Helping Australian teams laugh, connect and perform better since 2004
Laughing Yoga is a proven way to bring people together and build positive experiences in the workplace. It teaches us to laugh for no reason!
Laughing uplifts, revitalises and helps us overcome conflict. It’s real and contagious – when one person laughs, it’s hard not to join in. Remember those moments after you’ve been lost in laughter and you suddenly feel more awake, happier and more alive?
Let Laughter workshops infuse your next event with those feel-good vibes.
Planning your next event or conference?
Get great reviews and end it on a HIGH with a Laughter session from Cris Popp
Industries We Work With
- Healthcare
- Education
- Government
- Financial Services
- Retail
- Construction
- Not-for-Profit
- Technology
Origins of Laughter Yoga
In 1995, Dr. Madan Kataria (a formally qualified medical doctor) and his wife, Madhuri (a yoga teacher) developed Laughter Therapy.
They discovered our minds and bodies don’t recognise the difference between genuine laughter and “acting out” laughing. Through experiments with groups of people, Dr Kataria had participants laughing without anything to prompt them. The act of laughing (even when it’s not spontaneous) helps lower blood pressure, reduce stress, improve mood and enhance social connections.
Dr Kataria observed that laughter triggers the release of endorphins, lifts mood and reduces stress hormones such as cortisol. The guiding principle is refreshingly practical: act first, let the body catch up. Even simulated laughter produces genuine physiological benefits.
This is based on a simple and well-researched idea: the body responds to laughter whether it starts naturally or intentionally. This approach is an effective way to boost health and wellbeing at home or in the workplace through gentle laughter exercises.
These activities are especially valuable in workplaces, where energy levels, personalities and physical capacity can vary. Guided laughter yoga sessions and interactive laughter workshops help teams connect while enhancing the mental benefits of laughter.
Our founder, Cris, has achieved the maximum level of training offered by Dr. Madan Kataria.
Why Choose Laughter Works
20+ Years of Experience
Delivering corporate laughter yoga across Australia since 2004.
Trained by the Founder
Founder Cris Popp trained directly with Dr. Madan Kataria, the creator of Laughter Yoga.
Australia-Wide
In-person and virtual workshops across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart and nationwide.
Meet Cris Popp
Founder of Laughter Works, Cris has helped Australian organisations build happier, more connected teams since 2004.
Our Clients Say
“Cris had our team laughing, connecting and feeling energised. A fantastic workshop for workplace wellbeing.”
The four core elements of laughter yoga
- Clapping and chanting — a rhythmic warm-up that raises energy and oxygen levels
- Deep, yogic breathing — expanding lung capacity between laughter exercises
- Childlike playfulness — simple, silly prompts that lower self-consciousness fast
- Simulated-to-genuine laughter — voluntary laughter exercises that turn contagious and real within minutes
How Laughter Yoga Works: The Science
The key discovery behind Laughter Yoga is simple but powerful: your body cannot physiologically distinguish between laughter that’s been intentionally started and laughter triggered by something genuinely funny. The brain and body respond the same way either way — which means the benefits are available on demand, without needing a joke, a comedian, or a good mood to begin with.
Why the Body Can’t Tell Fake Laughter From Real Laughter
Laughing — real or simulated — activates the same muscular and respiratory patterns. Within a minute or two of sustained group laughter, that initial “acted” laughter shifts into spontaneous, contagious laughter, because eye contact and playful energy in a group are naturally infectious.
The Physiology: Endorphins, Cortisol and the Vagus Nerve
A sustained laughter session triggers the release of endorphins and dopamine — the body’s natural mood-lifting chemicals — while lowering circulating cortisol, the primary stress hormone. The deep breathing woven through each session also engages the vagus nerve, which helps shift the nervous system out of “fight or flight” and into a calmer, more regulated state. The result is a measurable, fast-acting mood and stress shift that most participants notice in their first session.
What the Research Says
A growing body of published research supports Laughter Yoga’s effects on stress, mood and workplace wellbeing, including studies in the International Journal of Yoga and peer-reviewed nursing and psychology journals examining laughter interventions in clinical and workplace settings.
