NEW BOOK, YOGA ARTICLE & LAUGHFEST

Hi Laughing Friends,
I'm so happy to share some Laughing News! Here are three things designed to bring a smile to your face.

1. NEW LAUGHING BOOK

There is a brand new book out about laughter called

God Laughs--Why Don't You?: Making Use of Humor in the Practice of Ministry (Healthy Clergy Make Healthy Congregations)

It was written by Stephan McCutchan. He's covered a lot of hilarious topics for ministers who recognize their need for laughter. Funny and insightful, it is a real treat. I know about his amazing book because he asked me to write a chapter. My quote about laughter is also featured on the back cover. If you are a clergy or you know one who could use a lift, I encourage you to click the link below to check it out.

2. YOGA ARTICLE

The Iowa Yoga organization asked me to write an article about Laughter Yoga for their Yoga as Medicine issue. I was grateful to be asked because this is such an important topic and a great way for yogis to learn about Laughter Yoga. You can read the whole magazine for free! There are lots of interesting articles including mine. Here is the link: http://issuu.com/yogaiowa/docs/yia-winter-2015/0

3. LAUGHFEST 2015

The LaughFest of 2015 is coming soon! Yes, it will be May 15-17—the most wonderful time of year in which the trees are sprouting their brand new leaves. We are holding it at the retreat center in Ferryville, Wisconsin again. The nearest airport is LaCrosse, Wisconsin. If you've been a regular at this event, reserve your spot by getting registered right away. If you've never tried it out, we invite you to give it a whirl. This is your opportunity to have a laughter vacation, meet new friends, and acquire some new wellness tools to make you healthier and happier—right here in the Midwest! And it's as affordable as can be since it's held at a retreat center that serves delicious food.

This year, we have a very exciting new speaker of Linda Tourloukis and many returning speakers like Rev. Jane Voigts, Dr. Terri Reasoner, Dr. Kathy Phelan, Deb Olson, R.N. and me, Laughing Laura. There is room for more so go to the LaughFest page and pitch an idea. You may just be one of the speakers this year! You can lead an activity, too. We aren't just looking for lectures. We want our participants to have a whole host of happy experiences. There is an early bird discount until April 1. Don't miss it!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE LAUGHFEST PAGE

If you are interested in training as a Laughter Yoga Leader or a Laughter Yoga Teacher, please let me know. If we have enough students, we'll be adding these classes to the LaughFest. LaughingLauraGentry@gmail is my contact (even though this email sends out from yahoo).

Have a Laughing Day! YOU are amazing!

THE FIRST SPRING RETREAT WAS A REAL TREAT

Yes! We have done it. We’ve pulled off a spring retreat of laughter yoga in the beautiful hills of Ferryville, Wisconsin. It was amazing. Forty one people were involved in the event—some for the whole weekend, others for a day. They came from all over the Midwest and Doug, the Laugh Man, came from Mississippi!

We’ve decided that we ABSOLUTELY DO want it to become an annual event—basically a  laughter yoga conference of the Midwest. Next year, we’re hoping to gather for an even bigger, more delightful party and we hope you’ll join us. We even have a committee forming to plan it. Possible dates are: May 16-18 or March 14-16. Please e-mail me at laughinglauragentry@yahoo.com to report your preference. Thanks! 

Meanwhile, let me tell you about this year’s retreat. It so wiped me out that I haven’t had a chance to post this blog until now. 

We gathered on Friday, April 19th and laughed pretty much nonstop until the afternoon of Sunday, April 21st. Here are some highlights:

• We had two full-blown laughter yoga sessions. One was led by LY Teachers Jill and Dan Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD on Friday night, and the other was led by Madison Laughter Club Teachers Mike Kueny, Nancy Greenwald, Michelle Erschen, and Beth Murphy on Sunday morning.

• We learned about how to laugh our way into mindfulness with easy and fun practices as taught by LY Teacher Deb Olson, R.N. 

• We picked up tips for leading laughter clubs and getting hired with a presentation by LY Teachers Kathy Wilkinson and Carolyn Christopher. 

