(Mobile Phone Laugh – World Laughter Day 2023)

My ‘in-person’ Laughter Yoga sessions take place on a monthly basis, mainly in Wordsley (Stourbridge) and occasionally at Malvern Cube

I am also running a monthly ‘Walk and Laughter Yoga’ session in local parks. 

 I continue to run weekly sessions on Zoom on Thursday afternoons. 

You will find information on forthcoming ‘in person’ sessions and Zoom sessions within my website under the headings at this link

Hello – I am Maggie Thompson and ‘Merrie Maggie’ is the name I deliver Laughter Yoga under.  I live in Stourbridge in the West Midlands.

Let me give you a very basic introduction to Laughter Yoga through the following short video – it lasts around 10-minutes:

I am a member of Laughter Association UK (http://www.laughterassociation.co.uk). This organisation started in 2017 and supports the work of Laughter Yoga leaders, Laughter Yoga teachers, Laughter therapists and other Laughter Professionals.

I am also recognised as an Accredited Laughter Yoga Teacher with the Federation of Holistic Therapists (through UnitedMind Ltd)

What inspired me to get involved with Laughter Yoga?

In around 2008 or 2009 I attended a Laughter Yoga workshop that I facilitated for exercise tutors delivering to older people Whilst I worked for Age UK Dudley through my role as LEAP Over 50 Project Co-ordinator.

Luckily, I attended the training myself and was in for a treat! Being easily prone to giggling, I launched myself at the routines during the training and discovered that it is easier to ‘laugh for no reason’ than a lot of people think.

For me, that one experience was a ‘lightbulb moment’ and has led me along an incredible path of joyful discovery.  Not only feeling the health and wellbeing benefits from a daily practice of Laughter Yoga but also becoming part of a loving, caring, laughing community around the world.

I retired from Age UK Dudley in January 2014 so that I could concentrate on Laughter Yoga

In June 2014 I attended the Advanced Laughter Yoga Training in Manchester delivered by Dr Madan Kataria – the founder of the Laughter Yoga Movement, which is worldwide.  It was a real privilege to be taught by him and to hear his plans for the future of the Laughter Yoga University.

I have since attended:

Laughter Conference at St Albans in 2015
Laughter Conference and Festival at Cabourne Parva (North Lincolnshire) in 2016.
Laughter Conference and Festival at Cabourne Parva (North Lincolnshire) in 2017.
Global Laughter Conference (Frankfurt) 2017
Laughter Yoga Open Day (Birmingham 2017) – Organiser
The Playing Human Conference (London) 2018
UnitedMind Laughter Yoga Teachers Reunion (Hemel Hempstead) 2019
The Joy Conference (Bristol) 2019
UnitedMind Laughter Yoga Teachers Reunion (Hemel Hempstead) 2022

In April 2017, Dr Madan Kataria awarded me Laughter Ambassador for promoting Laughter Yoga.  I feel deeply humbled and privileged to receive this award and will continue to devote my energy to raising awareness of Laughter Yoga.