DANCE YOUR WAY TO BLISS

I love active meditations. Ever since I learned laughter meditation, it's been my bliss. You get to wriggle around on the floor, giggling with friends like you're at a slumber party—what could be easier? And yet, you still get the mindful benefit of other, more serious forms of meditation. Easy. Effective. Fun. That's what I adore.

So when my friend, Sarito Sun, told me about a dancing meditation she's been practicing for 35 years, I decided I wanted to try that, too.

Sarito Sun & Laughing Laura

I'm delighted to report that she's mentored me in this method. It's called Kundalini Dancing Meditation and it is, indeed, amazing. And simple. It begins with gently loosening the body, literally shaking off stress and anything else blocking the free-flow of energy. Then, you get to dance intuitively to joyful, rhythmic music. After this is 15 minutes of sitting and feeling the calmness of mind. Finally, there is a time of lying down and entering into deep, deep silence. The whole meditation takes an hour and—like laughter meditation—it is truly transformative. I cannot do it without blissing out entirely!

Therefore, I have integrated it into my own meditation practice and I'll be sharing it with as many people as possible. To begin with, I've scheduled an event in Decorah, Iowa at Discover Happy pilates studio at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24th. I will also offer this dancing meditation at the Laugh-Fest of the Midwest. Yes, registration is still open for this exciting event to be held May 16-18, so hurry up and secure your place.

It's Holy Week so I'm very much engaged in my ministry at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. By the way, we had a donkey at worship last Sunday! Check out the pictures here. And please keep in mind that Holy Hilarity Sunday will be April 27th at 9 a.m. If you want to laugh in church, I invite you to be there!  Blessings to you all.

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY & EXTENDED LAUGH-FEST EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT

Have you registered for the Laugh-Fest of the Midwest yet? Many of you have and you've taken advantage of the great early-bird discount. If you haven't, it's not too late to get the savings because we're extending the discount deadline to April 29! And we now have a list of amazing presenters to entice you to register. They are listed below.

JANE VOIGTS

Nobody can bring out the comedy—and spiritual potential—of polyester pant suits...and inspire others to do the same....than Jane Voigts!  Comedian, writer and Methodist Minister, Jane is one of the great hopes for modern religious life. She graduated from the Claremont School of Theology in 1996.  There she created an improv troupe of seminarians called Angelic Residue; they played improv games with scripture and were a huge hit everywhere we went..  She even created a full-fledged Comedy Church in Toluca Lake, California.  She's presently working on a book about the biblical account of the birth of Isaac (ie "laughter") as well as an evening of entertainment entitled, The Bible Cabaret:  A Comedy and Music Review Starring the Old and New Testaments.  In her spare time, she collects polyester pant suits and figures out how to get out of the splits. At the Laugh-Fest, Jane will be leading us in hilarious improvisation exercises as well as offering a comedic performance. Check out her website: http://janevoigts.com.

ANNE TIMPANY

A whirlwind of joy, Ann Timpany is the Founding Director of the Academy for Joyful Leadership, providing support and training for you to laugh your way to passion and prosperity and co-create a culture of joy by sharing your gifts with others.  Anne leads Joy Tours, transformational travel adventures, and Joy School retreats around the world, in addition to regular laughter meditations and joyful playshops in her local community of Idaho Falls, Idaho.  Anne's passion is inspiring and empowering you to live joyfully, bring your dreams into reality, and play the note that only you can play in the grand symphony of life! Anne is coming all the way from Idaho to offer an extended playshop to help you connect with your passion and purpose through play! Check out her website: http://www.embodyingjoy.com/.

DR. TERRI REASONER

A Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, Terri Reasoner holds a PhD in Transformative Learning & Change from the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco. Her dissertation focus was on the role social networks play in bringing isolated individuals together to find hope, healing, and relief. Terri weaves her Laughter Yoga practice into her 20 plus year of adult learning and training profession. Terri is also a Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) and has been certified in Myers-Briggs. She currently works as an independent consultant while sharing her love for Laughter Yoga with her clients.  She will be presenting the work she’s doing on the relationship between Laughter Yoga, Positive Psychology and Happiness. Check out her website: http://www.engaginglaughteryoga.com/.

