He is truly the master of laughter.
Yoga can be funny.
The Tantric philosophy behind Anusara yoga (and many other yoga styles) is all about uncovering the spirit. And the nature of the spirit is to party. Using algebra, there has got to be some laughter involved here.
We all know that laughter is the world’s best medicine. It cures what ails you physically, mentally, even socially. Laughter reduces stress, boosts the immune system, and diffuses conflict.
My favorite spiritual leader calls himself a “professional laugher”. Check out this great quote from The Dalia Lama’s book My Spiritual Journey:
As for me, I always want more friends. I love smiles, and my wish is to see more smiles, real smiles, for there are many kinds–sarcastic, artificial, or diplomatic. Some smiles don’t arouse any satisfaction, and some even engender suspicion or fear. An authentic smile, though, arouses an authentic feeling of freshness, and I think the smile belongs only to human beings. If we want those smiles, we must create the reasons that make them appear.
These are the kinds of smiles yoga engenders. And smiles and laughter go hand-in-hand just like asana and pranayama. One might even say that one is the full expression of the other.
image credit: going-well.com