Laughter Healed My 20-Year Silence

Sunny Turner, a laughter therapist from Manchester, has shared how abandoning 20 years of suppressed laughter dramatically improved her mental health. The 58-year-old's journey to self-acceptance began around 2014 when she divorced her husband and, at 45, came out as lesbian. She described this period as challenging, requiring immense inner strength to live authentically.

In 2016, Sunny discovered laughter therapy, a practice that provided a "huge cathartic release" and allowed her to laugh without external stimulation for the first time in two decades. This led her to train as a laughter yoga teacher, integrating yogic breathing with laughter exercises. She noted significant improvements in her well-being, including reduced stress and better sleep, transforming her from a "stress bunny" to someone who "sleeps like a log."

Initially, her teenage children were skeptical of her laughter practices, which Sunny sometimes conducted in secret. However, her mother was supportive, recognizing the positive impact on Sunny's life. In 2025, she formally changed her name from Sara to Sunny to signify her new identity. She now finds joy in demonstrating laughter exercises, often converting skeptics into participants through the infectious nature of genuine laughter.