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. Above is a still from that laughter-filled program.
Here is what Oprah had to say about Laughter Yoga:
"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”
TESTIMONIALS
"A few weeks ago, I was really feeling depressed about so many things. Then one day I thought, hey, remember the laughter techniques that Laughing Laura taught you? So I used them and quickly started to think more positive thoughts—focusing on the many efforts being done to help the vulnerable in our world, and I got over my gloominess! Thank you! "
—June Kjome
Subject of the book Justice Not Just Us: June Kjome: the making of an old lady activist
“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
“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 it ‘wonderful.’”
—Elder Services, 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
“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
“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
Fransciscan Skemp Healthcare, LaCrosse, Wisconsin
“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 it ‘wonderful.’”
—Elder Services, 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
“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
“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
Laughing Laura has been featured in the following publications. Click the banners to go to the articles.
LAUGHING THROUGH LIFE!
Above is the special assignment story by KWWL Channel 7 of Waterloo, Iowa.
It features the Laughing Laura & the Lansing Laughter Club.
Copyright 2007 — The Gentry Joint
Paintings & design by Laura Gentry. Photography by William F. Gentry ll. All rights reserved.