LAUGHING AT MY ALMA MATER

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to share laughter yoga with the Women's Club of Luther College—my very own alma mater. We had a fabulous time with all the laughing ladies. Below, I am pictured with the organizers, Marilynn Larson and Ruby Hermeier.

The following article ran in the Decorah Newspapers.

Laughter Yoga is program for Luther College Woman's Club

Laura Gentry, Director of the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga, will present the program of the Luther College Woman's Club Tuesday, March 20, at 1:30 p.m.

Gentry, known as "Laughing Laura," lives in McGregor and directs the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga. She is a Laughter Yoga master trainer and has been named a laughter ambassador by Laughter Club International.

Laughing Laura is the producer of a number of Laughter Yoga resources including the film "Laughter Friends: A Laughter Yoga Workout for Kids," which has been recommended by the American Library Association and sent to U.S. military bases around the world to support healthy families as a part of Operation Military Kid. She has led Laughter Yoga around the U.S. and in five foreign countries so far.

A 1992 graduate of Luther College, Gentry also is an ordained minister in the ELCA and pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing.

Luther College Woman's Club meets monthly in the Peace Dining Room of the Dahl Centennial Union at 1:30 p.m. All women from Decorah and surrounding communities are welcomed and encouraged to attend Luther College Woman's Club.

Refreshments are served following the program, brief business meeting and an update on current events at Luther College. Shuttle service from the Decorah Swimming Pool parking lot is available. Call Ruby Hermeier at (563) 382-4999 to arrange for this service. 

Childcare also is available during the meetings. Call Amy Bruening at (563) 382-8604 to arrange for this service.

CELEBRATING NURSING HOME WEEK WITH LAUGHTER YOGA

It's National Nursing Home Week. This is an opportunity to honor all those who contribute to our nation’s nursing homes—residents, family members, employees and volunteers. To celebrate, I offered a laughter yoga program at the Great River Care Center in McGregor, Iowa. Laughing is a wonderful way to increase the quality of life for residents as well as staff of nursing homes. It's a great form of exercise for people of all ability levels. Here are some pictures from that joyous event.

Photos by William F. Gentry II. www.thegentryjoint.com

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.