“Inspiring Communities”, New Zealand’s Laughter Wellness Convention comes to Auckland this September

This convention will be held on 12-13 September 2015, at Kawai Purapura Retreat, 14 Mills Lane, Albany, Auckland. The event focuses on positive psychology, social connectivity and community engagement, play, mindfulness, nutrition and exercise, stress relief tools and of course, laughter.

“When we laugh together, we connect, which is essential to deepening our communities and building healthy societies. Laughter also has enormous psychological and physiological benefits” says one of the conference organisers Hannah Airey, Director of “Workplace Wellbeing” and Chairperson of Lotus Community Wellbeing Trust.

Airey continues, “Community shapes our identity, quenches our thirst for belonging, and strengthens our physical, mental, emotional and economic health. In the chaos of modern life, community ties can become unraveled, this year’s convention will host incredible speakers, who will share their stories and tools to inspire people to create community.”

Award winning musician Gareth Edwards and performer Olli Ricken are MCing the event and will also provide Saturday evening’s entertainment.

The line up of speakers over the weekend are:

• Aaron Jarden, President of NZ Association of Positive Psychology, lead investigator for the International Wellbeing Study and Co-investigator of the Sovereign NZ Wellbeing Index - “A toolkit for wellbeing”

• David Savage, Leadership collaboration trainer coach - “Diagnosis”

• Hannah Airey, Director Workplace Wellbeing, Chairperson Lotus Community Wellbeing Trust – “Laughter wellness and its applications”

• Pat Armitstead, the world’s first Joyologist – “Life enhanced by performing arts“

• Merv Neal, CEO Laughter Yoga Australasia - “The latest in laughter research”

• Shalani McCray, Director of Live Alive, Sydney – “Have you got the guts for wellbeing?”

• Linda Woodgate, International life coach - “The Body/Mind Connection”

• Caroline Welkin, Professional comedian, storyteller, coach and presenter – “Comedy and Story – Funny Story”
• Linda Guirey, International speaker, facilitator and coach - “Choose to matter”

• Lisa Tui, Musician – “Sing, laugh, live and lead: out loud”

• Margaret Mohamed, Director of Mindfulness Training – “Joy gives us wings”

• Bev Edwards, 21st Century Shaman; Master Geometrician; Reiki Master; and Sound Healing Practitioner - “Opening the doorways to harmonious communities”

Tickets are available for either one or two days. More information is available through www.laughterwellness.co.nz. Early bird special is available until 14 August 2014. Limited tickets. Post conference trainings are also available.

Organisations who would like to support this event, please contact sponsorship coordinator Christina Longley at tinamarielongley@hotmail.com.

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