Do you think you could laugh even though no one was telling any jokes? Well, folks are doing it and making a big change in the way they feel, by laughing on demand and laughing a lot—during a supervised class. 

Less than 20 years ago, an Indian doctor, Dr. Madan Kataria, began a movement for health and exercise he called "Laughter Yoga." Now the trend has caught on in many parts of the U.S., and a couple of local groups meet every week to laugh for the health of it.  

The Carlsbad group that meets at Frazee beach each week exercises while they laugh. Headed up by "Laughter Yoga" teacher Coty Benrimoj, the group laughs as an aerobic exercise and to build up stamina and exercise the heart, the lungs and the circulatory system.

Benrimoj says, "The body doesn't know the difference between real and fake laughter, but once it gets going and we start doing the exercises, it becomes real and contagious and wonderful!"

The "Laughter Yoga" class meets each week from 6-7 p.m. at Frazee Beach at the corner of Pine Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive. Another class is held on Thursday mornings at the Carlsbad Senior Center.

For more information, contact Coty Benrimoj at 760-529-7197. Or check out the website, at laughtermatters.org