‘MERRIE Maggie’ Thompson will be running a free Laughter Yoga session to celebrate World Laughter Day on Sunday May 1.

The ‘in-person’ one-hour session will take place in Mary Stevens Park, Norton, Stourbridge, from 11am.

Laughter Yoga encourages child-like playfulness with role-playing activities and deep breathing techniques from yoga to help people connect with others and get more oxygen into the body, relieving stress.

World Laughter Day takes place on the first Sunday in May every year around the world.

Participants laugh together in support of world peace and this year those taking part will be invited to have the people of Ukraine in their thoughts and world health as a focus as countries emerge from the Covid pandemic.

Maggie, who has been a laughter yoga instructor for some years now, said: "The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for world peace and is intended to build up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter.

"Its popularity has grown exponentially with that of the Laughter Yoga movement now counting thousands of Laughter Clubs in more than 116 countries."

Anyone interested in finding out more can contact Maggie by emailing maggie@merriemaggie.co.uk or calling 07565 219567.