The Joy Conference, 26th October 2019, Bristol

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Scroll down for speaker bios

This not-for-profit, exciting, ground-breaking Joy Conference shows you why joy is important, practical and achievable, and why it needs to be prioritised.
It draws on Integrative Medicine, Psychology, Cancer Care, Business, Embodiment, and of course, Laughter Yoga.
Profits will be donated to the charity SmileTrain, a nonprofit organisation and charity providing corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates.

Buy your tickets here

This exciting & innovative conference shows you

• why joy needs to be a priority, 
• how to put this essential quality at the heart of your life.

The basic questions these leading specialists address are:

• Why is joy important?
• Can we experience more?
• Does it have practical benefits?

You take away cutting-edge, dynamic, practical tools for greater resilience, present-moment awareness, and personal robustness.

You create your own recipe for joy, using connection, innovative learning techniques, engagement, embodiment, movement, mindful awareness, and laughter.

You will be using all your senses to 'get out of your head' and bring more joy into your life.

Our MC is Professor Trevor Thompson, Professor of Primary Care Education at the University of Bristol.

(See below for speaker biographies)
























This day gives you information, energy and insights for a more
- connected
- authentic
- rewarding
- resilient
- engaged life.

(You can buy your tickets here)

At the end of this day you will have learnt/experienced:
- what joy is, why it matters, and how to embed this in your own life.
- practical new information to be more resilient, fufilled and healthier
- embodied learning to help you develop your own mindful awareness
- connection and shared experiences with fellow attendees
- how to keep being present in all circumstances
- why laughter yoga matters
- your own recipe for joy

You will have insights and information from a range of disciplines including:
- Intergrative Medicine
- Psychology
- Cancer Care
- Humour at Work
- Laughter Yoga
- and there is a panel of innovative Laughter Yoga specialists to share their expertise & exercises.
This day gives you a range of practical options so you can choose what approaches work best for you.
It also shows you how laughter yoga activates joy.

(You can buy your tickets here) 

Our MC is Professor Trevor Thompson, Professor of Primary Care Education at the University of Bristol

Speakers (full bio and talk description at the foot of the page) include:

- Dr Elizabeth Thompson, founder of the NCIM (National Centre for Integrative Medicine)
'Joy at the Heart of the Integrative Model'

- Dr Madan Kataria, founder of Laughter Yoga (video link)

- Dr Gulcan Garip, of the University of Derby, and co-creator of the 'Laughie'
'Laughter and wellbeing: Introducing the Laughie'

- Kate Hull Rodgers, of HumourUs
'Joy Listing and Stuff'

- Dr Duncan Still, of Penny Brohn Cancer Care
'Writing your own Prescription for Joy - the role of Joy in Health and Wellbeing.'

 -Teigh-Anne Shave, of Giggle Together
'Joy, marmite and laughter yoga – my personal journey'

- Katie RoseWhite, of The Best Medicine
'Making Laughter Inclusive'

- Rachel de Garang, of the African Sambistas

- Joe Hoare,  #laughteryogawithjoe
'Laughter yoga and moving mindfulness'

Profits will be donated to the charity SmileTrain (a nonprofit organization and charity providing corrective surgery for children with cleft lips / palates.)

(Buy your tickets here)

See below for speaker biographies

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THE  SPEAKERS

Read about the fantastic line-up here

Professor Trevor Thompson

Our MC for the day, Professor Trevor Thompson.
'Reared in Belfast, I studied in Oxford and London from where I graduated with a degree of uncertainty about the completeness of the "biomedical" model. After finishing my vocational training in General Practice I went to work at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital and in 1998 fluked a prestigious academic fellowship in the University of Glasgow. I came to Bristol in 2000 and worked as a prison doctor before taking up a post as Clinical Lecturer. My first love is clinical medicine but I also enjoy the intellectual challenge of research and the communication of ideas as a lecturer. As an educationalist my motto is “learning is fun”.'

