There is a lot more to laughter yoga than just erupting into a fit of giggles. The stress-relieving trend combines full-belly laughing with deep yogic breathing and practitioners continue to praise its health boasting benefits. It was founded in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician from Mumbai, India after he began testing the impact of using laughter as a way to help aid his patients healing. Since then, clubs like the one started by David Kelm in Oak Park are popping up throughout the country. Kelms club, which is free and open to new participants, meets once a month for 45 minutes at Mills Park Tower. Anywhere from 10 to 40 people attend the session and previous experience is not necessary. The yoga aspect comes from the breathing, so there are no tricky poses or contortions. The exercises are simple and include movements like rhythmic clapping and shaking hands with the other participants, all while laughing. The session ends with a meditation where participants close their eyes and let their laughter bubble up until the room is filled with joy. Sometimes people feel a little silly but they really quickly realize the intention is to just have fun, said Kelm who received his laugher yoga teaching certificate in 2006 after completing a training course in California. He also gives laughter yoga workshops around the Chicago area. Participants dont rely on humor to make them laugh. Humor can be derogatory and involves thinking to get the joke. The idea is to let go of the right brain activity and just experience the playfulness, Kelm said. Your body doesnt know the difference between intentional laughter and humor-based laughter, Kelm said We are attempting to recreate a childlike sense of joy and humor. For something so seemingly simple, the health benefits are significant according to Kelm. Ten minutes of continuous laughter is said to be equivalent to a 30 minute workout, he said. When you laugh you send more positive and healing hormones in the body. The group has been meeting for two years. For some members like Oak Park resident John Reeves, curiosity made him try it, but the results, keep him coming back. Instead of getting upset, I choose to laugh, Reeves said. The group meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of every month at Mills Park Tower, 1025 Pleasant Place, Oak Park. For more information, contact Kelm at David1945@aol.com.