LAUGHFEST INTERVIEWS—PART 4

Jill and Dan Johnson—the "laughter couple"

Jill and her husband Dan have become affectionately known as the “laughter couple” for their coaching and yoga techniques which incorporate laughter to bring more joy to their clients’ personal and professional lives. They are laughter professors with a mission – to share their passion for joyful, positive living with everyone they meet.
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Together, they offer laughter workshops, corporate wellness programs, laughter life coaching, laughter therapy, and laughter products. They are dynamic presenters who specialize in uplifting presentations tailored to fit any organization whether it’s corporate executives, church personnel or chronically ill patients. Jill and Dan have helped empower thousands of people better connect with their goals and let go of emotional blocks through laughter. Both Jill and Dan are Certified Laughter Yoga Leaders and Trainers and Laughter Ambassadors.

I am thrilled that they will be back for the Laugh-Fest this year. In 2012, they were part of the Laughter Yoga Teacher and Leader training I did at the camp in Ferryville. It was a magical time and so we all wanted a reunion the following year. That's how the Laugh-Fest was born. Before anyone left the camp, we booked the next spring and it snowballed from there. Now we will be throwing the fourth annual Laugh-Fest of the Midwest and Jill and Dan have a lot to do with that! I'm so grateful to them. 

For those of you who already know them, you may not be aware of the recent developments in their lives. They have both studied a new healing modality and are going to be sharing it with us. Check out the interview to learn more.

LAURA: Jill and Dan, I cannot express just how elated I am that you will be back for the Laugh-Fest this year! I saw the two of you present an interactive lecture about saying YES! at the national laughter convention in San Diego, California a few years back. I’ve seen many lectures over the course of my life and I gotta say that yours was one of the very best—ever. It was memorable, motivational, and such fun. That’s what sparked our imagination and led the committee to choose YES! as the theme of this year’s Laugh-Fest. Thanks for the inspiration! The two of you will give the opening presentation for the festival so we’ll hear all about it then, but can you give us a little preview of what YES! means to you two and how it has propelled you forward in life?

JILL & DAN: Laura, we’re excited to be back at the Laugh-Fest! It’s a beautiful location and a perfect opportunity to laugh with our fellow Midwesterners again! The staff at the retreat center equally make the experience a joyful one, and the home cooked food is always delicious. As Dan’s grandmother would say, ‘If you go hungry it’s your own fault!’ Hahaha!!

Our lives have changed so much since we gave the closing keynote at the National Laughter Conference in San Diego. The effects of our presentation, The Power of YES!, propelled us forward into a deeper awakening. As we continued to say yes to life we continued to open doors not only to experiences and opportunities outside of ourselves, but more importantly, within ourselves. By shining a light within we explored and expanded in ways that cleansed, cleared, and opened us to the biggest yes of all: unconditional love. Our presentation will look at what does saying Yes! look like to you in your physical  reality of experiences, and what does YES! look like when you go inward and say yes to your spirit. Life gets more exciting and fun when you peel away the layers and live from the YES! that’s in your heart. 

LAURA: Awesome! I can't wait! I know it will offer so much to our Laugh-Festers. Jill, you have been doing yoga for many years and now you are certified in LifeForce Yoga that is designed to alleviate symptoms of depression. I find this so fascinating—and so necessary given the prevalence of depression in our society. You’ll be leading a workshop in this on Saturday afternoon. Tell us a bit about this healing modality and why you’ve chosen to be a teacher of it.

JILL: I have started working with clients one-on-one and noticed that stress and anxiety are the biggest factors in their decision to seek out a yoga therapist. So I started looking around at trainings that would help me understand and offer techniques and principles to alleviate those conditions. LifeForce Yoga is such a multi-layered practice that meets the individual’s mood, then helps to shift the mood thus releasing the constrictions and uncovering one’s true self – that precious being we really are. Through movement, breathing techniques, mantra (sound) and mudra (hand gestures) people get in touch with their bodies and begin to ‘feel’ again. 

LAURA: If someone is new to yoga, would they still be able to attend your workshop? How difficult will it be?

JILL: This will be a level 1 class. Newbies are welcome, but participants will need to be able to get up and down from the floor. If they have a yoga mat they can bring it, but it’s not necessary. 

LAURA: Dan, I remember when you went to school for massage therapy and how fired up about it you were. You finally got to fulfill your long-time dream to become a healer! And I can attest to the fact that you are an incredibly talented massage therapist. Now, you’ve gone on to learn another exciting method of healing. Can you tell us about it and how it works?

DAN: The MyoKinesthetic System, or MYK, is my latest passion. I love the simplicity and completion of the treatment. MYK is a fresh approach to pain relief. This muscle movement technique corrects and balances the nervous system. One of the main things MYK addresses is posture. By balancing the posture, we balance the nervous system. When the nervous system is balanced, the body begins to work the way it’s supposed to work with range of motion increasing and pain decreasing. There’s no oils or creams, you don’t get undressed, you sit in a chair and a treatment is 15 minutes or less. 

LAURA: Will Laugh-Festers have the opportunity to receive such a treatment from you at the event? How do they sign up?

DAN: Yes! I’ll be offering chair massages, 10 minutes/$10. And MYK treatments that will balance your upper and lower body for $20. I will be available throughout the weekend for treatments. Contact me to secure your appointment at 605-413-8849, or see me at the event.

LAURA: You will be coming all the way from South Dakota to join us for the Laugh-Fest and we thank you for your commitment.  What are your hopes for the Laugh-Fest?

JILL & DAN: Our hopes are to connect with other laughers and share in the beauty of gathering our community together in this peaceful environment. Sharing our passion of Joyful Living through laughter, yoga, bodywork and friends – it doesn’t get any better than that!!

One of Jill and Dan's CDs which will be for sale at the Laugh-Fest

The Johnsons will be kicking off the Laugh-Fest with their interactive lecture on the power of saying YES! Jill will also be leading a playshop of LifeForce Yoga to alleviate depression and anxiety. We are thrilled to have their energy and expertise guiding us along our weekend journey. Learn more at: Joyful Living Therapy. 

Oh, and don't forget to register for the Laugh-Fest at this link. Just a few more days until the Early Bird Special expires.

Here I am with the fabulous Johnsons!