“Happiness is the medicine”: this is the philosophy by which Indonesian laughter yoga guru Kadek Siwa Ambara lives, builds his career and connects with others. One morning this summer, I had the privilege of sitting down with him in his yoga studio, Ambara Ashram, in Ubud, Bali, to learn about his thoughts, teachings and the journey that shaped him.

We sat on his tranquil patio, surrounded by tropical plants and the sound of birds. Ambara, wearing his signature round glasses, grey shirt and traditional headdress, leaned comfortably into his chair, smiling warmly. That smile never seemed to leave his face.

Our conversation began with him explaining how even just the physical act of smiling can make a person happier and more relaxed. After a few minutes, he asked me to do something unexpected: to try being sad while smiling.

After several awkward attempts, I laughed and admitted: it was impossible. Ambara laughed too while rocking his shoulders and nodded as if to say, you see? From that moment, I was hooked – eager to learn not just about laughter yoga, but about what it means to live with such joy and intention.

Bringing laughter yoga to Bali

Though Ambara introduced laughter yoga to Indonesia, the practice itself was founded by Dr Madan Kataria, a physician from Mumbai, India, in 1995. After meeting Dr Kataria in person, Ambara started his own laughter yoga practice in 2007.

According to Ambara, laughter yoga has numerous benefits: it boosts mood, enhances quality of life and helps people to cope with hardship. By increasing oxygen flow through controlled laughter, it also supports the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s natural de-stressing mechanism.

Today, laughter yoga is available in more than 110 countries and has reached millions through YouTube videos and social media.

Before popularising laughter yoga in Bali, Ambara founded the Taman Permata Hati orphanage in 1995, which continues to support children today. Five years later, he created a centre for meditation and wellness, later introducing laughter yoga.

The yoga tertawa (‘laughter yoga’ in Indonesian) community is now Bali’s largest yoga network. Ambara’s group has hosted two major events: ‘Bali Laughs’ in 2019, which gathered 10,000 participants, and ‘Elderly Laugh’ in 2023, which brought together 9,999 people in a powerful celebration of joy and connection. Both milestones were recognised by the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI).

Spiritual journey

From the moment he sat down to speak with me, Ambara’s gentle smile eased any nerves I had before the interview. His welcoming presence made me feel instantly relaxed.

His joy and enthusiasm were infectious. By the end of the song, we were both laughing.

Ambara’s story starts in Ubud, where his family were involved with one of the most significant temples of protection. His grandfather was a pemangku (a holy man who leads temple ceremonies) and also a talented architect and woodcarver. As a child, Ambara recalls his grandfather sharing stories “related to spirituality” and reminding him “to do the best for yourself, for your family and other people”.

At university, Ambara studied Indonesian Language and went on to build a successful career in carpentry. Yet despite his financial success, he often found himself overwhelmed and plagued with headaches.

Seeking peace, he turned to yoga and meditation, and these practices eventually transformed his life. He opened the orphanage, followed the laughter yoga centre, and the rest is history.

How to be happy?

Watching the group laugh together, leaving their worries and judgements behind, I understood why everyone in the room seemed so free. Even as an observer, I felt lighter, energised and cheerful.

In a world where it is easy to feel overwhelmed, Ambara’s message stays with me: “How to be happy? Gratitude. Smiling. Singing a song. Dancing. Laughing.”

Simple words, perhaps – but in his presence they felt like pure wisdom.