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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