Dunedin already has one laughter club. A group of up to about 20 people gather weekly to practise laughter yoga and have a bit of a chortle with club leaders Lora Johnston and Lynley Butson at Community House in Moray Pl.
Ms Johnston's introduction to the discipline came at a course with Christchurch laughter yoga teacher Hannah Airey last year.
"I spent the whole weekend basically laughing and felt amazing afterwards," she says.
Since March, she has been running Dunedin's laughter club, taking 45min sessions from 7.30pm on Tuesday evenings, with Ms Butson.
Everyone just chips in a few dollars to cover expenses.
"It is really really great how quick people connect and become friends just by laughing with each other," Ms Johnston says.
"It is a great way to meet people and build community and do something really fun.
"There are four parts to a laughter yoga session. First there is clapping, second is gentle stretching and breathing. Third is the laughter yoga exercises and the fourth is yoga meditation and relaxation.
"So there is a structure to the class."
• Laugh along
Dunedin's laughter club meets on Tuesdays, 7.30-8.15pm, at either Community House or the Church of Christ at 5 St Andrew St. Email laughingindunedin@gmail.com for details.