MY FIRST CLASS OF LAUGHTER TEACHERS

At last, I’m posting the pictures from my first laughter yoga teacher course. It was held over April Fool’s weekend (how appropriate is that?!). It began with a laughter yoga leader class, which was team taught by the fabulous adjunct faculty-hee-heee, Jody Ross, Dan and Jill Johnson, Nancy Greenwald and Michelle Erschen as well as the five laughter yoga teacher students. The leaders were overwhelmed by all that wisdom and joy. Below are pictures from the leader graduation ceremony, held on April Fool’s Day. 

After the big, blowout graduation ceremony on Sunday, the teacher students stayed on for another two and a half days of learning. We went deep and had a truly transformational time. I was humbled to have the opportunity to teach laughter yoga to such amazing people. I was blessed beyond measure by their open hearts. Their love and laughter cannot be described in words.

I'd like to thank my husband, William, for taking these delightful photos.

My next leader/teacher retreat is beginning this coming weekend in Rochester, Minnesota. Watch this blog for pictures and reports about that experience.

Teacher Kathy Wilkinson visiting with her small group

Dianne Jones taking some laughter notes

Lynette McCormack, Susan Kiefer (I think, but I can't tell for sure because of the costume!), Kim Doffing & Linda Dingels

Always clowning around

Laughing Laura, your fine feathered friend

Susan Kiefer, Laughing Laura & Kim Doffing

The graduation ceremony begins!

Nancy Greenwald is not chicken to laugh!

Dan Johnson, faculty-hee-hee member, making a commencement speech in gibberish

Celebration time!

Another diploma is awarded—Judy Hora receives hugs from all the faculty-hee-hee

Cheers all around!

Sandra Jones marches up to receive her diploma as Laughing Laura cheers her on

Laughing Laura giving out faculty-hee-hee awards

Michelle Erschen impersonating a rubber chicken as she received her award (it made sense at the time, trust me...you had to be there!)

The entire graduating class of leader students, along with the teacher students and faculty-hee-hee. Click on this photo  to see it larger.

Laughing Laura with the camp director, Dick Iverson

Jody Ross, the amazing fairy princess cowgirl and Laughter Yoga Teacher

The group going for a wagon ride

Nancy Greenwald, Michelle Erschen, Dan & Jill Johnson and Laughing Laura—and no, we did not plan this...we just all naturally chose chicken laughter-wear. Bawk Bawk!

Happy Hippie Chick & Laughter Yoga Leader, Lynette McCormack

Happy Dan!

Rev. Jenna Couch—a pastor AND Laughter Yoga Leader

Laughter Yoga Leader Sandra Jones

Laughing Laura in a teaching moment

Dan Johnson giving a presentation to the group

Kathy Wilkinson with Laughing Laura (she about had a cow over those udders!)

Laughing Laura with Carolyn Christopher

Kathy laughing all the way

Dan is some bunny!

Jill Johnson with another great laugh

Faculty-Hee-Hee from South Dakota—the irrepressible laughing duo Dan & Jill Johnson

Laughter Yoga Teacher, Teddy Bruns

Laughing Laura & Laughter Yoga Teacher Sue Kiefer doing a cow kick

Moo!

Just another hilarious moment at laughter school

Kathy Wilkinson and Deb Olson—both Laughter Yoga Teachers

Teddy presenting Laughing Laura with a magic bubble wand!

Laughing Laura being amazed with the bubble wand

Laughing Laura enjoying the big bubbles of the wand!

The teacher graduation ceremony

Teddy rocking it at the graduation

More unbridled celebration

Deb Olson receiving her diploma

Sue Kiefer receiving her diploma

Carolyn Christopher giving Laughing Laura some love as she receives her diploma

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Teddy Bruns cheers to receive her diploma

Jill Johnson with a big cheer

The whole group of teachers giving one another laughter blessings

Here it is, the graduation picture of the first class of Teachers

Jody Ross in a teaching moment

Doing some yogic breathing

More teaching from Laughing Laura

The valley at the beautiful retreat center, Sugar Creek Bible Camp

Dan sharing his logo for life

Laughing Laura explaining the meaning of her Be Laughter painting

Teddy and Carolyn

Here is a list of contact information for the graduates. They are all prepared and ready to laugh with you and your organization!

