Looking for laughter yoga near you? We can help you find a laughter club in Queensland!

Social laughter clubs form the grassroots of the global laughter yoga movement.

What started with 5 people laughing together in a park in Mumbai, India, in 1995 is now practised in many countries — from Iran to Canada, from Taiwan to Rwanda, from UK to Chile… and yes, here in Australia.

Your local laughter club is typically neighbourhood or community-based, offering free or low cost group laughter yoga sessions.

The Benefits of your Local Laughter Club

A social laughter club is inclusive, accessible and affordable.

There are so many physical, psychological and social benefits of laughter yoga. The health and healing benefits will be different for every single person who participates regularly.

Your local community laughter club has the power to reach beyond the health benefits to form effective networks of caring-sharing relationships. They create real social connections. It’s one thing to have hundreds of virtual friends on social media platforms but the reality is human beings do need human contact to be happy and healthy. Social laughter clubs have proved valuable in meeting this need.

Plus the laughter club environment is a positive safe emotional environment in which to laugh out loud!

What to expect in a laughter club session

In Australia, most laughter clubs meet on a weekly basis and some less frequently. Some meet outdoors in parks. Others are held in halls or training rooms.

A laughter club session may run for 30 to 60 minutes.

Some facilitators may do floor exercises; others won’t. It depends on the ‘laughter leader’ and the venue.

Who runs a laughter club?

Social laughter clubs are run by qualified unpaid volunteers. They will have completed at least the Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training.

Since COVID-19 made its appearance in 2020, some laughter clubs also meet online.

The listing below is of social laughter clubs— physical and online—known to operate in Queensland. Please contact the club coordinator for specific information.

Physical locations of laughter clubs in Queensland,  2023

At the risk of sounding ‘serious’, please note that each of these is an ‘official’ laughter club that has trained laughter leaders and public liability insurance. Others may (indeed, do) exist, flying under the radar as a giggling gaggle of friends. That’s great but without insurance safeguards, we cannot promote their activity 🙁   

GREATER BRISBANE

The Gap Laughter Club

When: Every Saturday, 9AM 

Where: Walton Bridge Reserve on Waterworks Road, The Gap. The driveway entrance is opposite Jevons Street.

Cost: $2 per adult, kids free

More details:  Check The Gap Laughter Club Facebook pages for updates and further details.

Sandgate Laughter Club

When: Saturdays, monthly (from 1 April 2023) 

Time: 10am

Where: Womenspace , 11 Second Avenue, Sandgate

Cost: gold coin donation to Womenspace

More details: Check out Sandgate Laughter Club’s Facebook page or email laughter leader Helen Suchting

North Lakes Laughter Club

When: 6pm, first and third Thursdays of the month  

Where: North Lakes Library, 10 The Corso, North Lakes

Cost: Free

Laughter facilitator: HeatherJoy Campbell. Send an email for more details.

Redcliffe Peninsula (Bay City Laughers)

When: Wednesdays, 10am  (breaks for school holidays – new term from 4 October 2023)

Where: Bicentennial Park, 229 Hornibrook Esplanade, Woody Point

Cost:  $4

This is a sponsored initiative of Moreton Bay Regional Council as part of its Healthy Active Moreton program.

Bribie Island

When: Friday mornings, 11.30m (during school terms)

Where: U3A Centre, Recreation Hall, 156A First Avenue

You do need to be a member of U3A and you do need to book to attend this class. Check out timetable page of U3A Bribie’s website for contact details.

Gold Coast

Benowa Laughter Club

When: Saturday mornings

Where: Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens 

Cost: Free

This activity is supported by the Gold Coast City Council’s Active Parks program.

More details: Check out laughter leader Shelley’s  Wellbeing with Laughter Facebook page

Sunshine Coast

Caloundra Laughter Club

Maleny Laughter Club  

When:  Sunday mornings, 9am 

Where: Tesch Park, corner of Bunya Street and Coral Street, Maleny (near the library)

Cost: $10/$5 for concession card holders

Your laughter leader: Po Mei Kwong mobile 0490333105 

This is a sponsored initiative, part of  Sunshine Coast Council’s Healthy Sunshine Coast active program. Check here for more details.

Laugh & Lunch 

When: First Thursday of the month

Where: Tesch Park, next to Maleny Library

Cost: By donation for the laughter yoga; then join laughter leader Po Mei for a$7 community lunch supporting Maleny Nieghbourhood Centre.

Your laughter leader: Po Mei Kwong mobile 0490333105 

Scenic Rim

Beaudesert Community Laughter Club

When: Every Sunday, 9am

Where: Jubilee Park

This activity is supported under the Scenic Rim Regional Council’s ‘Be Healthy and Active’ Progam.

More details: check out laughter leader Nerelie Teese’s laughter club Facebook page (or call her on 0427725065).

FRASER COAST

Fraser Coast Laughter Club

When: Thursdays, 9.45am

Where: 28 Totness Street, Torquay

Check the club’s Facebook page for contacts and updates

ROCKHAMPTON

Southside Library Laughter Club

When: Mondays, 10.30am  (resuming 5 June 2023)

Where: Fitzroy room, Southside Library, 230 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton

Cost: FREE

Laughter yoga leader Monica is back, leading this joyous laughter exercise practice. More details on the Rockhampton City Council website.

FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

Atherton Tablelands Laughter Club

When: Mondays 9-10am (from March 2023)

Where: Malanda Wellbeing Centre, 19 James Street, Malanda

Cost: Gold coin donation 

More details: Call your laughter yoga leader Annie O’Loughlin  on 0404982002.

ONLINE

Why is there no laughter club near me?

Social laughter clubs are run entirely by trained volunteers committed to ‘giving back’ to their community.

If you want a laughter club in your neighbourhood, consider training as a laughter leader with a couple of friends!