Dr Elizabeth Thompson

Dr Elizabeth Thompson (MBBS, MRCP(UK), FFHom, DM(Oxon)
Dr Elizabeth Thompson is a Holistic Doctor and CEO of the new National Centre for Integrative Medicine (NCIM), a Community Interest Company in Bristol. She trained in medicine at Oxford University and Guy’s Hospital and then trained as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine in Leeds and Glasgow and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Homeopathy and Council Member for the College of Medicine. She holds a vision for a health service which creates health and resilience and reduces dependency on drugs and surgical interventions. Empowering people to self care and connecting to communities and nature via a social prescribing model, whether through food or green spaces is a key part of that vision. NCIM aims to provide and connect with, a diverse range of holistic, conventional and lifestyle services with education and research to inspire health and wellbeing and to create a wellness model to transform healthcare in the 21st century.

Dr Madan Kataria

Dr Madan Kataria is the Founder laughter yoga, President of Laughter Yoga International.

Dr Gulcan Garip

Dr Gülcan Garip is the Academic Lead for the MSc Psychology programme at the University of Derby. She is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and Europsy. As a registered Health Psychologist, her research interests include developing and evaluating digital behavioural interventions for improving wellbeing and quality of life, particularly in people with long-term physical conditions and their caregivers.

Kate Hull Rodgers

Award winning comedienne, Kate Hull Rodgers, first became mentally ill 30 years ago. She was given a multitude of diagnosis, a cocktail of medication and was even chained to a bed, spread-eagle, as part of her treatment. Eventually she was institutionalized and sent to the notorious long term mental hospital. Her prognosis to get out was “hopefully”. Until one day the occupational therapist suggest Kate write a list of things that brought her Joy. Kate scoffed at the ridiculous idea…. But then she tried it. It was transformational, a turning point and the beginning of Kate’s long road to Recovery. Come and hear Kate’s astounding story of how she has lived with being Bipolar. You will laugh and cry and you will be inspired.
Not to be missed.

Teigh-Anne Shave

Details soon

Katie Rose White

Katie is founder of The Best Medicine and a laughter facilitator with a passion for all things playful. Katie will be talking about her experience of using laughter with children with profound and multiple disabilities. She will be sharing some playful and practical solutions of how we can adapt the laughter practices so they are more inclusive to people with additional needs.

Dr Duncan Still

As a doctor interested in finding Wellness just as much as avoiding Illness, I often ask patients (otherwise known as ‘people’!) questions about when they last felt truly well, what made them feel that way and how they might begin to connect even more with that sense of wellbeing. I’m a strong believer in Health being something which happens as a co-creation between doctor and patient rather than something that is handed down from one to the other . . .
I’m fascinated by questions such as: “Where do you find Peace, Purpose and Joy?”
I invite you to join me in exploring what these words mean for you and how you might bring them to the fore in your life. Together we will write our own Prescriptions for Joy.
I look forward to it.

Rachel de Garang

With a 25 year career in the Arts Sector, Rachel is Founder and Artistic Director of African Sambistas a drum and dance group now into its 11th year running regular workshops and performances - peaking in the summer months with appearances at popular festivals such as Womad, St Paul’s and Bath Carnival, Bristol Pride and Shambala to name a few.
Rachel is a researcher and writer with a keen interest in dances of the African Diaspora, especially the music, dance, cultural and spiritual practices of Brazil.
Rachel is also an experienced Freelance Consultant and mentor, with a deep knowledge and understanding of integrating different cultural groups, dealing with racism and discrimination in the workplace and wider community.

Joe Hoare

Joyfulness is at the heart of my laughter yoga.
Personal wellbeing is the cornerstone of my approach.
As a long-time laughter yoga practitioner, I have found that joy enhances life in every way. It helps us be resilient, authentic, well, happy and find our inner peace.
Focusing and being present to our own joyfulness is one of the most profoundly transformational steps we can take because it facilitates resilience, connection and expansion.
My session will take us on a journey, using all our senses - embodiment, breath, mind, spirit - to experience this for ourselves.