LAUGHTER YOGA LEADERS

Betsy J. Kennedy

Madison, WI

betsykennedy@att.net

608-274-2902

Dianne Jones

West Des Moines, IA 

diannemjones@gmail.com

Susan Rhodes

Milwaukee, WI 

sue.rhodes@vmp.org

Sandra Jones

Madison, WI 

sandra.was.jones@gmail.com

Angeline Jensen

Rochester, MN

bydesignmn@yahoo.com

507-398-9709

Kim Doffing

Burnsville, MN 

gniffod@gmail.com

Jenna Couch

Dubuque, IA

jennalcouch@gmail.com

Josie Milan

Lakeville, MN 

josiemilan@yahoo.com

612-618-1149

Judy Hora

Waterloo, IA

mwjj@netins.net

319-342-2255

Karla Fernet 

Rockford, IL 

815-519-4977

Linda Dingels

Northfield MN

507-581-3826

Paula Achenbach

Northfield, MN

achenbackp@aol.com

Lynette McCormack

West Chester, OH

ldmccormck@aol.com

LAUGHTER YOGA TEACHERS

Deborah Olson

Rochester, MN 

507-358-3331 

olson.deborah2@mayo.edu 

Carolyn Christopher

Ann Arbor, MI 

CJCshalom@gmail.com

Kathy Wilkinson

Ann Arbor, MI 

happykw@comcast.net

Teddy Bruns

LaPorte City, IA 

515-210-0335

arbonneteddy@yahoo.com

Susan Kiefer

New Franken, WI 

920-866-2540

sskiefer@hotmail.com

ASSOCIATION FOR APPLIED & THERAPEUTIC HUMOR CONFERENCE

A Different Kind of Conference for a Different Kind of Experience

Are you tired of the same kind of conference? Tired of sitting through boring sessions waiting for the day to end so you can have fun? Do you want to attend a conference where laughing AND learning are the rule and NOT the exception?

Then you won't want to miss the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor's 25th Annual Conference and Anniversary Celebration in Chicago April 19-22. Not only will it be fun, but I'll be there presenting.

The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) is an international community of professionals who incorporate humor into their daily lives. AATH is the leader in providing evidence-based information about current research and practical applications of humor. Therapeutic humor is any intervention that promotes health and wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity of life's situations. If you love to laugh and want to learn more about the neuroscience of humor join us in Chicago (Rosemont) at the beautiful Westin O Hare conference center.  

My workshop will be held on Saturday morning. Here is the description.

Holy Hysterics: Bringing Humor, Laughter 
and Joy to your Community of Faith

Pastor LAURA GENTRY, M.Div., MA

Through a rib-tickling experience, participants will learn the value of using humor and laughter in Christian ministry. Chaplains, professional ministers and lay church leaders will be given easy-to-use tools for boosting the joy of the Lord. A lighthearted look at the bible will highlight God’s desire to turn our mourning into dancing. Then, unique, faith-based laughter “exercises” drawn from the international Laughter Yoga movement will be demonstrated. This enables people to laugh contagiously in community. The goal is to show participants how they can efficiently renew the faith, health and happiness of those in their care.

Registration information is on line at  AATH or call 1-888-747-2284. Click on the flyer below to view larger. See you there!

LAUGHING IN A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER

This article was just posted at the Lutheran Services in Iowa site. Click here to read it there.

Laughter is the best medicine

March 29, 2012

Waverly, Iowa—Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. Pastor Laura Gentry of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Lansing, Iowa, shared her “Holy Hysterics” program at LSI’s Bremwood Residential Treatment Center on Tuesday, March 6, during a worship service.

“Holy Hysterics” combines traditional Christian ministry with laughter yoga, an innovative exercise involving laughter and deep yogic breathing. Gentry has now shared her laughter ministry on five continents, most recently in Africa.

