LAUGHING LADIES OF PRAIRIE DU CHIEN

Below are pictures from a laughter yoga presentation I gave to the Women's Civic Club of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. As you can see, they are all fabulous laughers! Photos by William F. Gentry II (www.thegentryjoint.com).

LAUGHTER MINISTRY

The following article about a presentation I gave to students at Wartburg Theological Seminary was published in the Telegraph Herald newspaper of Dubuque, Iowa on Saturday, April 21, 2011. It can be found at this link.

Holy ha ha

Laughter ministry mixes joy with praise

BY MARY NEVANS-PEDERSON TH STAFF WRITER MNPEDERSON@WCINET.COM

Religion doesn't always have to be solemn, and religious leaders shouldn't be somber all the time, says a northeast Iowa pastor who promotes levity in the praise of God.

"A core value of Christianity is joy and Jesus brings us joy," said the Rev. Laura Gentry, while leading a recent laughter ministry workshop at Wartburg Theological Seminary. "Through joy, we become more 'Christian' than ever, more loving, more willing to roll with life's punches, trusting that God will take care of us."

Gentry's students practiced a number of techniques that might help them laugh at their problems and those of their congregations. They chuckled, giggled, tickled and belly-laughed. As a warm-up exercise, they sang the children's song, "Jesus Loves Me,' substituting "ha, ha" for the lyrics. Students doubled over with laughter at the silliness and the room rang with adult giggles. The session was part of Wartburg's "spiritual practices" course.

Ministers and lay faithful alike can spread the joy of the Christian message through their actions.

"It can be as simple as smiling. In today's society, that can be powerful.People may see you smiling and happy and say, 'Who is your savior? I want to know (who makes you so happy)?'" Gentry said. Four years ago, she started a community-wide laughter club in Lansing, Iowa. It is now based at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, where she serves.

Inspiring her audience with goofy hats, including a full-sized chicken headpiece, Gentry reminded them of the health risks that pastors often face and how laughter can provide some relief."Laughter is a stress-buster, controls high blood pressure, relieves pain naturally, strengthens your immune system, helps you sleep better and enhances your creativity and problem-solving skills," she said. Gentry chronicled stressful times in her life, including the first years of her church ministry. She attended a "laughter school" in California and has expanded on lessons she learned there, becoming a certified laughter yoga teacher.

Gentry urged her students to find personal ways to incorporate a bit of laughter into their daily lives. Her suggestions?

"Laugh while you are brushing your teeth, driving or vacuuming, and try to match the pitch of vacuum. Laugh with your houseplants and your pets. If you are in a public place and really feel a need, fake a cell phone call and you can laugh at what the other person supposedly said," she said, throwing her head back and chortling loudly with her hand held up to her ear.

At the end of class, Gentry made the students stand, put their hands over their hearts and pledge to, "Have fun at all times and in all places and to live with the joy of the Lord in my heart and promote laughter in the world."

This video also accompanies the story.

LAUGHTER YOGA HELPED ME GRIEVE THE DEATH OF MY MOTHER

Dr. Kataria asked me for a testimonial about what Laughter Yoga has done for me so I wrote the following article, which is now a chapter in his book The Inner Spirit of Laughter.

A few days after my mother’s hip replacement surgery, she reported some unusual symptoms to my dad, who took her to the emergency room. There, they discovered she had a life-threatening aortic aneurysm and the decision was made to transport her by medflight to a nearby hospital for emergency heart surgery.

As we anxiously awaited the outcome of her operation, I called the organizer of an event for which I was to do a Laughter Yoga program the following day. I had made a commitment to open the conference for the postmasters of Iowa with rollicking laughter. Yet in this moment of crisis, laughter was the last thing on my mind. The organizer couldn’t find a replacement speaker but offered to let me off the hook so I could stay at the hospital with my family.

Amazingly, my mom came through the surgery. Since the rest of the family could stay with her and she wouldn’t be fully conscious that day, my sister urged me to go ahead and speak at the conference.

What an incredible day, it was! Being able to go and bring joy and laughter to a mob of postmasters was just the lift I needed in that difficult time. They were so grateful that my husband I had come and many didn’t even know that my mom was in the ICU hanging onto life by a thread.

After the conference, I returned to the hospital and spent quality time with my mom. She was fully aware and appreciative of our presence with her. Two days later—after we’d left for the night—she fell unconscious and was not able to be revived. It was Mother’s Day weekend that my mother died.

