INTRODUCING LAUGHTER MAGNETS TO GIVE YOUR FRIDGE—AND YOU—MORE JOY

Couldn't your refrigerator use more laughter? Great news: The Laughter Shoppe now has premium laughter magnets!

These little cuties are just 2 inches by 2 inches. They are thick, durable museum quality magnets featuring two of my most popular laughter paintings. The print quality is superb. In fact, I don’t think Blogger quite captures just how colorful they are. Nevertheless, you can tell by the smile on my face that they are terrific.

You can order the “Ha Ha Ha” spiral magnet for $4.95

at The Laughter Shoppe (click the image above to see it in a larger size).

Or you can order the “Be Laughter” magnet for $4.95

at The Laughter Shoppe (click the image above to see it in a larger size).

Or you can order BOTH of these magnets for $8.95

as the "Laughing Magnet Pack" and save a dollar. Where? Only at The Laughter Shoppe.

LAUGHTER GRADS RADIATE HAPPINESS

Another class of happy laughers has graduated from the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga! On Sunday, August 14th, the graduates showed off their newly-formed laughter yoga leadership skills at their graduation ceremony. They laughed their way in to "Pomp and Circumstance." The gibberish commencement address was zealously delivered by Peter Jorgensen. Every single graduate won the "Laugher of the Universe Award" as well as their laughter yoga diploma. And finally, they took the Laughter Pledge, thus certifying their new commitment to live a laughing life. I'm so proud of them!

The graduates are pictured above. Back row: Robin Arendt, Peter Jorgensen, Mary Jorgensen; middle row: Carol Larson, Claire Buetler-Cruise, Jen Malcom; front row: Lisa Weis, Laughing Laura, Teleen Saunders. Below, are pictures of them eating lunch. Please note that happy cupcakes were served on a cupcake tree! :)

Here's how you can find and hire these amazing laughter yoga leaders.

Robin Arendt

1176 280th St.

Oskaloosa, IA 52577

violet.flamesp@yahoo.com

Rev. Claire Buetler-Cruise

Milwaukee, WI

cbcruise92902@yahoo.com

Peter & Mary Jorgensen

724 Day St.

Decorah, IA 52101

563-382-4558

mary@risingsunlifecoaching.com

Jen Malcom

310 Kellogg

Auburn, KS 66402

jmalcom4@prodigy.net

Teleen Saunders

6154 Sugar Mill Lane

Mound, MN 55364

teleen@web1234.com

Lisa Weis

1117 Maple Street

Northfield, MN 55057

lisacadyweis@yahoo.com

Also in attendance at the seminar were already certified laughter yoga leaders Cindy Hansmeier of Decorah, Iowa and Carol Larson of Hillsboro, Wisconsin.

They all radiating with happiness and eager to share laughter yoga with you!

FIRST LAUGHTER YOGA WORLD CONGRESS IN MEXICO

I am so excited to announce that I am going to be speaking at the first Laughter Yoga World Congress in Mexico City, October 21-23m 2011. Below is my video introduction in Spanish with English subtitles. Please help us spread the word about this incredible event. Go to www.jojojajaja.com to learn more.

AWAKENING THE SAGE: AN EXPERIENCE OF WHOLENESS

I am going to be presenting at a very exciting workshop called Awakening the Sage. It will be an interactive, holistic process designed to invite you to expand your individual and collaborative power to enable you to thrive in challenging times.

It will be held on Sunday, August 21, 2011 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m in Decorah, Iowa.

Based upon Mary Jorgensen’s curriculum, The Way of the SAGE, the event features fabulous presenters who will provide you with experiences to tap into your inner power and grab some gusto for life! We’ll start mindfully, and end joyfully. What better way to get yourself motivated and inspired. Have fun! Eat some cool snacks! Produce some art! Move your body!

Awaken your SAGE through a unique, experiential workshop of wholeness, each taught by a different facilitator.

Spirituality — Michelle Williams: A tea ceremony meditation

Authentic Action —Karen Misseldine: Creative expression with art

Gratitude—Brenda Harris: A movement experience of Qigong

Enjoyment—Laura Gentry: Laughter yoga

It is my hope, that those of you in the area of Northeast Iowa will take advantage of this incredible opportunity. Learn more about the event and sign up at: The Way of the Sage website.

LAUGHING LAURA—A LAUGHTER REVOLUTIONARY

Jeffrey Briar, Director of the Laughter Yoga Institute, has just published a new book called Laughter Revolutionaries.

This 120 page, softcover book features interviews, stories, sermons and essays from movers and shakers in the field of Laughter for Health. Jeffrey has written the forward and afterward of this inspirational resource.

Revolutionaries include: Dr. Patch Adams, Dr. Madan Kataria, Madhuri Kataria, Dr. Gita Suraj-Naryan, Rev. John Millspaugh, Rev. Tom Owen-Toole, Kathryn Burns, and me—the laughing Lutheran minister! I'm honored to be among these auspicious laughter revolutionaries.

The book retails for $14.95. An e-book version is available for $9.95. Click here for purchasing options.

HOLDEN VILLAGE BECOMES A LAUGHING VILLAGE

I was invited to be a part of the summer teaching staff at Holden Village this year. Holden is a unique, secluded retreat center high in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America so I had always known of Holden but never visited until last month. It was an amazing experience to share laughter yoga with the diverse and interesting community of the village.

When I say the village is secluded, I mean it is secluded. There are no roads to Holden—it used to be a mining village. You can only get there by riding several hours on a ferry up Lake Chelan. Here I am with our Lady of the Lake ferry boat as we arrived at Lucerne.

But even when you get to Lucerne, you're not there yet. At that point, you must board a Holden Village school bus, which chugs up numerous switchbacks on a gravel road, climbing over 2,000 feet in a little under 12 miles. Check out the switchback road sign.

As you ascend, there are breathtaking views of Lake Chelan.

William and I were pleased to discover we got to live in this lovely mountain chalet during our two week stay.

This is the view we had from our front porch!

Here we are with Pastor Jen Nagel, the summer teaching staff coordinator, who had arranged for me to come and teach. Jen and I have been friends since 1995, when we worked together at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin as chaplain interns.

During our time at Holden Village, I led 15 laughter yoga sessions, including a laughing of the labyrinth. Below is a video with highlights from these joyful gatherings, many of which happened outside at 7:30 a.m. What better way to start the day than laughing with friends in the mountains?

Below are photographs, which William took, during the various laughter yoga sessions. Double-click them to view larger versions.

Here's the labyrith group in the happy center.

We're giving each other laughter blessings!

During our incredible time at Holden Village, we noticed a transformation—it became a laughing village. People would run up to one another and greet each other with a laugh. Some even took laughing hikes and would shout "Very Good! Very Good! Yay!" after each stream they successfully crossed. And all in all, there was great joyfulness. Holden Village has always been a happy place that values holy hilarity but I do think that having laughter yoga sessions there helped them live into that identity more fully. I'm grateful we had such a wonderful experience there and I now have lots more laughter friends. Very Good! Very Good! Yay!