Finding Light in Grief: How Laughter Yoga Supports Us Through Loss

In recognition of National Grief Awareness Week

Grief is one of the most profound experiences we face as human beings. It arrives uninvited, bringing with it a complex tapestry of emotions – denial, anger, sadness, and eventually, acceptance. During National Grief Awareness Week, we take time to acknowledge these feelings and explore gentle ways to support ourselves and others through the grieving process.

What might seem surprising to some is that laughter and grief can coexist. In fact, they often need to.

The Dance Between Tears and Laughter

When my stepdad passed away, I found myself in that familiar space where life ending and new life beginning intersect. I was caring for my six-week-old daughter – exhausted, grieving, yet also experiencing the incredible joy that comes with new life. It taught me something profound: we are capable of holding multiple truths at once.

At funerals I’ve attended, celebrants often weave in happy memories and amusing stories alongside the sadness. These moments of lightness aren’t disrespectful – they’re essential. They remind us of the fullness of the person we’ve lost and the richness of the life they lived.

I recall one relative’s funeral where all the women rushed to the toilet just beforehand. The timing, the queue, the sheer chaos of it all had us falling about in giggles. That unexpected laughter became an icebreaker before the ceremony, a release of tension that we all desperately needed. Later, at the wake, we shared fond memories of the person’s love of gardening and ballroom dancing, celebrating the medals they’d won and the joy they’d brought to their community.

When Grief Takes Our Laughter

After losing someone we love, it can feel as though our own capacity for joy has been buried with them. Reverend Richard Coles expressed this beautifully in the Channel 4 documentary Good Grief. After losing his husband, he felt he had lost his laughter, too.

As part of his healing journey, Richard tried Laughter Yoga. He participated in a session and even engaged in telephone laughter – ten minutes of shared laughter over the phone. Afterwards, he reported feeling better and more positive. This wasn’t about replacing grief with forced happiness; it was about finding a way to cope, to reconnect with life, to remember that joy is still possible.

The Science of Laughter During Grief

Laughter Yoga works with simulated laughter exercises that don’t rely on jokes, comedy, or humour. You don’t need to feel happy to laugh. The body doesn’t distinguish between genuine and simulated laughter – both release dopamine and oxytocin, those precious chemicals that help us feel connected, supported, and more able to cope.

When we laugh together in a Laughter Yoga session, we create a space of social connection. We nourish ourselves and those around us with positivity. We permit ourselves to feel something other than grief, even if just for a moment.

A Morning of Laughter, An Afternoon of Farewell

Several years ago, a client came to a community Laughter Yoga workshop on purpose to gain resilience to cope, the day before her friend’s funeral. She needed help to cope with what lay ahead. I found this incredibly moving. Laughter Yoga is a coping mechanism and a well-being tool to dip into when you don’t feel happy or feel depleted.

Three years ago, I experienced something similar myself.

I had agreed to deliver a corporate Laughter Yoga workshop for Brainlabs, and unfortunately, a dear friend’s funeral fell on the same day. I honoured both commitments.

The morning session went beautifully. During delivery, I didn’t think about the funeral at all – the brain can’t wander when you’re fully present in laughter. There was even a delightful miniature poodle in the office, adding an extra glimmer of joy to the experience.

That afternoon, I attended the funeral. I’d tucked my trustworthy hanky in my pocket, prepared for the usual buckets of tears. But something remarkable happened: the stabilisation of mood chemicals from the morning’s laughter helped me process the grief with more ease. The hanky stayed in my pocket.

I’m not suggesting laughter removes grief – it doesn’t, and it shouldn’t. Had I been standing at the front with close relatives, I would undoubtedly have felt the vulnerability and sadness more intensely. But the morning’s laughter had given me a foundation of resilience that carried me through.

At the wake, we celebrated life together. We laughed about shared experiences and saw the funny side of memories. It was, in its own way, a reawakening.

The Strength of Laughter Yoga During Darker Times

One of our regular Laughter Yoga participants and a Laughter Yoga Leader herself shared this deeply moving experience:

“Sunny is an amazing laughter yoga leader. Laughter Yoga has been a wonderful discovery for me, which has built my resilience and positivity tremendously. It is an amazing way to build strong and positive mental health, particularly in darker times. On the morning of my Dad’s funeral, Sunny (at my request) organised a number of fellow Laughter Yoga leaders to get together on Zoom for a special laughter yoga session to help me through what was going to be a very difficult day. I can’t tell you how much this helped my mindset and to feel the support from Sunny and the others. Thank you, Sunny, for the strength and joy you bring.”

This testimonial captures the essence of what Laughter Yoga can offer during grief: not a replacement for our sorrow, but a gentle companion alongside it. A way to build resilience, feel supported, and remember that we are capable of experiencing joy again.

Permission to Laugh

During and after funerals, some people may feel it’s inappropriate to smile or laugh. But grief is deeply personal, and there’s no single “right” way to experience it.

We are all different. Some of us need to cry for days. Others need moments of lightness to help us breathe. Both responses are valid.

Allowing ourselves to find joy again – whether through shared laughter, happy memories, or simple moments of connection – doesn’t diminish our love for the person we’ve lost. It honours the fullness of life they would have wanted for us.

Growing Through Grief

Tears are an inevitable part of the grieving process, and they should be welcomed. But laughter exercises can help us grow as people. They bring positive chemicals into our bodies, help us cope with difficult emotions, and enable us to start truly living our lives again.

Most importantly, they help us remain thankful for wonderful memories.

Grief and laughter aren’t opposites – they’re companions on the same journey. Both deserve space. Both deserve respect.

Find out more benefits of Laughter Yoga in this article – there are more than 30 mind and body benefits to Laughter Yoga that you could enjoy if you practice regularly.

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This National Grief Awareness Week, may we permit ourselves to feel everything: the sorrow, the love, the memories – and yes, even the laughter.

Whether you’re working through grief, supporting someone who is, or want to strengthen your emotional resilience, Laughter Yoga offers a gentle, evidence-based approach. Take a look at our upcoming sessions—we’d be honoured to welcome you, either in-person across the North West or online from anywhere in the UK.

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Contact us with any questions or arrange to have a chat about Laughter Yoga with Sunny Turner.