In that moment, my life was irrevocably changed. The profound sadness of the loss was overwhelming. Grieving is so difficult because so many emotions flood you simultaneously. How could I face losing Mom? I really didn’t know.

The day after her funeral, however, I was at laughter club. People thought it odd that I could laugh in the face of such despair, but I said, “How can I not laugh?” Laughter is so healing, so life-giving, that I felt I needed to practice Laughter Yoga all the more in the depths of my grief.

As the months went on, I added more laughter to my daily routine. I began spending a half hour each morning doing the yoga breathing and laughing exercises that Dr. Kataria teaches at all his seminars. On top of that I practiced yoga nidra regularly for deeper healing. How I could have gotten through the worst of it without these practices, I have no idea. They gave me mini vacations from my grief—they revitalized me again and again so that I had the strength to do the arduous work of grieving. As a result, I am producing a laughter yoga CD which will walk people through these restorative practices. I’m dedicating it in loving memory of my mom. I know she would be proud.

In addition, the Laughter Yoga community supported me. I was so moved by the outpouring of kindness that I received from Laughter Yoga people around the globe. Students, fellow Laughter Yoga teachers, laughers I had met at conferences and events sent cards, letters, and flowers. I could feel the tangible power of their love as they continued to breathe and pray for me.

Perhaps most touching was that the postmasters I’d laughed with during my mom’s hospitalization sent me sympathy cards. I received over 40 cards from this group and since they’re postmasters, many included stamps as well. I had only met them once, but the laughter knit our hearts together and they became part of my family. They wrote such kind things, it made my weeping heart sing. Here's one example:

“Thank you for leading us in Laughter Yoga at the postmaster’s convention. Your positive attitude was infectious. I wanted to be crabby and you wouldn’t let me. I wanted to mope and be sad about a bunch of things and you weren’t having any of that either. If you could be so cheerful when complications, illness, and the threat of death loomed over you, then all of us need to draw from your strength. I’m so sorry to hear of your mother’s death. I know nothing of your family circumstances but if you are the way you are because of your mother—you are sharing her gift to you with all of us. She shines in your laugh!”

It's been a year and a half now since my mom died. I'm still not "done" grieving, but I am gaining more peace all the time. Above all, I credit Laughter Yoga with giving me the ability to walk through this dark valley to the light and happiness on the other side and to remember my mom—as she is pictured above—laughing freely.

Here's a link to her eulogy.

MEET THE OLDEST LAUGHTER YOGA LEADER IN THE USA

Dr. Howard Leslie has just become a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader. What makes him unique is that at almost 93, he’s the oldest graduate of the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga and Dr. Kataria has just verified that he's also the oldest laughter yoga leader in the USA. Howard is such an inpiration that I’d like to share his story with you.

A retired podiatrist, Howard lives in Ft. Meyers, Florida. He describes himself as an optimistic, upbeat person. He’s in great health and plays tennis four mornings a week. For the past ten years, he’s been the sole caretaker for his wife, Gladys. She has Alzheimer’s disease and is now living in a nursing care faclity. Because of Gladys’ diagnosis, Howard studied up and found that the three things Alzheimer’s patients respond best to are affection, touch and approval. As a result, Howard has spent the last decade showering Gladys with these things and they’ve helped her immensely. Howard reports that she is in much better condition than many other residents who have had Alzheimer’s for a much shorter time.

The two of them, pictured here, have been married 69 years now and their love is just as strong as ever. Each day Howard and Gladys toast to their marriage and sing “You Belong to My Heart” to one another. Though she can only speak a few words, Gladys can sing this song joyfully with her loving husband.

Howard decided to learn laughter yoga so he could share it with Gladys and the other residents at her facility. He began leading these sessions even before he enrolled in my e-course. Now that he’s learned more about laughter yoga, he’s decided to start a laughter club at his condo as well.

He explains: “My reason for being enthused with being a laughter yoga leader is that I get what I give. The joy I send out will come back to me like an echo. Hopefully it will give me a longer,healthier, happier life. It's exciting to be the oldest laughter yoga leader in the country. "

Ha Ha Ha Howard, as he now refers to himself, can be reached at howard100@webtv.net. Feel free to send him a word of congratulations.

He's also been featured at the international laughter yoga website. Click here to read his article.