Benefits of laughter yoga
Benefits for Individuals
- Rapid stress relief and lower cortisol levels
- Improved mood via endorphin and dopamine release
- Better oxygen intake and lung function through deep breathing
- Reduced anxiety and a genuine sense of playfulness and lightness
- Stronger social connection through shared, unguarded laughter
Benefits for Businesses and Corporate Teams
- Higher energy and engagement in meetings, offsites and conferences
- Improved psychological safety — teams that laugh together are more willing to speak up and take risks
- A fast, low-cost way to break tension before difficult conversations or negotiations
- Measurable morale lifts that outlast the session itself
Laughter Yoga and Mental Health / Resilience
Regular laughter practice is increasingly recognised as a low-barrier complement to broader mental health and resilience strategies. It won’t replace clinical support where that’s needed, but as a workplace wellbeing tool it offers an accessible, evidence-informed way to build daily resilience, reduce chronic low-grade stress, and give teams a genuine, recurring release valve.
Laughter Yoga and Burnout Prevention
Burnout builds cumulatively, through sustained stress with too few recovery moments. Laughter Yoga works as a recovery moment — a short, repeatable practice that interrupts the stress cycle during the workday itself, rather than waiting for annual leave to provide the reset.
Corporate & Workplace Laughter Yoga
Laughter Works specialises in bringing Laughter Yoga into corporate and organisational settings — not as a novelty, but as a genuine tool for engagement, culture and wellbeing.
Workplace Laughter Yoga Programs
From one-off sessions to recurring wellbeing programs, we design workplace laughter yoga around your calendar — weekly team check-ins, monthly wellbeing days, or a standing feature of your all-hands meetings.
Laughter Yoga for Employee Engagement
Disengagement is rarely solved by another survey. A shared, slightly ridiculous, genuinely fun experience does more to re-energise a team in twenty minutes than most engagement initiatives do in a quarter.
Laughter Yoga for Team Building
Unlike trust falls or scavenger hunts, laughter-based team building asks nothing performative of anyone. Teams leave having genuinely laughed together — not having completed a task together — and that distinction is what makes the connection stick.
Who founded Laughter Works and what are their credentials?
Laughter Works was founded by Cris Popp, who trained directly under Dr Madan Kataria, the creator of Laughter Yoga. That direct lineage means our facilitation methods trace back to the source of the practice itself, not a second-hand certification.
What areas does Laughter Works service?
Laughter Works delivers sessions Australia-wide — including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart — both in person and virtually, so distance is never a barrier to booking.
How is Laughter Works different from other laughter yoga providers in Australia?
Laughter Works combines direct-lineage training, two decades of corporate-specific experience, and a dedicated focus on workplaces, conferences and events — rather than operating primarily as a community club or training school. Our sessions are built around business outcomes like engagement, morale and team connection, not just the practice itself.
Does Laughter Works only work with large corporates, or can smaller teams book too?
Both. Sessions scale from small teams of five to conference audiences of several hundred, so whether you're a startup, a school, or a national organisation, Laughter Works tailors the session to your group size and goals.
Can Laughter Works tailor a session to our specific event or team goals?
Yes — every session is customised around your event type, group size, format and objectives, whether that's a stress-relief focus, a team-building outcome, or a pure conference energiser.
Does Laughter Works offer virtual sessions, or only in-person?
Both. Laughter Works runs fully in-person sessions, virtual sessions designed specifically for video calls and remote teams, and hybrid formats — whichever suits your team's setup.
Will I have to act silly in a laughter yoga session?
No! In fact we pride ourselves on having laughter sessions where you don’t have to act silly. Our laughing yoga routine is especially designed to encourage playfulness and fun. Think of it as permission to let your hair down and get silly with no judgment. You won’t have to act like a clown, but a little lighthearted goofiness is part of the magic. It’s all in good fun, and your coworkers will be right there with you.
Who are the best leaders for laughter workshops in Australia?
When it comes to laughing yoga for your organisation – you want the best in the business —professionals who know how to engage a group, break the ice, and turn a room full of colleagues into a laughing, cohesive team. That’s where Laughter Works comes in.
With over 20 years of experience, led by Cris Popp, we are Australia’s leading provider of laughing yoga for workplaces, conferences, offsites, and team-building events. Our trained facilitators, available across Australia, have the expertise to adapt to any group size, event type, or corporate setting. We’ve worked with countless Australian businesses, and our sessions consistently receive rave reviews for their ability to reduce stress, increase team cohesion, and inject fun into the workplace. Just check out our many Google five-star reviews.
