A guide from Laughter Circle
What is laughter therapy? Meaning, uses and how it differs from laughter yoga.
Laughter therapy is a broad term for activities that intentionally invite laughter, often for enjoyment, connection or wellbeing. What happens in a session varies. The word “therapy” alone does not tell you whether it is healthcare, a facilitated group activity or simply a guided laugh.
A term, not a promise of treatment
You may see “laughter therapy” or “laugh therapy” used for deliberate laughter exercises, humor-based activities or group sessions that mix laughter, breathing and play. Research also uses the term for different laughter-based interventions. It does not describe one identical method everywhere.
A session does not automatically involve a psychologist or a health professional. Equally, research conducted in a healthcare setting should not be confused with a casual activity in a browser. Check who is leading the session, what it includes and what claims are being made.
On this site, Laughter Circle means guided laughter sessions: a recreational experience inspired by laughter yoga and shared laughter. It is not medical therapy, psychological treatment or a substitute for qualified healthcare.
Laughter therapy, laughter yoga or a laughter session?
These terms overlap, but they describe different things. The label matters less than the actual activity and the support available.
- Laughter therapy
- A broad label used for laughter-based activities or interventions. It can include deliberate laughter or humor. Do not infer a clinical service, a standardized protocol or proven treatment from the name alone.
- Laughter yoga
- A particular practice combining intentional laughter exercises with breathing, often clapping, playful movement and group interaction. It does not depend on jokes or conventional yoga poses. Read what laughter yoga is and how it works.
- Guided laughter
- Describes how you take part: a person or digital guide gives prompts and demonstrates laughter. The content may be inspired by laughter yoga, but guidance alone does not make it therapy or a professional service.
- Laughter sessions
- Describes the event or time set aside for the activity. A session might be a short browser experience, a community gathering or a longer facilitator-led workshop. The term does not specify a method or a medical purpose.
What happens during a session?
Many exercise-based sessions start with a gentle warm-up. A guide introduces a playful prompt, demonstrates it and gives people time to follow. Activities may build in energy before ending with quieter breathing. Humor-based sessions may instead use entertaining material; not every format follows the same sequence.
You might start by laughing deliberately rather than because something is funny. It can become spontaneous, or it can remain a playful exercise. Neither response is a test you need to pass. Watching, pausing or declining should always be acceptable.
Duration depends on the format. A short break and a longer group workshop offer different levels of interaction and support; a longer or louder session is not automatically better.
Laughter therapy exercises: simple examples
People searching for laughter therapy exercises often find activities used in laughter yoga. These are examples of playful participation, not a treatment plan.
- 1. Gentle breathing. Take a comfortable breath and let it out softly. Keep it easy rather than deep or forceful; pause if you feel uncomfortable or lightheaded.
- 2. A simple “ha, ha, ha”. Try a few gentle laughter syllables at your own pace. Relax your shoulders and stop before it feels strained.
- 3. Greeting laughter. With a willing partner or group, offer a friendly wave and a short playful laugh. Eye contact is optional; nobody needs to perform.
- 4. The imaginary phone call. Pretend to answer a funny call and add a few giggles. You can remain seated, move gently or simply watch.
- 5. A quiet finish. Let the activity settle and return to normal breathing. Notice how you feel without expecting a particular mood.
For more examples and formats for individuals, pairs and groups, explore our laughter yoga exercises guide. Stop if an activity causes pain, breathlessness or other discomfort. Ask a qualified health professional if you are unsure whether it is suitable for you.
Where laughter-based activities are used
Community groups and social sessions
People can meet in a club, a local group or a one-off event to share a playful activity. A facilitator may use greetings, simple rhythms and group laughter rather than asking anyone to tell a joke.
Workplaces, workshops and team breaks
A session can be an optional break, an offsite activity or part of a workshop. The useful question is whether the format suits the group — not whether it will solve stress, burnout or team conflict.
At home and online
You can try a short exercise alone, join a live online group or follow a digital guide. These are different experiences: a live facilitator can respond to people, while a digital session follows a predefined sequence.
Wellbeing and care settings
Laughter-based activities also appear in wellbeing programs and research involving clinical populations. That context does not make every laughter session a treatment. Any use alongside healthcare should be directed by appropriately qualified professionals.
For workplace groups, participation should be voluntary and alternatives should be welcome. Explore laughter therapy at work for breaks, workshops and team formats. Laughter Circle for Slack presents shared laughter as a team activity, not a workplace health intervention.
Enjoyment, evidence and limits
People may describe a session as enjoyable, relaxing or connecting. These are possible experiences, not guaranteed outcomes. Studies have investigated laughter-based interventions, but they differ in activities, populations, duration and study quality.
For example, a 2018 systematic review of group-based laughter yoga found promising signals but judged the evidence weak. A 2025 review of laughter therapy trials examines specific interventions and participant groups — not this app.
Our guide to laughter yoga benefits separates reported experiences, scientific findings and what remains uncertain. None of those studies establishes a clinical benefit for Laughter Circle or makes an AI-led session a replacement for care.
Laughter Circle
Guided laughter. Not a medical service.
Laughter Circle is a platform for short guided laughter sessions, inspired by laughter yoga and shared laughter. Pick an AI character in your browser, hear the explanation, laugh along during your turn and finish with gentle breathing.
You can take part on your own or alongside other people. The guide uses pre-recorded voice and laughter; it does not assess your health, diagnose conditions or provide psychological treatment. A trained facilitator or healthcare professional offers human support that this experience cannot replace.
The project began during a running hackathon in Barcelona. Read Our Story for its origins.
Choosing the right kind of session
For a light break, a short guided experience may be enough. For a group workshop, look for a facilitator who explains their training, adapts activities and respects people's boundaries. If your goal involves a medical condition or mental health concern, speak to a qualified healthcare professional rather than relying on a laughter session.
Before joining, ask what the session involves, whether participation is optional and what happens if you want to stop. Be cautious of promises to cure illness or replace treatment. You do not have to feel happier afterwards for your choice to pause or participate to be valid.
Keep exploring
Start with laughter yoga, explore guided exercises or read about research and its limits. For teams, visit Laughter Circle for Slack; for the people behind the project, read Our Story.