Are We Still ‘Returning’ From the Pandemic?
Updated: Jul 8, 2025
Lotte Mikkelsen has been a renowned professional laughter expert, trainer, and keynote speaker for business conferences and corporate events across the UK since 2002.
Just before the pandemic hit us all, on 11 March 2020, I shared laughter in South Shields with a large group of corporate people. I don’t think we knew what was in store at the time.
It seems we are still recovering from a pandemic that officially ended on 23 February 2022. The trauma of those years has not been dealt with, and there is still a sense that we are ‘just coming back from it all,’ when, in fact, it has been over 3 years now.
The practice of Laughter Yoga allows for deep-rooted trauma to be released through the cathartic laughter experience.
There is a need for Laughter Yoga.
Why?
Two days before the first lockdown, I slipped and broke my wrist.
It was painful.
I went on to share a series of 1-minute videos, called “How to Heal Your Broken Bones through Laughter,” for the next 42 days, culminating in cutting off the plaster cast.
Laughter is a superb platform for pain relief; many studies, including the Oxford University study from 2011 on Laughter and Pain Threshold, show this.
We need Laughter Yoga because, whether we like it or not, we, as people, do not laugh enough, and the experience from 2020-2023 is ongoing and needs deep healing.
As people, we indulge in pain and drama.
Laughter Yoga can help us all.
If laughter connects us with each other, imagine what the practice of the extended, focused Laughter Yoga method can do for us all in shared and individual experiences.
We begin the deep healing of the trauma, and it helps us regain a sense of deep joy with a positive outlook, instead of maintaining a fear-based reaction to what will come.
Laughter Yoga offers endless opportunity on a profound level that it would be a completely backwards-stepping strategy to not choose the technique for yourself and those you care about, the people in your life at home and at work.
There is no religion, no politics, no racism, no homophobia, no bullying, no drugs, there is only all-inclusive laughter.
Everyone can do this and gain benefits, including balancing the hormones in the body to create equilibrium, making powerful and empowering connections, regaining perspective, resourcefulness, and resilience, and strengthening decision-making, all while having a good laugh in great company.
Laughter Yoga training and workshops can be experienced in person or online.
I am at your service to discuss how you can benefit from workshops, training, keynotes, and appearances through sharing laughter and play.
Please consider my events for creating memorable moments, improving teamwork, reducing stress, boosting confidence, creating connections that matter, and building strong health and resilience, for you and your team, family, and/or friends.
To hear more about the Laughter Yoga courses, workshops, workplace wellbeing, and other events, please contact me here.
Read more from Lotte Mikkelsen
Lotte Mikkelsen, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer
Lotte Mikkelsen’s legacy is one of laughter, growth, and positive change, echoing her mission to enrich lives through laughter and joyfulness.
Since founding her business, she has trained over 2,000 individuals and shared laughter at thousands of festivals, conferences, and well-being events around the UK and Europe.
With a background in corporate, national, and international workplaces, she has a deep understanding of the effect stress can have on physical, psychological, and emotional health and wellbeing.
