group size as this will need an appropriately sized room. All stood up or sat down with some space to wave arms and laugh is key.
The session was euphoric. We started with some gentle moves and smiles to cheesy 80s pop songs. Then 8 (Laughing John) led all through a sequence of laughter yoga laughs: shy laughter, unsure laughter, belly laughs, dopey laughs, quiet laughs and even silent ones! The session concluded with a sat down laughter meditation (eyes closed and laughing) and deep mindful relaxation. This helped achieve the main aim of the session; stress reduction through laughter and deep yogic breathing as both reduce stress instantly:
Laughter reduces stress immediately by triggering changes that reverse the bodies flight or fight survival response. It functions as a quick, drug-free mechanism that reduces stress hormones, alters brain chemistry, and physically encourages the body to relax.
The Neurochemical Shift
When you laugh, your brain immediately changes its neurotransmitter production to break stress patterns:
Suppresses Cortisol: Laughter directly dampens the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, cutting levels of the primary stress hormone, cortisol, by up to 37% in one session. It also suppresses adrenaline and epinephrine.
Floods Endorphins: It triggers a quick release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals, which promote an immediate sense of well-being and boost your pain tolerance.
Elevates Dopamine and Serotonin: Laughter activates the brain’s reward system, enhancing dopamine and serotonin activity to naturally counter feelings of anxiety and depression.
The Physical “Reset”
Laughter mimics a mini-workout, forcing the body through an intentional drop in tension:
The Organs Stimulant: A robust laugh enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, which stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles, clearing out cognitive brain fog.
The Stress Response Rollercoaster: Laughter initially fires up your heart rate and blood pressure, only to cool them right after. This rapid down-shift triggers your parasympathetic nervous system, bringing a deep wave of relaxation.
Psychological & Social Buffers
Beyond the biological impact, humor changes your mental processing of stress factors:
Cognitive Reframing: Finding humor in a difficult situation provides psychological distance, allowing you to view a stressor as a manageable challenge rather than an stressful threat.
A Cognitive Interrupter: It is neurologically difficult to experience intense anxiety or anger at the exact moment you are laughing; humor effectively distracts your attention span away from negative loops of thought etc
Social Bonding: Shared laughter releases oxytocin, building social support networks that act as a primary long-term buffer against chronic daily stress.
Notably, your brain cannot easily distinguish between spontaneous, natural humor and improvised or simulated laughter—meaning workshops like laughter yoga or intentionally smiling deliver almost identical biochemical stress-relief benefits.
If you would like to explore using this practically, let me (Laughing John) know if you are looking for:
Easy ways to integrate more humor into your daily life
Exercises from laughter yoga to reduce stress
How laughter compares to other stress-relief techniques like mindful meditation or exercise
Many participants reported euphoric and inspiring feedback after. One participant commented ” Already sent 1 review but in case you didn’t receive it thank you so much for your time yesterday and leaving us all with a smile on our faces. I still have one on mine when I think about it, As a group we are usually asked what speakers that we have had that we would like to see again so hopefully we will see you again. Thank you once again for entertaining us and hopefully you will come and give us a repeat performance in the future. Best of luck in the future.
This makes my crazy job so worthwhile ; reaching out to touch and lift people’s spirits. Often mental health is very well hidden underneath our veneer. Laughter can break through the barriers and reach deep inside.