'Yoga laughter could change your life and keep your heart healthy'

Though laughing therapy has been used for decades, laughing yoga was started by Dr Madan Kataria, a doctor in Mumbai, India, in 1995.

After a number of trials, he discovered that our brains are unable to tell the difference between fake or real laughs.

"The brain doesn't know the difference between laughing for real, or pretend laughing," said Mr St James.

"If someone tells you a joke, you have to decide if it's funny, or if you've heard it before, or if it's going to upset you.

"But if you laugh for no reason, you still get your daily dose of those lovely endorphins," he added.