Marianne Laughs
I love to laugh! Laughter is my friend, my comfort, and adds zest to my life, work and marriage. Laughter has helped me to survive traumatic losses, overcome health challenges, and transition into mature adulthood with Zip-a-dee-doo-dah in my smile.
Following the death of our son Jim in 1997 I became involved with The Compassionate Friends as a bereavement peer support group leader. After a decade of assisting bereaved families to assimilate their losses, I found that I needed to move forward from my loss and integrate all of the grief stories that I'd listened to in over a dozen years. I was looking for a new direction for my life.
I discovered Laughter Yoga when Sebastien Gendry, Founder & Director of the American School of Laughter Yoga appeared on an episode of Oprah! I trained with Sebastien in Colorado and became a Certified Laugh Leader (CLL) in Laughter Yoga in 2007.
In subsequent years I've led Laughter Yoga workshops and sessions for a number of groups. Through Laughter Yoga I've been able to integrate personal losses as well as relate to and encourage others facing daunting life challenges to "clap, chant, laugh, breathe, and live." Each laughter session not only benefits the participants but it also gives me an energy boost; success is a group effort.
Laughter Yoga is a family endeavor. Our daughter Kirsten Lohrman Antony, RN, is also a CLL. Laughter Yoga has fostered a closer mother-daughter bond. We are apart geographically, but laughter transcends the miles.
In addition to my Laughter Yoga work I am employed as an Adult Services and Reference Librarian at the Chardon Public Library. Additional careers that have enriched my life include: newspaper reporter, sales executive, corporate communications, and marketing director.
Following the death of our son Jim in 1997 I became involved with The Compassionate Friends as a bereavement peer support group leader. After a decade of assisting bereaved families to assimilate their losses, I found that I needed to move forward from my loss and integrate all of the grief stories that I'd listened to in over a dozen years. I was looking for a new direction for my life.
I discovered Laughter Yoga when Sebastien Gendry, Founder & Director of the American School of Laughter Yoga appeared on an episode of Oprah! I trained with Sebastien in Colorado and became a Certified Laugh Leader (CLL) in Laughter Yoga in 2007.
In subsequent years I've led Laughter Yoga workshops and sessions for a number of groups. Through Laughter Yoga I've been able to integrate personal losses as well as relate to and encourage others facing daunting life challenges to "clap, chant, laugh, breathe, and live." Each laughter session not only benefits the participants but it also gives me an energy boost; success is a group effort.
Laughter Yoga is a family endeavor. Our daughter Kirsten Lohrman Antony, RN, is also a CLL. Laughter Yoga has fostered a closer mother-daughter bond. We are apart geographically, but laughter transcends the miles.
In addition to my Laughter Yoga work I am employed as an Adult Services and Reference Librarian at the Chardon Public Library. Additional careers that have enriched my life include: newspaper reporter, sales executive, corporate communications, and marketing director.
