Laughter is the Best Medicine

“I absolutely loved flipping the script on them!” says Melissa who runs Numinity, a company specialising in wellbeing workshops, courses and retreats, with sister Holly Layton, Class of 2011. “It was such a wonderful opportunity, and I had a great time doing it - it’s not every day you get to make comedians laugh for a change!”

Stand-up comics Seann Walsh, Olga Koch and Eddie Kadi took part in the hilarious open-air session on the roof terrace of one of London’s hottest new hotels - Art’otel - overlooking the new Battersea Power Station development. 

Seann chose the activity as part of his Unexpected £10k Wellness Journey for Channel 4’s mini-series, Lucky Days. The YouTube films offer three celebrities a chance to experience the jet set lifestyle up for grabs in the National Lottery’s Set for Life game, which guarantees winners £10,000 every month for 30 years.

“There’s a lot of science behind Laughter Yoga,” says Melissa. “It's proven to help complete stress cycles in the body, regulating the nervous system, boosting endorphins and helping to return us to a calm state.

“At Numinity, we’ve had the privilege of delivering everything from sound baths to shamanic ceremonies for our clients over the years. Whether it’s helping teams manage stress, foster connections, or simply recharge, we’re passionate about creating extraordinary wellbeing experiences for workplaces.”

Russian-British stand-up comedian, writer and actress Olga Koch says: “Melissa presented us with this idea of Laughter Yoga, and at first we were all a bit sceptical. But we did lean in and we’re better for it. I feel cleansed and new!”

Melissa laughs: “I think they found the whole thing somewhere between completely absurd and highly entertaining, which, to be honest, seems to be a common reaction to Laughter Yoga! It’s such a fun experience but feels totally bonkers the first time you try it.”

Melissa and Holly attended LEH alongside sister Cassie, Class of 2008. “We loved our time there together,” recalls Melissa. “We had a lot of fun and remain super close! One of the things I’ve come to realise through Laughter Yoga is just how necessary it is to be playful and silly – it's an art that’s often lost as you get older but is something I fondly remember.”

Melissa set up Numinity four years ago, after working as a lawyer in the City. “We run a wide range of events and retreats, primarily focusing on spiritual and wellbeing practices for individual and corporate clients. I’ve noticed many companies over the past couple of years turning to wellbeing sessions like Laughter Yoga as an alternative team-building activity to dull dinners and drinks. Workplace wellbeing is evolving and has become a key part of how businesses attract and retain talent. We love helping companies bring this to life - whether through innovative wellbeing strategies or adding something unexpected to an away day." 

You can see Melissa’s starring role in the video on the Numinity website here: https://www.numinity.co.uk/.