“This form of ministry is very uplifting,” explains Gentry. “It utilizes contagious laughter to help people tap into the joy of the Lord.”

LSI’s Bremwood Residential Treatment Center provides 24-7 mental health services for youth ages 12 to 18 with severe emotional or behavior disorders. Many of the youth have experienced trauma from past abuse or neglect.

Thanks to generous community support, LSI also provides voluntary spiritual life activities to address the mind, body and spirit needs of youth.

“If laughter heals, let’s all laugh a lot,” said P.C., a 15-year-old at Bremwood. “I felt pretty good after our laughter worship and enjoyed it a lot.”

“Laura’s winsome presentation was a hit with our youth,” said Pastor Dennis Bauer, LSI spiritual life leader. “Some were cautiously curious, but even those teens paid attention and listened. Those who engaged with the laughter were blessed with a deep relaxation and trust in the moment. They’re already asking when she’ll be back.”

For more information about Gentry’s ministry, visit www.laughinglaura.com.

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LSI is one of Iowa's largest human services agencies and impacts tens of thousands of Iowans annually through child abuse prevention, services for families and youth in crisis, services for people with disabilities, refugee services, home health care and disaster response. LSI is nationally accredited and serves people of all ages, genders, nationalities, religions, ethnicities and sexual orientations. To learn more, visit www.LSIowa.org. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.

THE MAGIC OF LAUGHTER YOGA WITH DISABLED ADULTS

This article just ran in The Standard of Waukon, Iowa. Click here to see it at the Standard site.

Friday, February 17, the TASC, Inc. building on Mt. Olivet Road in Waukon was literally bursting with laughter. The special guest that day was the Reverend Laura Gentry. An internationally recognized teacher of laughter yoga and pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing, Gentry led a session of laughter exercises for more than 40 members of the TASC community.

TASC is a community-based organization, which promotes and builds a more inclusive community where people with disabilities obtain jobs and housing of their choosing, wages commensurate with their skills, and increased self-dependence and integration in their communities through progressive and effective program services.

“Laughter is exceptionally good for physical and emotional health,” said Gentry. “It also helps boost self-esteem, which is particularly great for disabled persons.” She explained that the method of laughter yoga, which is now practiced in 70 countries around the world, enables people to experience acceptance and joy. “You could certainly see that at TASC. Everyone was having a fantastic time,” she added.

This wasn’t the first time that laughter yoga has been led at TASC. Gentry volunteered to offer a session there several, years ago and since November TASC Program Associate Kim Timmerman has been leading laughter yoga sessions there each week.

Timmerman is a member of the Lansing Laughter Club, led by Gentry. The club meets each Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. in Lansing. There, she learned a number of laughter exercises and yoga breathing techniques. 

Timmerman is pictured here with members of her Laughter Club at TASC

Last fall, she decided it was time to share these things with the TASC community. “They love it!” declared Timmerman. “Most people laugh whenever they see me now. They call me the Laughing Lady.”

Laughter yoga is a great addition to the programs offered by TASC, Timmerman explained, because it gets people doing physical exercise. She says even if they are restricted to a wheelchair, they still get a cardiovascular workout by laughing.

“Some of the individuals I work with can’t comprehend a joke but with laughter yoga they don’t need to. They just see me laughing and they laugh along or at least smile. It is so contagious, which makes it really effective here”.

Timmerman used the principles of laughter yoga in other parts of her work at TASC as well. She recalled an incident in which a woman in her care was very upset and needed to be taken to another part of the facility to have her conflict resolved by a staff member. 

Timmerman suggested that they laugh their way there instead of just walking. The woman agreed and by the time they got to the office, her distress had dissipated. “She couldn’t even remember why she was mad,” said Timmerman. “She was in a great mood again.”

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UPDATE: The Laughter Yoga Leader Retreat being held over April Fool's Weekend got so full that we've had to secure a bigger meeting space on the camp. So many amazing laughers! And that's good news for you. If you haven't yet registered, there is now extra space for YOU. Click here for details.