Laguna Beach Local to Produce Laughter Conference in Atlanta

News release from the Laughter Yoga Institute of Laguna Beach:

Jeffrey Briar, Director of the Laughter Yoga Institute of Laguna Beach will co-produce the Laughter Yoga USA East Coast Conference to occur March 30 - April 1, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia.  VIP Speakers include Dr. Madam Kataria (creator of Laughter Yoga), Sebastian Gendry (CEO of the American School of Laughter Yoga) and Neil “Doc Hollywood” Schulman.

Laughter Yoga is a revolutionary new concept that promotes world peace and helps people laugh to increase their joyfulness and improve health.  The laughter-as-exercise system incorporates easy stretches, yogic breathing, and self-generated laughter.  Laughter exercises are proven to provide numerous health benefits, including relief of stress, improved sleep habits, and strengthening of the immune system.  The conference will be of value to trained laughter exercise leaders and people who are interested in the therapeutic benefits of laughter. 

Laughter Yoga was developed by Dr. Madan Kataria of India, “The Laughing Doctor of Bombay”.  In 1995 Doctor Kataria, in collaboration with his wife Madhuri (a yoga teacher), developed this system whereby anyone can laugh without the need of comedy or even a sense of humor.  Kataria was featured in the New Yorker, Forbes, and Time magazines. Kataria will give a Keynote Speech (from India via cyber-conference) to commence the conference.

Mr. Briar gives presentations and keynote speeches, oversees program development, delivers community and professional outreach programs, and provides and supervises laughter-leadership training. Immediately after the Conference (April 2-6) he will offer a Laughter Yoga advanced Teacher’s Training.

Conference co-facilitator Debbie Ellison is a certified Laughter Yoga Teacher and Director of Laughter for Wellness in Atlanta.

Other conference speakers include Sebastien Gendry (Director of the American School of Laughter Yoga) and Neil Shulman ("Doc Hollywood" as featured in the movie starring Michael J. Fox).

Entertainment at the conference will include comedienne Karen Bayard; an interactive video extravaganza titled Laughing With the Stars; and a “Fun-ky” Dance Party. The public is invited to a laughter session on Sunday, April 1.

The Laughter Yoga USA East Coast Conference will take place Friday through Sunday, March 30-April 1, 2012, in suburban Atlanta, Georgia.  Registration is only $99.  For details and/or to register:  http://LYInstitute.org/conference2012.  East of the Rocky Mountains, contact Debbie Ellison, at (770) 843-0940 or LaughterForWellness@gmail.com.  To learn more locally, contact Jeffrey Briar at (949) 376-1939 or www.LYInstitute.org

QUOTES:

“The good news is: you don’t need to feel good first in order to laugh,” Briar asserts.  “You can get the health benefits of hearty laughter even if you feel bad or don’t find anything funny.  Just join us at the beach.  Laugh first; the good feelings naturally follow.”                     -- Jeffrey Briar

"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 in The Courier Mail (Australia) 1/14/08