Laughter Yoga was developed in Mumbai, India in 1995 by a medical physician, Dr Madan Kataria.

It was created using the philosophy of intentional laughter or simply laughing for no reason.

This is an unusual concept as it relies on us invoking the laughter from within rather than responding to an external stimulus such as hearing a joke or seeing something funny.

The purpose behind this approach is based on studies which have shown that our brain cannot distinguish the difference between simulated laughter and spontaneous laughter so we reap all the health benefits anyway.

The two most common effects are a reduction in cortisol levels which relieves stress and an increase in happy hormones (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins) which boosts our mood.

Regular attendance at a Laughter Yoga club develops this habit of laughing for no reason and the process becomes more comfortable over time.

Initially the laughter feels awkward and acted out, however when practiced in a group of people, the laughter, which is contagious, becomes more organic and genuine.

In India, Laughter Clubs meet daily, providing a regular opportunity to engage with others in laughter.

In Western culture, it is more common to meet on a weekly basis, therefore solitary practice of laughter is encouraged to maintain healthy wellbeing.

This poses the question: “How do you laugh alone?”

Here are my top 5 favourite ways to laugh with yourself:

You’ve probably taken a “selfie” using your mobile phone camera.

A “LaughIE” is a video recording of yourself laughing for 1 minute.

It stands for Laugh Intentionally Everyday so you record a new video each morning to start your day in a positive way then you can play it back to yourself anytime you need a pick-me-up during the day!

You can either laugh while idling at the traffic lights waiting for the lights to change from red to green or you can laugh while the car is in motion.

The other motorists will just think you are laughing to a joke on the radio or having an awesome conversation on your hands-free mobile.

If you’re accustomed to singing in the shower, why not try laughing in the shower?

As you shampoo your hair or lather the soap on your skin, let out a giggle or a good belly laugh.

Just remember to inhale away from the stream of water between laughs!

We all make mistakes so rather than berating ourselves we can look upon these moments as opportunities to laugh at ourselves.

It builds resilience and models to others a healthy way to cope with life’s challenges.

The way you spend the first hour of your day determines the quality of the next 23 hours so start your day with some laughter – in bed, in front of the mirror or while you wait for the kettle to boil for your morning cuppa.