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In 2000 Dr Madan Kataria, founder of Laughter Yoga International,
ran training in WA. Nineteen people attended this training, four
becoming the nucleus of LaughWA; Janni Goss, Ian Hall, Kath McKeown
and Grant Stone. In the week following the training, the Perth
Laughter club was formed under the leadership of Grant Stone.
Some months later, Janni Goss held successful laughter leader
training with the Women’s Health network, resulting in the formation
of the Joondalup club. This training also widened the knowledge of
the health benefits of Laughter Yoga amongst professional health
workers. Janni then commenced the Cottesloe club during 2001.
In 2002, Bronwyn Williams joined LaughWA, becoming an important
trainer based on her experience running LaughterWorks Australia.
During this year, LaughWA was incorporated and funding applied for
from Lotteries West to develop the organization further. Training
and/or Laughter Yoga sessions were also held outside of the Perth
metro area for the first time.
In 2003, Zoe Warwick returned to the Metro area from Geraldton
where she had had experience running a Laughter club based on the
Women’s Health network training. Zoe leads the Bayswater club and
has become instrumental in the management of LaughWA, Inc.
From 2003 – 2005, partnerships for training and resourcing for
LaughWA were developed with Carers WA and YMCA WA.
2005 saw increased diversity in the use of Laughter Yoga in the
education and corporate arena. |