I highly recommend Laura's Laughter Yoga retreat! As an alternative health care practitioner, I recognize the transformative and healing power of laughter and I was greatly impressed with the diversity of techniques that were utilized during this course. Laura Gentry is a dynamic instructor who leads and assists her students with great enthusiasm. This course is an absolute MUST for anyone seeking to experience the life-affirming joy of laughter!
—Rhonda Locklair
Becoming a Laughter Yoga Leader has been one of the best things that’s ever happened to me in my life!
—Mary Beth Thesing
I can't imagine a better facilitator for Laughter Yoga than Laura Gentry. Laura's natural style helped our group bond very quickly and her leadership guided us in experiencing Laughter Yoga in the fullest way possible. She made it so easy to open up and trust the process. I had one of the best times of my life at her LY retreat training! Plus, I learned invaluable skills for leading others in Laughter Yoga.
—Donna Bauernfeind
Laura's leadership, listening, knowledge was tremendous. World Class!
—Tom Nylund
What a weekend! I'm overwhelmed with “Very Good, Very Good, Yay!” Laughter Yoga Leadership training has enabled an incredible endeavor for me and my local community. That being: finding my joy and sharing joy with others. A bonus I anticipate from this laughing journey is to share peace with my sisters and brothers across the globe. I love the concept of thinking globally and laughing locally!
— Lori Hoover
Laughter Yoga is so powerful. After each meeting, I feel totally exhilarated, tingling with happiness and impressed with the widened sense of well-being that I have! I am so glad I took Laura's laughter leader course. It has made my life so much happier!
—Melanie Wittman
—Rhonda Locklair
Becoming a Laughter Yoga Leader has been one of the best things that’s ever happened to me in my life!
—Mary Beth Thesing
I can't imagine a better facilitator for Laughter Yoga than Laura Gentry. Laura's natural style helped our group bond very quickly and her leadership guided us in experiencing Laughter Yoga in the fullest way possible. She made it so easy to open up and trust the process. I had one of the best times of my life at her LY retreat training! Plus, I learned invaluable skills for leading others in Laughter Yoga.
—Donna Bauernfeind
Laura's leadership, listening, knowledge was tremendous. World Class!
—Tom Nylund
What a weekend! I'm overwhelmed with “Very Good, Very Good, Yay!” Laughter Yoga Leadership training has enabled an incredible endeavor for me and my local community. That being: finding my joy and sharing joy with others. A bonus I anticipate from this laughing journey is to share peace with my sisters and brothers across the globe. I love the concept of thinking globally and laughing locally!
— Lori Hoover
Laughter Yoga is so powerful. After each meeting, I feel totally exhilarated, tingling with happiness and impressed with the widened sense of well-being that I have! I am so glad I took Laura's laughter leader course. It has made my life so much happier!
—Melanie Wittman
My husband and I took Laura's Laughter Yoga Leader course and it was one of the most fantastic weekends ever. We just love Laughter Yoga and our brilliantly inspiring and beautiful coach, mentor, and teacher.
—Sue Kiefer
Being a massage therapist, this is by far one of the best classes I have ever taken. I can already feel the benefits of laughing for no reason at all and I plan to integrate Laughter Yoga into my massage practice. Laura has a passion for Laughter Yoga and it shows in her teaching.
—Mark Fulcher
It was a great experience! I'd like to recommend Laura Gentry. She was a great teacher She was was well organized, efficient and so enthusiastic! It gave me joy just to watch her.
—Sandy Pollard
I just wanted to affirm that I really enjoyed the seminar that Laura Gentry led. I’ve been many great seminars but this one is probably life-changing. It was just amazing!
—Connie Scharlow
It was the most awesome two days that I can imagine. I learned a lot of techniques on how to help myself be happy and how to help others be happy too.
—Ann Reynolds
I initially felt awful from all the laughing at the laughter seminar because it was releasing negative emotions I didn’t even know I was carrying. What happened to me was an emotional catharsis. And while it was terribly painful at first, it was ultimately a gift. Now I have more energy and a more positive outlook than ever before in my life. People actually comment on it! I still have more healing work to do to give joy a permanent home in my heart so I intend to keep laughing!
—Jean Zawacki
—Sue Kiefer
Being a massage therapist, this is by far one of the best classes I have ever taken. I can already feel the benefits of laughing for no reason at all and I plan to integrate Laughter Yoga into my massage practice. Laura has a passion for Laughter Yoga and it shows in her teaching.
—Mark Fulcher
It was a great experience! I'd like to recommend Laura Gentry. She was a great teacher She was was well organized, efficient and so enthusiastic! It gave me joy just to watch her.