GIRLS GET AWAY TO INCLUDE LAUGHTER YOGA

Good news, ladies! The Prairie du Chien Downtown Revitalization and McGregor-Marquette Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first "Tri-Community Girl's Get-Away" on Saturday, March 26 in historic Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and the twin communities of McGregor and Marquette just across the Mississsippi River in Iowa. The fun day will culminate with a rolicking session of laughter yoga with—you guessed it—Laughing Laura followed by Crazy Keys Dueling Pianos at the Lady Luck Casino.

The day begins at 10 a.m. at the Curious Cup in Prairie du Chien. Enjoy 4 workshops of your choice, have lunch, shop the 3 historic downtown areas, get the chance to win door prizes, then laugh and sing along at the evening program at the casino. Your $30 registration fee includes all of this and a $5 voucher for lunch. Click here for the full brochure.

This is a great chance to laugh and play with your girlfriends. You deserve a fun weekend, so mark it on your calendar and get registered today.

LAUGHING KALE SALAD

Hello Laughter Friends!

I've made a video just for you that demonstrates how to make a healthy, happy kale salad—while laughing! That's right. Since I always say that you should add more laughter to your life by laughing while doing everyday activities, I have been experimenting with laughing while cooking. And guess what? It is really fun. So enjoy this video and get laughter cooking right away. Feel free to send me your recipes and suggestions. ha ha ha!

Here's a picture of the salad demonstrated in the above video.

Here's another kale salad I made with tomatoes and avocado.

LAUGH FRIDAY SALE!

What do you get the person who has everything? Laughter, of course. It is the gift that keeps on giving. And to help you bring joy and laughter to everyone on your holiday shopping list, the Laughter Shoppe is offering an exciting LAUGH FRIDAY SALE. For one week only, you can save big with the following FOUR FOR FORTY offers.

Get four CDs or DVDs for just forty dollars from the Laughter Shoppe plus FREE SHIPPING! Choose as many four for forty packs as you want while supplies last but hurry, sale ends December 3rd. HA HA HA!

Say goodbye to stress on the road with this hilarious CD. Laughing Laura and the Fabulous Laughers keep the laughter rolling for commuters. This professionally recorded 23 minute workout features unique laughter exercises, yoga breathing, gibberish talking, happy chants, positive affirmations and more. Laugh Your Way There—the only product of its kind—will jump start your laughter engine no matter where you are!

Laugh Your Way There (CD)

4 for $40 plus free shipping

Join Laughing Laura and her Laughter Friends in this fun, easy-to-follow laughter yoga workout on DVD! This program contains a high-impact laughter yoga workout designed specifically for children, complete with a warm up, deep breathing, original songs, guided relaxation and 27 laughter exercises. The whole family can join in the laughter fun and cultivate a more positive outlook on life.

Laughter Friends (DVD)

4 for $40 plus free shipping

Happy, playful, interactive songs abound on Laughing Laura's debut album. This upbeat collection of 15 original songs and cheers is the first ever laughter-themed children’s album. Laughing Laura and the Gigglers are accompanied by a swingin' jazz trio. Today is a Laughing Day delivers big, happy fun to inspire laughing, singing, and dancing for the whole family.

Today is a Laughing Day (CD)

4 for $40 plus free shipping

Join the laughing pastor, Laura Gentry, in this faith-filled, laughing, dancing, singing, prais- ing, whooping with joy, go bananas workout to make your walk with the Lord a silly one. An interactive, Christian resource, this 75 minute disc includes:

• Bible Study: An exploration of holy scripture highlighting God’s desire to turn

your mourning into dancing, to clothe you with joy

• Laughter Workout: A faith-filled set of playful laughing & breathing exercises led by Pastor Laura & demonstrated by a group of fabulous laughers—laugh along & cultivate the fruit of joy

• Silly Singing: 13 old favorite Sunday school songs & hymns sung by a choir

in an exuberant style—sing & dance along to get in touch with your childlike faith

• Guided Meditation: Relax into the peace that passes all understanding with this happy guided meditation to help you rest in God’s love

Holy Hysterics (CD)

4 for $40 plus free shipping

Can't decide which one you want? No problem. Order the 4 pack, which includes one of each: Laugh Your Way There, Today is a Laughing Day, Laughter Friends and Holy Hysterics.

4 Pack (One of Each)

4 for $40 plus free shipping

Visit LaughingLaura.com to learn more about these and other laughter products. Happy Shopping!