Laughing Laura Gentry, Director of the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga, is passionate about laughter! Ha ha ha! During her college years, she was healed of an ulcer by laughing with friends. That's right—laughter alone healed her. At that point, she made a life decision to be a laughter. So when she heard about the worldwide laughter movement, she knew it was something with which she had to get involved.



In 2006, Laura flew to California to study with Sebastien Gendry at the American School of Laughter Yoga. Revved up with laughter, she returned and started Iowa's first Laughter Club. The club was an immediate success and drew national media attention. This sparked her interest in becoming a Laughter Yoga teacher. Laura, then, studied with Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of Laughter Yoga.

As a certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, she started Iowa's School of Laughter Yoga. She has trained many Laughter Yoga Leaders and has been on a laughter speaking circuit, offering levity to medical conventions, church gatherings, support groups, wellness events and much more.

She has written a number of articles about Laughter Yoga (such as this one) and a chapter for an upcoming book on Laughter Yoga edited by Jeffrey Briar. Laughing Laura will appear as the dog's laughter coach in the autobiography of May McGregor Bourret by Penfield Books.

As a laughter producer, Laura has created a Laughter Yoga film for children, a Laughter Yoga workout CD for commuters and is working on an album of laughter songs for kids and kids at heart—a great resource for Laughter Clubs.

Dr. Kataria has awarded Laura the title of "Laughter Ambassador" for her creative contributions to world laughter.

"Laura Gentry is one of those incredible people who blaze their own trail, and we’re all lucky enough to trail along and enjoy the ride. Laughter Yoga is one of the most simple yet innovative ideas to come around. Laughter really is the best medicine."
—Daniel Stout
Manufactured Environments

"Laughing Laura is such a lovely and pure spirit! She is so positive and full of creative ways to increase world laughter.  She makes my heart sing!
—Dr. Funshine
Pediatrician, Parent & Laughter Yoga Teacher

Laughing Laura seeks to live in the Spirit of Laughter at all times.  Her cell phone ringtone is a recording of laughter so when it "rings" she has to say: "Excuse me, my phone is laughing!." But that's just the beginning: she laughs with her houseplants, speaks gibberish with dogs, wears polka dotted rubber boots and silly hats around town, giggles in the library, interrupts herself to say "tee hee,"  jumps in puddles, writes silly songs about laughter, gives hugs to everyone who will let her, bounces, roars, sticks her tongue out for fun, impersonates turtles, wiggles, greets people with a hearty chortle, laughs while she drives—even her CAR laughs, as you can see by the picture of her license plate below!




Laughing Laura was invited to participate in a Laughter Yoga session with Oprah's Emmy Award Winning Make-Up Artist, Reggie Wells.  The piece aired live on The Oprah Show, April 11, 2007. 


Here is what Oprah had to say about it:

"Laughter Yoga combines laughter with yogic breathing exercises. It is a perfect way to laugh and get exercise at the same time. It approaches laughter as a body exercise so it's easy to laugh even if you're depressed or in a bad mood. Last year I highlighted Laughter Yoga on my TV program. I've tried it, and it works."

—Oprah Winfrey
“The Courier Mail”




Area press and television stations have featured Laughing Laura and her pioneering work to increase laughter in the Midwest. 

The national magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran, and the ELCA News Service have featured articles about Laura's unique, joyous laughter ministry.  Click the banner to the right to read one of the articles.





To view a television interview with Laughing Laura and the Lansing Laughter Club and find links to many other articles, visit the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga Press Page.



Whatever your programmatic needs, Laughing Laura can work with you to create an exciting, memorable experience for everyone.  Energizing and motivating people to think creatively and work productively is easy with Laughter Yoga.  Consider utilizing her laughter leadership at the following events:

• Conferences
You can't go wrong with Laughter Yoga at conferences.  These brief, large-group laughter experiences can provide an excellent ice-breaker at the start of an event, revitalize the group after lunch, and deliver a memorable send-them-home-with-a-bang closing session.

• Church Programs
Let Pastor Laura share her theological musings about the Joy of the Lord and how laughter helps increase it! As a minister, she loves the church setting and has worked extensively with church camps, women's groups, ecumenical gatherings and more. Learn how to pray with laughter, sing "Jesus Loves Me" as you chuckle and learn about the ancient tradition of Holy Hilarity Sunday. You'll laughing off the pews with Laura's laughter programs.

