LAUGHTER GRAD PROFILE: ANNA MOODY

Many people have become Certified Laughter Yoga Leaders through the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga. Happy grads of this program are spreading laughter throughout the country and I'm proud of each and every one of them.

Today I am featuring the laughter work of Anna Moody. She was part of the Laughter Yoga class that graduated in the fall of 2007. Ever since, she has been sharing joy and merriment through laughter. She lives in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and works specifically in nursing care facilities in this area. 

This morning, I had the honor of watching Anna in action. She leads a Laughter Yoga session at the McGregor Care Center in McGregor, Iowa every month.  As you can see, her trademark has become helium balloons.  She cheerfully enters with a whole gaggle of them, which brightens the room immediately.

Anna connects with the residents before beginning her session. She jokes with each person and allows them to choose a balloon from her smiley faced bunch. Todays group of laughers was so enormous she almost ran out.

Then Anna takes the laughers through an assortment of laughter and breathing exercises like the "false teeth" one pictured below. She explains, "Sometimes, you just get to laughing so hard, your teeth want to come on out and laugh all by themselves!" She asks them pretend to take out their teeth. She has to emphasize the pretend part because some of the jokesters threaten to really take their teeth out! Then—with pretend false teeth in hand—they laugh together.

Residents enjoy the clapping and cheering in which Anna leads them.

Afterwards, Anna tells them that every time they look at their happy balloon, it should remind them to let out a big laugh. You can see the spirits of everyone, including the staff, have been lifted. Laughter mission accomplished!

Below, resident Betty and Anna laugh together about how much fun they've had.

If you'd like to hire Anna to bring laughter to your company or organization, her contact information is listed below.

Anna Moody
61974 Vineyard Road
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
608-326-8234
highway1@centurytel.net

For a complete listing of graduates or to learn how you can become a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, visit the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga.