Sometimes laughter really can be the best medicine.
Combining deep breathing exercises with special laughing techniques, laughter yoga is a cheerful take on traditional yoga practice. The concept was developed in 1995 by Indian physician Madan Kataria, nicknamed the Guru of Giggling.
Instructor Mahroo Sameni teaches laughter yoga classes in an unexpected place: Tehran, the capital of Iran. She told the Associated Press that her course aims to help people from various age groups and social background to take a break from their stressful lives. "It's great when we practice laughter technics in natural resorts and reflect back our happiness to the universe," Sameni said.
Take a look at some hilarious pictures from Sameni's class. And who knows, maybe they'll inspire you to try out laughter yoga yourself.
Laughter Yoga instructor Mahroo Sameni, right, leads a class in an outdoor session in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A group of Iranian women take part in an outdoor session of Laughter Yoga in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Laughter Yoga instructor Mahroo Sameni, right, leads a class in an outdoor session in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A group of Iranian women take part in an outdoor session of Laughter Yoga in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
An unidentified Afghan man and an Iranian woman take part in an outdoor session of Laughter Yoga in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iranian men and women take part in an outdoor session of Laughter Yoga in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
An unidentified Iranian woman participates in an outdoor session of a Laughter Yoga class in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Participants of a Laughter Yoga class gather in a circle in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Laughter Yoga instructor Mahroo Sameni, right, leads a class in an outdoor session in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A group of Iranian women practice an outdoor session of their Laughter Yoga class in the Darakeh mountainous area north of Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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