Life hasn't always been kind to Trish Baars.
After a failed first marriage, she moved from South Africa to Christchurch in January 2011, to follow a new love she'd met while travelling.
Almost overnight the relationship soured, and she experienced difficulties at work. A month later, a deadly earthquake struck, taking 185 lives.
She was at a "very, very low point" in her life when she was introduced to laughter yoga.
Founded in India by doctor Madan Kataria, laughter yoga is based on the notion that no matter what brought you to it, hearty laughter brings more oxygen into the blood, and lowers your stress.
Now, "lol" or laughter wellness clubs meet worldwide. They're not-for-profit, but ask for a small donation to cover costs.
Baars, 62, was hooked after her first session, saying laughter saved her in Christchurch.
"I was miserable at home.
"I would be in tears in the car on the way there. I would laugh for 45 minutes, we'd go out for coffee afterwards, and then some of us started a midweek club because we couldn't get through a whole week without it."
Now living in the Bay of Plenty, she facilitates laughter wellness sessions in Te Puke and Mount Maunganui.
During a session, she guides the group through child-like exercises that lead to loud laughter.
Physical fitness, activewear, and a yoga mat aren't required (one participant in the Mount is wheelchair-bound). The yoga element comes from deep belly breaths, and techniques like "ho, ho, ha, ha, ha" bringing about forceful (and eventual) real laughter.
Baars says some people are apprehensive about attending a session, thinking it a bit weird.
I attended a session in the name of research, and the initial ridiculousness of it was a tad uncomfortable. However, like fellow participant Eunice Williams told me: "Laughter is contagious."
As we stood in a circle and lifted Olympic weights, milked a cow, shot arrows, gave air kisses in European greetings, and poured ourselves some shots (all imaginary, of course), some of our group were doubled over laughing, clasping their stomachs. Jaws were hurting and Baars sat back on a chair and kicked her legs in hysterics. It was energising and a good way to lose your inhibitions.
Afterwards, it's advised to let the happy hormones creating a "high" subside before driving.
As our warm-down session concludes, a grinning Baars proclaims, "I'm awesome, you're awesome, we're all awesome."
Unfortunately for adults, society has dictated that if you burst out laughing for no apparent reason, people think you're crazy, she says.
"Whereas, if you're having a temper tantrum and losing your cool, they say, 'It's okay, he's just having a bad day,' which is sad.
"Laughter yoga is available 24/7, it's cheaper than therapy, and a darn sight more fun than a spin class."
A better way of living
With fewer opportunities for humour in today's pandemic world, it offers escapism.
Tauranga's Jude Hall studied laughter yoga under Dr Kataria in 2019, having been diagnosed with lymphoma the year prior.
Having undergone successful treatment, she treated herself by completing Australia's 243km Great Ocean Rd, but on her return, caught the flu, and because her immune system was so compromised, she became very sick and unable to do anything. This triggered depression.
Her GP suggested antidepressants, but she refused. "So, I went along to my first laughter yoga session and I loved it. I was on a high, and it lasted for most of the day."
Now, as well as teaching laughter yoga locally, and annually at Wellington meditation retreats, she incorporates it into her everyday life, including in her role as an English second language teacher.
Students love making "laughter milkshakes" - laughing while pantomiming, mixing and drinking a milkshake.
"It's really energising.
"I haven't yet had a student who doesn't like it."
Laughter yoga was introduced to New Zealand in 2006 when psychologist Malcolm Robertson trained under Dr Kataria and started the Ponsonby Laughter Club. There are now 23 clubs around the country.
Current leaders at the Ponsonby club Bob and Gay Harvey say participants come simply because they feel better for it.
"People say things like: 'It sets you up for the week ahead,' or, 'You can let go of the crap that has been happening in your life.' Some come for the social aspect, especially if they live alone. You have fun, you feel better; no downside," says Bob.
"It's one of those things that once you get it, you'll do it whenever the opportunity arises."
Yes, it seems "daft" people are laughing without jokes or reason, but it's "amazingly potent" and by gaining a more cheerful frame of mind, he says you take things like Covid-19 less personally and can feel on top of a situation.
"Laughter yoga helps you keep your spirits high."
What to expect
Sessions begin with clapping in rhythm to get the energy going; creative exercises like you'd do in theatre sports; interspersed with diaphragmatic breathing, and all of this naturally triggers the physical responses in the body.
You get a change in the uptake of circulating endorphins and, over time, it's understood that laughter can decrease the body's production of cortisol, a hormone released by the adrenal glands into the bloodstream at times of stress.
It also makes the lungs work harder, forcing stale air out, and allowing fresh air deeper into the lungs.
Teacher Andria Goodliffe says you're not going to be put on a chair and strapped to it until you laugh.
"It's a natural progression."
She's been certified in laughter yoga since 2010, having first tried it in the UK in the 1990s.
Having worked in mental health, she believes it can help get something out of your system.
"It's not going to fix a broken leg, it's not going to fix the fact your partner died, but it can let a little light in. Just a tiny little slither of light, and sometimes that is enough for people to see that small step that they can take towards making progress in their own mental health and depression."
And, not just officially diagnosed mental health issues, but what "Joe Bloggs" experiences.
"He's not outrageously happy, he's not outrageously depressed. He's not sinking into a vortex ... He's just sort of bumbling along, and it's winter, and it's cold, and it's dark. And he might as well just go along to this weird thing that he saw published in the paper and give it a go.
"If you identify yourself as not feeling your normal self, laughter yoga gives you an opening, a little step into finding your own happiness again."
And Baars says it's better experienced than explained.
"For some people, it stays out of their comfort zone. For others, they feel uncomfortable to start with, but the more you do it, and particularly, the more you laugh with the same group of people, the easier it becomes."
The body cannot differentiate between real laughter and fake laughter and you can "fake it till you make it".
"If you're going through a really bad patch and laughter really isn't what you feel like doing, carry on with it. Laugh - your body will think you are happy, and it will increase the production of hormones like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins, which will help you to actually feel happy.
"If you lose your sense of humour, you've lost everything.
"If you can laugh your way through anything, it actually helps you. And it's funny to see a person laughing when they are actually in a stressful situation, but it's the best thing that they can do."
What are the benefits?
• Increases levels of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.
• Suppresses the production of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
• Increases circulation and boosts the immune system.
• Cleans out the respiratory system and floods your body with oxygen.
• Aerobic exercise - it's a physical workout as well.
• Helps you to feel more positive, creative, and less anxious.
Where to attend a laughter yoga class
Trish Baars runs sessions on Thursdays in the gymnasium at Te Puke Baptist Church, 10.30am, and Saturdays with Jude Hall at Arataki Community Centre, 11am. Entry by donation. Andria Goodliffe has run Tauranga workshops but they're on hold while she searches for a new venue. If you're outside the area, you can take a virtual class on YouTube - there are plenty to choose from.
