2008 West Coast
3rd Annual Laughter Yoga Conference
Program Highlights
ALL
WELCOME!
Join many kindred spirits, one of the most senior
figures in the international Laughter Club movement and other successful
experts in their field for the most important Laughter Yoga event of
the year West of the Mississippi. This event is a must for all Laughter
Yoga practitioners, leaders, teachers and professionals & others
interested in Laughter Yoga.

NETWORK WITH YOUR PEERS
One of the most important value of events such as this one is the sharing
of knowledge and experiences that takes place between participants.
You will find lots of free networking time in the agenda this year.

LEARN & GROW
FRIDAY 10/10 (FREE AND PUBLIC EVENT!)
- Pasadena Laughter Club 4th Anniversary (Open House and Laughter Session)
- Conference Kick-Off (Introductions, Inspiring Testimonials)
- Keynote 1 (Sebastien Gendry): latest news and updates
from around the world
SATURDAY 10/11
- Keynote 2 (Rev. Laura Gentry): Laughter Yoga and
Spiritual Growth
- Keynote 3 (Dex Graham): Laughter Yoga in the Fitness
World
- Keynote 4 (Roland Kirouac, Linda Leclerc): Laughter
Yoga Corporate Approaches that work
- Group Sharing Session #1: Successful Laughter Yoga
approaches with the special needs (seniors, children, etc.)
- Group Sharing Session #2: 50 marketing ideas to sky-rocket
your Laughter Yoga business
- Festival of entertainment with Fun-Master Jeffrey
Briar
- And more (all optional)!
- Group Laughter Sessions
- Favorite Laughs from around the world
- Learn to Hula Hoop
SUNDAY 10/12
- Keynote 5 (Guru Yogi Ramesh): Beyond the basics of
Laughter Yoga
RESOURCE YOURSELF. HAVE FUN.
Life is brutal. This will be fun. Guaranteed.
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Conference Agenda
Leave your car at home. Share a ride in a taxi!
It’s cheaper and easier.