Why choose Laughter Works? Here’s why:
- Experience: With two decades of facilitating laughter, we know how to make any group feel comfortable and engaged.
- Professionalism: Just because everyone can laugh doesn’t mean they can lead a successful Laughter Yoga session. We know how to manage groups, handle different personalities, and create a safe, positive environment.
- Tailored Programs: We don’t do one-size-fits-all. Whether it’s a small team-building exercise or a large-scale conference, we tailor our sessions to suit your needs.
- Reach: We have Laughing Yoga facilitators all over Australia, ensuring you can bring the power of laughter workshops and engaging laughter club exercises to your organisation, wherever you are.
Don’t trust your team’s laughter and wellness to amateurs—choose Laughter Works for a professionally-led, impactful experience that will leave your team feeling uplifted, connected, and stress-free.
Should you combine laughter workshops with something else, or is it best as a standalone experience?
Laughing is like the Swiss Army knife of corporate wellness—it’s fantastic on its own, but if you want to get fancy, you can easily pair it with something else for an even bigger impact. It really depends on how much joy (and laughter) you want to squeeze into your event.
If you’re after a quick energy boost to get your team giggling and de-stressed, Laughter as a standalone session is a total winner. It’s the perfect antidote to mid-day slumps or the perfect way to end your event on a high (without the sugar rush of a cupcake). Whether you need a mid-conference pick-me-up or want to leave everyone smiling at the end of the day, laughter on its own can turn a room full of weary workers into a squad of happy humans.
But hey, if you’re in the mood to get a little extra, why not combine laughter with some deep insights? Our most popular mash-up is laughter paired with Cris Popp’s keynote, “Happy Hour is 9-to-5.” This dynamic duo shows your team how happiness and productivity can be BFFs. Together, they create a powerful blend of fun, inspiration, and useful tips that will stick with your team longer than that leftover conference swag.
So, whether you’re looking for a stand-alone laughter boost or a full-blown event with both laughs and lessons, Laughter Works can cook up the perfect mix for your team!
How do you feel when you walk into a workplace where you can hear laughter? A little more relaxed? A bit more at ease? A bit safer to be yourself?
Imagine a workplace where your team meetings start with belly laughs instead of PowerPoints, where stress evaporates faster than an email reply, and where the phrase “team-building” doesn’t make everyone groan.
Welcome to the world of laughter yoga — a fun, stress-busting experience delivered through engaging laughter workshops and energising laughter exercises that are revolutionising workplaces, conferences, and corporate offsites across Australia, all led by the expert facilitators at Laughter Works.
With more than 20 years of experience, Cris Popp and the Laughter Works team have been at the forefront of bringing joy and stress relief into workplaces.
Whether it’s quarterly get-togethers, corporate wellness programs, or team-building sessions, we’ve been making Australian teams happier, healthier, and more productive. And the best part? It always works – laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
What is laughing yoga, and why are organisations everywhere choosing it to boost morale and reduce stress? Dive in and explore how Laughter Works can make your workplace a happier, more productive place.
What Our Clients Say
Research & Evidence
A growing body of research demonstrates measurable physical and psychological benefits from Laughter Yoga. Studies published in The International Journal of Yoga report reduced stress hormone levels, improved pain tolerance, and improved mood after only a small number of sessions.
From a physiological perspective, laughter stimulates the vagus nerve, increasing parasympathetic nervous system activity. This supports a calmer heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and the release of endorphins and dopamine. It also activates natural killer cells, which play a role in immune health.
Research outcomes include:
- Improved mood scores in clinical trials (Shahidi et al., 2011)
- Reduced anxiety and depression in older adults (Bains et al., 2015)
- Stronger social bonding and group cohesion in workplace settings
Intentional laughter produces these effects just as reliably as spontaneous laughter, making the benefits accessible regardless of fitness, confidence, or prior experience.
Experience it for yourself
You don’t need to be fit. You don’t need to be funny. And no one is asked to perform.
A growing body of published research supports Laughter Yoga’s effects on stress, mood and workplace wellbeing, including studies in the International Journal of Yoga and peer-reviewed nursing and psychology journals examining laughter interventions in clinical and workplace settings.
“Within the first ten minutes, the whole room had changed — from folded arms to genuine tears-in-your-eyes laughter.” — typical facilitator observation from corporate sessions
Send us an inquiry now and see how quickly a room shifts when laughter is used thoughtfully, safely, and with purpose.