DR. KATHY PHELAN

Dr. Kathleen Phelan is a family practice medical doctor with ProHealth, certified Laughter Yoga Leader, and the sister of Laughing Laura! She’ll be doing an “Ask Dr. Laffy Kathy” session in which you can have your medical questions answered. Plus, she has two laughing kids who will be joining us for the weekend! Check out her blog: http://laffykathy.blogspot.com/

SILLY SALLY

Explore the joys of caring clowning with Silly Sally, also known as Sarah Caldwell. Sarah offers her enthusiasm and experience—sharing her tricks of the trade to inspire you. Sarah will not only do a hands-on clowning workshop and share about her therapeutic use of humor, she'll give a performance at our Saturday night costume party!

BETSY KENNEDY

Occupational Therapist, Lymphedema Therapist and certified Laughter Yoga Leader, Betsy Kennedy has extensive health care experience from pediatrics to senior care, specifically dementia care. She joyfully integrates her various skill set to help people of all ages experience higher quality of life. Betsy will be sitting on our health care panel as well as leading a field trip to the local nursing home to do Laughter Yoga with the residents. Check out her website: 

http://www.betterfunctioning.com.

LAUREN HUNT

Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, mother, community organizer, and natural born leader, Lauren Hunt is on a mission to  to help you lighten up, laugh more, cultivate your playful self and fall in LOVE with life. Her deepest passion is to bring people together to uplift and celebrate life through her loves of laughing, singing and dancing. Lauren will be leading some Laughter Yoga as well as a delightfully playful gibberish playshop! Check out her website: http://www.laughandlovelife.com/.

DEB OLSON, R.N., M.S.N.

A Certified Health Coach, Cancer Guide and Director of Living Alive, Deb Olson uses a variety of tools to help clients see their true potential and the meaning in their lives. In addition to her 30 years of nursing practice, Deb is a certified Laughter Yoga Leader, Healing Touch practitioner and has completed the Advanced Mind-Body Medicine professional training program among other things. Her vision is to help clients live joyfully with themselves and others and she’s found that learning to love yourself is the key to unlocking your passions and purpose in life. Deb will share more about this at the Laugh-Fest in a presentation called Unconditional Life and Laughter. Check out her website: http://iamlivingalive.com.

TERESA LISUM

Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, massage therapist, Reiki practitioner and Tai Chi instructor, Teresa Lisum will be leading joyful Tai Chi sessions and sharing her creative use of music and dancing with Laughter Yoga.

KELLI BOYLEN

Licensed Massage Therapist Kelli Boylen will be available for retreat guests on Saturday, May 17. She will be offering hour long massages for $50, starting at 9 a.m. Her training includes basic massage, deep tissue work, myofascial release and reflexology. 

Please email indigoskymassage@gmail.com to make an appointment, or leave a message at 563.329.0515. Appointments are limited—email or call soon! Sunday appointments may be available if there is enough demand.

LAUGHING LAURA

And of course, I'll be doing some presenting, too, including the opening ceremony where we'll zealously commit ourselves to a weekend of pure joy, relaxation and laughter! I'll also be sharing some folk dances, games and more. If you'd like a to do some deep personal work for freedom, joy and enlightenment, consider scheduling a one hour  "Laughing Constellations" session with me. Please email right away so we can schedule it: laughinglauragentry@gmail.com.

PLUS, we may have more great presenters! We hope this new information inspires you to get registered for the Laugh-Fest right away! It is a wonderful, affordable laughter vacation waiting just for you. Couldn't you use some rest and renewal as well as inspiration from these incredible folks? Visit the Laugh-Fest page to register: http://www.laughinglaura.com/laughfest.html. Thanks!