I’m still up in Whistler and yesterday I randomly ended up taking a Laughter Yoga class in the afternoon. I had no idea what to expect, and indeed it was not what I thought it would be like.

Positive Psychology is a recent branch of psychology that “studies the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.” (Compton, William C, 2005) It was founded by Dr. Martin Seligman in 1999.

If you check out the video, you’ll get a little synopsis at the world of laughter yoga, but the principles of Laughter Yoga really go back to many eastern philosophies & practices, such as confucianism, taoism, buddhism, shintoism, feng shui, and yoga practices.

Everyone is on the quest for happiness, but happiness is very difficult to define. Is it material? Is it love? Is it a career? Laughter Yoga, as well as all of these eastern practices help you to achieve happiness through spiritual enlightenment. Laughter Yoga can help the Western world see and learn from what the eastern world has known and practiced all along. In terms of happiness, the Eastern world is very spiritual and they have clearly defined lifelong practices leading to happiness, whereas the Western World is in a vague, pleasure oriented state associated with prosperity and luck.

Laughter Yoga on CNN