• Health Events
Laura loves to do laughter programs for health care providers.  She explains the scientific basis for therapeutic laughter and then allows participants to experience the joy of laughing in this way.

• Workshops & Retreats
Laughter Yoga can enable people to work cooperatively and collaboratively from the start.  The entire group dynamic shifts after laughing together.

• Training Days
Create enjoyable events that encourage everyone's participation. Laughter Yoga is a fun and powerful way to help participants leave their inhibitions at the door and get into serious creative & learning mode.

• Meetings
Energize and renew your staff.  It makes good business sense.  Laughter sessions help to dissolve tensions within a group and increase productivity. Just after the session may prove to be the best time to promote new initiatives and strategies.      


Gelotology is the term for the scientific study of laughter.  Gelotologists are very serious about this hilarious work.  Learn all about their unusual research techniques and findings through an appearance by the hysterical gelotologist, "Doc Ha."  You'll be amazed and entertained. He'll have you rolling in the aisles as you discover the miracle drug of laughter and how it can work for you. Laughing and learning makes every event more fun. 

When you book a speaking engagement with Laura, just let her know if you'd like her to bring the doc along!

             


" Laura Gentry's excellent workshop at the annual West Coast Laughter Yoga Conference in California was extremely well-prepared and very useful!  The participants were engaged and truly grateful for Laura's expertise."
—Sebastien Gendry
Director of the American School of Laughter Yoga

“We appreciate the expertise, time and the energy Laura put into presenting at our Symposium on Geriatric Health.  She did an absolutely excellent job and played a big part in making this year's symposium a success!  We loved her enthusiasm and energy!”
—Thomas Loepfe, MD, Director of Geriatric Health
Fransciscan Skemp Healthcare, LaCrosse, Wisconsin

“I was so pleased with the laughter event Laura facilitated at our church. What I expected is that our congregation would enjoy laughing together. The surprise was how the event drew us unforgettably closer as a community. Laura has a beautifully natural way of leading. This was our first laughter event, and she let everyone in the room feel relaxed about trying something new. It's hard to describe the beauty of seeing all generations laughing uproariously together, from (literally) 8 years up to 80. Our fellowship room was packed, and we laughed until our faces hurt. We are grateful for Laura’s laughter work.”
—Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, Minister of Worship Life
First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

“Laura’s presentation on laughter at our ‘Successful Aging’ lecture series was very well liked.  We had the highest attendance all year at her session and the feedback forms overwhelmingly declared the presentation ‘wonderful.’”
—Elder Services, Fransciscan Skemp Healthcare
 LaCrosse, Wisconsin

"We were so happy with the joy-filled program Pastor Laura gave to a standing-room only crowd at our church.  Everyone was so excited about the idea of a laughter program that we got many of the area churches to sponsor it together.  What a delight to come together to celebrate the joy of the Lord and the gift of laughter. Laura shared the Christian message in a trilling way.
—Jolene Jebsen, Pastoral Care Director
Trinity Lutheran Church, Marshalltown, Iowa

“Laura Gentry offered a laughter session to the Diabetic Support Group at our hospital in Waukon. Since many people with Type 2 Diabetes do not exercise, Laughter Yoga can be of great benefit to them. One member of our support group wrote a letter to the editor sharing how just one Laughter Yoga session with Laura lowered his glucose level when nothing else he had tried could do so. I think Laughter Yoga is one of the best innovations of the 21st Century! We are so happy that Laura has brought it to Northeast Iowa and we look forward to utilizing her laughter leadership skills in the future.”
—Cathy Zahn RN, Diabetes Education Coordinator
Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon, Iowa

“At our ‘Live It Up!’ Conference, Laura Gentry gave the opening lecture to the whole group.  It got us off to a wonderfully happy, joyous, and laughter-filled start! As the event director, I appreciate having a keynote speaker who can set a positive tone for the entire line-up of conference activities. The energy Laura generated during her half-hour presentation was carried by attendees, presenters, and vendors throughout the day! I heard a lot of references to laughter  and demonstrations of responding to would-be stressful situations with laughter!”
—Marian Maciej-Hiner, Live It Up! Event Director
University of Wisconsin, Platteville, Wisconsin