I was at a wellness festival last weekend and noticed a group of perfectly reasonable adults laughing their heads off. I mean, they were obnoxiously loud.

Then I noticed the Indian man in the saffron robe leading them in their ridiculous guffaws. It was laughter yoga. Soon laughter and smiles spread to the bystanders. How nice to find something contagious that’s actually good for you, too!

Although laughter yoga may seem ridiculous, that’s kind of the point. In a typical session you might begin with a simple “ha ha ha” for two minutes straight. Even if nothing seems funny, you just do it anyway. Fake it and trust your body to do the rest. All the extra oxygen and abdominal movements trick your body in the best medicine. Laughter reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and lifts your mood. Plus, embracing some ridiculousness and not taking things too seriously is a gift in itself. So why not get together in a group and make it happen?

Image: Will Foster