—Sandy Pollard
I just wanted to affirm that I really enjoyed the seminar that Laura Gentry led. I’ve been many great seminars but this one is probably life-changing. It was just amazing!
—Connie Scharlow
It was the most awesome two days that I can imagine. I learned a lot of techniques on how to help myself be happy and how to help others be happy too.
—Ann Reynolds
I initially felt awful from all the laughing at the laughter seminar because it was releasing negative emotions I didn’t even know I was carrying. What happened to me was an emotional catharsis. And while it was terribly painful at first, it was ultimately a gift. Now I have more energy and a more positive outlook than ever before in my life. People actually comment on it! I still have more healing work to do to give joy a permanent home in my heart so I intend to keep laughing!
—Jean Zawacki
Testimonials
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 uproariuously together, from (literally) 8 years up to 80. Our fellowship room was packed, and we laughed until our faces hurt. We are so thankful for Laura's work.
Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, Minister of Worship Life
First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
__________________________________________
Thank you for your expertise, time and the energy you put into presenting at our Symposium on Geriatric Health. You did an excellent job. You played a big part in making this year's symposium a success. THANK YOU for sharing your enthusiasm and energy with us!
Thomas Loepfe, MD, Director of Geriatric Health
Fransciscan Skemp Healthcare
LaCrosse, Wisconsin
__________________________________________
Thank you so much for getting the Live It Up! Conference 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 you generated during your 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! And looking at a longer-term impact of your presentation, this introduction to Laughter Yoga will certainly be a valuable tool to get our Continuing Education staff through a busy programming season in the next 3 months. I have so enjoyed working with you - and I look forward to opportunities to work with you again in the future. Thank you!
Marian Maciej-Hiner, Live It Up! Event Director
University of Wisconsin
Platteville, Wisconsin
__________________________________________
Laura's laughter event was a great way to say a special thanks to our volunteers for their hours of service to our church and community. We laughed until we cried and laughed some more. It was great to see the whole room full of smiles.
Barb Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator
First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
__________________________________________
I helped organize a laughter event in Cedar Falls with Laura Gentry as our presenter. Everyone I have talked to since the event has been so excited about Laughter Yoga and about Laura. I think there is a real need and an interest in Laughter Yoga in our area.
Bea Koontz
Cedar Valley Laughter Club Founding Member
I am always looking for new, innovative clubs for my kindergarten-sixth students. When I heard about laughter yoga, I was very eager to give it a try. Laura Gentry has now done two eight-week classes for our afterschool program. The kids just loved it!!! They would come back talking about how much fun they had and how they couldn’t wait until their next session. They would even stop me during the school day on Thursdays to ask, “We have Laughter Club tonight, right?” I also have to commend Laura for her patience and sunny personality when working with the kids! Laughter yoga was wonderful for the kids and we can’t wait to have it again!
Hollee McCormick, Afterschool Program Director
Waterville Elementary School
Waterville, Iowa
__________________________________________
Yesterday, I attended the 12th Annual Symposium on Geriatric Health sponsored by Franciscan Skemp May Health System in LaCrosse and loved your presentation! Today at work I told my manager that I wanted to open our weekly meeting with a reflection. I taught them the laughter pill and the tee-hee binocular exercises you did with us. It was GREAT! We laughed so much and I think the rest of our day has been terrific. Thank you so much, what a great gift God has given you!
Linda J. Thurston R.N.
Care Manager, Health Tradition
www.healthtraditions.com
__________________________________________Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, Minister of Worship Life
First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
__________________________________________
Thank you for your expertise, time and the energy you put into presenting at our Symposium on Geriatric Health. You did an excellent job. You played a big part in making this year's symposium a success. THANK YOU for sharing your enthusiasm and energy with us!
Thomas Loepfe, MD, Director of Geriatric Health
Fransciscan Skemp Healthcare
LaCrosse, Wisconsin
__________________________________________
Thank you so much for getting the Live It Up! Conference 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 you generated during your 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! And looking at a longer-term impact of your presentation, this introduction to Laughter Yoga will certainly be a valuable tool to get our Continuing Education staff through a busy programming season in the next 3 months. I have so enjoyed working with you - and I look forward to opportunities to work with you again in the future. Thank you!
Marian Maciej-Hiner, Live It Up! Event Director
University of Wisconsin
Platteville, Wisconsin
__________________________________________
Laura's laughter event was a great way to say a special thanks to our volunteers for their hours of service to our church and community. We laughed until we cried and laughed some more. It was great to see the whole room full of smiles.