• We laughed the Labyrinth and got gibberish blessings.

• We enjoyed laughing in the wood fired sauna.

• We laughed at Doug's laugh.

• We hiked in the hills (and some of us...we’re not naming names...got lost).

• We laughed with our ancestors using a method called family constellations and asked them to support us in our endeavor to live joyfully.

• We watched a portion of the film Laughology and heard from the star, Doug Collins, about how his laugh has changed his life and the world for the better (and believe me, it touched us all deeply).

• We sang, danced, laughed and played games at our Saturday evening costume party (which is where most of the following pictures were taken).

• We made new friends and played together happily in our playgroups.

• We had campfires (where the bunny hop was also performed...along with all the silly songs we could remember).

• Some laughers invaded my church, Our Savior's Lutheran, on Sunday morning, thus bringing their joyful energy into the worship service.

• Four new Laughter Yoga Leaders graduated and were sent off to change the world with laughter.

• And at the end, all were awarded "The Most Valuable Laugher in the Universe" certificates because the universe is big enough for ALL of us to be the most 

valuable. And incidentally, we declared Ferryville the laughing center of the Universe. Who knew?

I’m note quite sure how we packed all of that into one weekend. But we did! And we all felt the benefit of joining together with so many positive, happy, laughing, singing, dancing people! So much love—oh, it made our hearts sing! I am so grateful for everyone's participation and I can't wait 'til next year.

the laughing name tags all ready to go

the laughing bird pens who greeted each laugher

Doug and me at the recording studio (we had to finish our CD before the retreat).

Doug at the Votive Candle Chapel at the Shine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, Wisconsin (we took him there on our way down to the camp in Ferryville)

Doug inside the Votive Candle Chapel where he lit a candle and prayed for our retreat

during the laughing with our ancestors session I led

performing the laughing seven generations ritual

Carolyn saying hello to the pink elephant by blowing in my trunk

The group of young people who joined us from Milwaukee

here I am with Laughter Yoga Leader, Barb Flouro

the ever amazing LY Teacher, Carolyn Christopher

Can you find Waldo? How about the pink elephant?

Doug with the Johnsons

the ladies from Ladysmith, Wisconsin: Pat, Shirley and Barb, along with Doug and me

Doug getting ready to party!

LY Leader Lisa Weis and her foreign exchange student, Silvia laugh with the elephant

the loveable LY Teacher Kathy Wilkinson

here I am with LY Leader Carrie Hein Paredes (Carrie and I have been friends since childhood and the laughter yoga helped us find one another and reconnect in a magical way) 

Doug and Kathy

the Waldos are whispering sweet nothings into my big ears 

with LY Teacher Deb Olson, the fairy princess

The laughers who invaded my church on Sunday morning

A hilarious laughter meditation

More fun with costumes! (sorry about the cow suit, Kathy, I know I promised not to bring it this year!)

Kathy and Carolyn's presentation

Doug with Pastor Jenna, Laughter Yoga Leader, and her husband, Mike

Cheering in the center of the labrinth

Our whole group

an example of the Most Valuable Laugher awards...Doug wasn't the only one who got one! We all did!

LAUGHING AT THE CARE CENTER

Today, I did a laughter presentation at the Great River Care Center in McGregor, Iowa. It was an inservice for the entire staff. Administrator, Cheri Leachman, wanted to treat them to a fun-filled afternoon, complete with a catered Christmas party following the meeting. So, she decided Laughter Yoga would be the ticket.


The staff members had no idea that they were in for a less-than-serious laughter-filled seminar and were rather shocked when I showed up in my pink flamingo costume. But once they got adjusted to the idea that laughing at work was okay, they threw themselves into it and had a fabulous time. Not only that, they learned about the health benefits of laughing and how to laugh more with care center residents.


“I was so glad to be able to surprise the staff with this laughter experience! I think it is going boost them for a long time.” Said Leachman, who, as you can see pictured above, got into the spirit of laughter herself.

The photos, of course, were taken by William.


















































































HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!