About Leigh Meredith

Certification

Leigh is a certified Laughter Yoga Leader through Laugh-a-Yoga® in Yogaville in affiliation with Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of Laughter Yoga.

Education

Leigh holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology with minors in German Studies, Psychology and Religion. She has traveled most of the Western world and appreciates the universal language of laughter. She tried to climb the corporate ladder, got near the top, decided she was miserable, and couldn't remember what all of the buzz words and acronyms meant. So she started trying to help people as a mental health professional and loved it. Now she designs websites and leads laughter yoga as much as possible.

Some Personal Notes on Laughter Yoga

Laughter is incredibly powerful, even though it's so simple. Throughout the world - we all start communicating vocally with crying, cooing, and laughing. However, as we "grow up", laughter and crying are also the first two languages we lose, stress out of us, or repress. Laughter Yoga allows those first languages to be "reactivated".

I've heard Laughter Yoga classes described as - "A good, long cry that's actually a laugh", "A spiritual oil change", "An internal shower", "A complete blast", "A way to get me back", "Surprisingly powerful", "A great compliment to Nia"... one student reported that the ongoing vibration of laughter cleared her sinus infection.

Leigh brings total openness to the classroom, encouraging laughter yet accepting whatever comes. Her support and highly serious silliness inspires you to discover your own inner joy. I felt lovable and optimistic in her presence. And I laughed a lot.
--Cathy Harding, Editor, c-ville weekly.

My Story

I immediately knew I wanted to be certified to lead Laughter Yoga classes when I read about the practice online. Everyone in my family has battled anxiety and depression throughout their lives. That includes me. Sometimes, I've battled depression fiercely. Because we usually teach what we need to learn, I've been practicing laughing for about 10 minutes a day for a year. Along with other healthy habits (like running and Nia), I've found the practice very helpful to ease depression and immediately reduce anxiety. In the book The Anatomy of an Illness, one man laughed his way out of a severe, chronic illness.

"I appreciate Leigh's honesty in sharing her personal journey. It truly is a space that invites others to grow out of where they have found themselves stuck." -- Brenda Isner, Studio 206 student

At first, the concept of Laughter Yoga seems silly, and you will feel a bit self-conscious when you start playing, "laughter games" (but it wears off within a few minutes). My hope is to help foster a community of laughing yogis in Charlottesville who will be open and courageous to let laughter transform and heal their lives.

Please join us, along with the rest of the world, as we develop a healthy laugh-style!

In love and laughter,
Leigh