Barb Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator
First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
__________________________________________
I helped organize a laughter event in Cedar Falls with Laura Gentry as our presenter. Everyone I have talked to since the event has been so excited about Laughter Yoga and about Laura. I think there is a real need and an interest in Laughter Yoga in our area.
Bea Koontz
Cedar Valley Laughter Club Founding Member
I am always looking for new, innovative clubs for my kindergarten-sixth students. When I heard about laughter yoga, I was very eager to give it a try. Laura Gentry has now done two eight-week classes for our afterschool program. The kids just loved it!!! They would come back talking about how much fun they had and how they couldn’t wait until their next session. They would even stop me during the school day on Thursdays to ask, “We have Laughter Club tonight, right?” I also have to commend Laura for her patience and sunny personality when working with the kids! Laughter yoga was wonderful for the kids and we can’t wait to have it again!
Hollee McCormick, Afterschool Program Director
Waterville Elementary School
Waterville, Iowa
__________________________________________
Yesterday, I attended the 12th Annual Symposium on Geriatric Health sponsored by Franciscan Skemp May Health System in LaCrosse and loved your presentation! Today at work I told my manager that I wanted to open our weekly meeting with a reflection. I taught them the laughter pill and the tee-hee binocular exercises you did with us. It was GREAT! We laughed so much and I think the rest of our day has been terrific. Thank you so much, what a great gift God has given you!
Linda J. Thurston R.N.
Care Manager, Health Tradition
www.healthtraditions.com
Our Cancer Support Group invited Laura Gentry to come to a meeting and do an interactive demonstration of Laughter Yoga. Because there was so much interest in her program, we opened it up to the entire community and over 50 people from the ages of 8 to 90 attended. What an incredible, enriching, and enlivening experience it was! As a cancer survivor myself, I feel that Laughter Yoga can be an important tool in our journey to wellness and good health. As delightful side effect, that night I had one of the best night's sleep I had experienced in months. I personally feel that Laughter Yoga is good for the body, mind, and spirit!
Maria Brummel
Cancer Support Group Facilitator
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
__________________________________________
Laura Gentry offered a laughter session to the Diabetic Support Group at our hospital in Waukon in April of 2007. It is known that stress elevates glucose levels and decreases blood flow in our body. Research has found that laughing, like other aerobic activities, increases blood flow by more than 20%. 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
We were glad to have Laura Gentry as the guest speaker for our Women's Retreat. We had a wonderful time! The experience was truly amazing and so worth while. I close my eyes and I can still hear her saying: "very good...very good..yay!!" We appreciated the experience. The group was very pleased as you can see by the picture above! We look forward to laughing with Laura again soon!
Sue Gavle
The Natural Gait
Harpers Ferry, Iowa
__________________________________________
Laughter Yoga was a great way to introduce my summer staff to each other. It was fun, non-threatening, engaging, and interactive. Laura's leadership was creative and friendly. This was a wonderful way to start off the summer!
Kim Hovde, Program Director
Sugar Creek Bible Camp
Ferryville, Wisconsin
We are appreciative that Laura Gentry came to our women’s group and enlightened us! I think she's on to something. It sure was fun to see all my older friends get so involved and be so open to the idea of Laughter Yoga. What a great experience!
Lisa Fruechte, Women’s Group Coordinator
St. Peter’s Congregational Church
New Albin, Iowa
Maria Brummel
Cancer Support Group Facilitator
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
__________________________________________
Laura Gentry offered a laughter session to the Diabetic Support Group at our hospital in Waukon in April of 2007. It is known that stress elevates glucose levels and decreases blood flow in our body. Research has found that laughing, like other aerobic activities, increases blood flow by more than 20%. 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
We were glad to have Laura Gentry as the guest speaker for our Women's Retreat. We had a wonderful time! The experience was truly amazing and so worth while. I close my eyes and I can still hear her saying: "very good...very good..yay!!" We appreciated the experience. The group was very pleased as you can see by the picture above! We look forward to laughing with Laura again soon!
Sue Gavle
The Natural Gait
Harpers Ferry, Iowa
__________________________________________
Laughter Yoga was a great way to introduce my summer staff to each other. It was fun, non-threatening, engaging, and interactive. Laura's leadership was creative and friendly. This was a wonderful way to start off the summer!
Kim Hovde, Program Director
Sugar Creek Bible Camp
Ferryville, Wisconsin
_________________________________________
We are appreciative that Laura Gentry came to our women’s group and enlightened us! I think she's on to something. It sure was fun to see all my older friends get so involved and be so open to the idea of Laughter Yoga. What a great experience!
Lisa Fruechte, Women’s Group Coordinator
St. Peter’s Congregational Church
New Albin, Iowa