Leave your car at home. Share a ride in a taxi!
It’s cheaper and easier.
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People You Will Meet:
Sebastien Gendry
Sebastien
Gendry is the founder and Director of the American School Of Laughter
Yoga. He served for two years as World Operations Director for Laughter
Yoga International, the organization leading the Laughter Clubs Movement
of over 6000 clubs in 63 countries and is still the official representative
for this movement in the USA. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.
An enthusiastic and articulate speaker, he has been featured several
times in the US media (The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC Good Morning America,
National Public Radio, Associated Press, CBS News, Telemundo, Celebrity
Fit Club, KCAL 9, Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union Tribune, Inspire,
and more). Read
more.
Keynote 1, Friday 10/10, 8-9pm
Laughter Yoga Latest News and Updates from around the World.
In this very informative workshop you will learn the latest Laughter Yoga
findings, techniques, trends and other relevant Laughter Yoga information
from around the world! Sebastien is on the road in the USA teaching Laughter
Yoga about 1 week per month and will lead workshops in France and Russia
in July, as well as attend the 2008 Australian Laughter Yoga conference
in August. Expect a full and unique audio-visual
report in Death Valley!
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Rev. Laura Gentry
Rev.
Laura Gentry founded the first laughter club at church. She is the Director
of the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga and has been a pioneer in spreading
the laughter movement throughout the Midwest. She produced and directed
the film “Laugh Friends: A Laughter Yoga Workout for Kids”.
With well over a decade of ministry and motivational speaking experience,
Laura brings radiant energy and wisdom to her Laughter Yoga work. Read
more here
and here
KEYNOTE 2, SAT. 10/11, 9-10am
Laughter Yoga is an effective tool for spiritual growth. In this enlightening
workshop, you will learn about the teachings on joy from major world religions
and how Laughter Yoga can be integrated into these religious practices.
As a minister, Laura will share firsthand how holy hilarity has enhanced
her pastoral care. Experience uplifting, original techniques such as laughter
intercessory prayer, and the laughter blessing.
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Dex Graham
Dex
Graham is a nationally certified yoga teacher, Pilates instructor, fitness
instructor, Laughter Yoga Teacher, and Holistic Personal Trainer from
Long Beach, CA. Dex has worked in the fitness industry since 1994 and
is a former studio owner and Group Fitness Supervisor for 24 Hour Fitness,
the world’s largest privately owned chain of fitness centers. He
also has been on the fitness teaching staff for colleges and universities,
including a number of corporate fitness centers, such as Nissan Motors,
Honda of North America, Rockwell Corporation, and Boeing Aerospace. With
a background in improvisational theater, music, and theater, Dex also
is a toy designer and children’s book author with more than 100
domestic and international awards. Read
More.
KEYNOTE 3, SAT. 10/11, 10-11am
Fitness centers are great places in which to lead Laughter Yoga sessions.
Large, enthusiastic classes, amazing sound systems, and fun fitness equipment
are all available for incorporating into a Laughter Yoga class that also
makes for a satisfying cardio and mind/body workout. But the unique expectations,
industry licensing standards, and safety concerns can be daunting obstacles
for the newcomer to the field. Dex Graham will lead an informative and
hands-on “Laughter Yoga Fitness” seminar and mini-class that
will shed light on the opportunities and concerns for Laughter Yoga leaders
in this exciting new field. Dress ready to move. Soft-soled shoes recommended.
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Linda Leclerc
Linda
Leclerc is the founder and director of the French-Canadian
School of Laughter Yoga. She was trained by Dr Madan Kataria and Madhuri
Kataria both as a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader (2003) and Certified
Laughter Yoga Teacher (2005). Linda offers workshops, conferences and
Laughter programs to companies, hospitals, government agencies, associations,
schools, prisons and public organizations. She leads every year a unique
Vacation Laughter Retreat “Madhuri-Re” to groups in Québec,
Ontario and … the Dominican Republic!
She has a unique way to communicate her enthusiasm and share her ability
to laugh about life’s challenges.
Linda’s wish for the Conference is to share ideas, approaches and
tools, inspire/be inspired, bond and network with “laughing friends”
from all over North America who have the same vision for a better place…
because we laugh together! Vive la joie de vivre!
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Guru Yogi Ramesh
Guru
Yogi Ramesh is a born Yogi from India. He began his Yoga journey at the
age of five, and has been practicing every day for over forty years. Yogi
Ramesh has been teaching his knowledge of Yoga for the more than a quarter
century. He is a member of the California Yoga Teachers Association, and
the founder of the Universal Yoga Center.
He produces the television show "Universal Yogi" which has
been airing for the past twelve years. He has also appeared on NBC, CBS,
and ABC on programs such as Oprah and the Roseanne Show, where he promotes
the healing benefits of Yoga. He has been featured in numerous publications
as well, including the Los Angles Times ("Ramesh Pandey A Better
Body by Breathing") and the US News (Ramesh Pandey - Universal Yoga
Guru) He has been called "the Living Master", and hob nobs with
Hollywood celebs, teaching them to live the divine life from the inside
out.. Millions have seen his “laughing
yoga” videos on www.youtube.com. Read
more.
KEYNOTE 5, SUN. 10/12, 9am-12pm
Beyond the basics of Laughter Yoga:
- The Yoga side of Laughter: simple Hatha Yoga exercises and breathing
techniques for a healthier body
- Laughter Meditations 101: because the only way out is in
- How to use Laughter to clear your chakras
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Jeffrey Briar
Jeffrey
Briar is the Director of the Laughter Yoga Institute based in Laguna Beach,
California, and the founder of the first Laughter Club in the world outside
of India to meet seven days a week.
Jeffrey has been a Yoga Teacher since 1976. He has undergone extensive
training in different Yoga Schools and taught Master classes himself to
different Yoga Teachers Associations in Europe and North America.
He is also an accomplished comedian and performer on stage and screen.
His career highlights include hundreds of TV and stage shows, as well
as motion picture work with major Hollywood actors and actresses. Jeffrey
concurrently flourishes as a concert pianist and composer and gives frequent
solo recitals and serves as accompanist for opera singers, Broadway musicals
and variety shows.
Jeffrey Briar's greatest enthusiasm however is for Hasya ("Laughter")
Yoga, which he discovered in 2004. He is a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher
(Dr. Kataria School Of Laughter Yoga) as well as a Certified Laughter
Leader (World Laughter Tour.) He travels throughout North America and
Europe delivering Trainings, workshops, keynote speeches and special programs.
Recent media appearances include: The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC’s
“Dancing with the Stars", “The Megan Mullally Show”,
CNN’s “Happiness and Your Health” with Dr. Sanjay Gupta,
and more. Read more.
FESTIVAL OF ENTERTAINMENT, SAT. 10/11, 7:30-10pm
Celebrate and Play as only Laughter Lovers can!
- Newly-Developed Laughter Exercise and Gibberish warm-ups: get out
of your mind, into your heart, and ready to have a Blast of Creativity
like you’ve never had before!
- All-Gibberish Grand Reception – bring your most outrageous and
brilliant costumes, for mutual admiration and gawking.
- All-Gibberish Talent Show and Open Mike – jaw-droppingly funny
skits, displays, and “Moments of Now.” “Talent-Free”
acts are heartily welcome. You’ll never find a more appreciative,
generous, and laughable audience.
- “Words Now Allowed” Talent Show. Laughter-Loving People
include many amazingly talented artistes!
- Dancing with your new-found Laughter Buddies –expect the outrageous.
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Melanie Pleasure
Fun, fun, fun! We'll have a licensed HoopGirl teacher to put some life
into the breaks of this conference by sharing hooping tips and tricks
with whoever wants to try out hooping! (hoops will be provided. You are
welcome to bring your own).
Melanie
Pleasure hopes to help you regain a true appreciation for your
body, and be thankful for every part of you no matter how large or small,
wrinkly or smooth, slender or not. None of that matters. What does matter
is that you enjoy yourself inside the body God gave you. She'll help you
free yourself by enveloping you in warm, positive energy. And she will
want you to feel. Not think, just feel, and be happy. Her mantra is "Yes
I can!" It comes from her favorite book growing up, The Little Engine
That Could. She wants everyone to believe in themselves and hooping is
a wonderful conduit to that end. When you realize you actually can hoop,
you start wondering what else you might be able to do.

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