Rick Hauser (nicknamed "Chicago's Laughter Doctor" when he is performing Laughter Yoga sessions) - speaks at companies, trade association meetings, nursing homes, hospitals and other organizations - to improve an organization's productivity, wellness, camaraderie, and creative thinking skills.

Rick's main gig is that of Broker/Owner of Relocation Advisors Group Inc. - a Real Estate company (Exclusive Buyer Brokerage) that specializes in representing home buyers only (never sellers). He is one of about 500 Exclusive Buyer Agents in the USA, and Central Region Director for the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA).

Rick hails from Madison Wisconsin - and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison w/honors in Finance, Investment and Banking. He enjoys playing his trumpet at Chicago jazz/blues places (he plays anything by ear) and playing University of Wisconsin Songs (On Wisconsin, Varsity, The "Bud" song etc.) at Wisconsin-fan hangouts in Chicago - especially during football season - to psych. up the fans. He's also been known to play for tailgate parties in Madison before a game - with his "classic" fuzzy Badger hat on his head. (Most fun was playing at the 1994 Rose Bowl in Pasadena the night before...)

During the 1990's - Rick was an executive in competitive intelligence, strategy and market research and analysis - at Motorola and Helene Curtis. He won top performance awards at each company. As a competitive analyst and out-of-the-box thinker - his forte is being able to walk into any company - analyze the competitive environment - and come up with breakthrough new product and marketing ideas that will destroy the competition... and create new revenue streams....

At Motorola he was considered a visionary - and came up with the idea of NFL coaches wearing Motorola radio headsets (to leverage marketing exposure), and putting real MP3 song clips on cell phones (vs. cheezy ring tones.) In the early 1990's - at Helene Curtis - he helped the company identify and manufacture alpha-hydroxy acid / hyaluronic acid wrinkle-reducing skin care products - using cutting edge formulations and technologies - anticipating their future popularity & the anti-aging and longevity trends.

In the late 1980's, Rick was a highly decorated Navy Officer. He actually joined the Navy - just so he could get a few joy rides in the backseat of an F-14 Tomcat jet fighter - which he ended up doing.... (a la Top Gun..) Ironically - "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" is one of Rick's Karaoke-winning songs (sans the white uniform..)

In the early 80's - he was one of the first composers of "New Age" music in the US - and was compared to composers such as Vangelis and Jean Michele Jarre.... After a 20 year layoff - he is composing again...

Back to Laugher Yoga.... our "Laughter Yoga Chicago" club holds free Laughter Yoga Club meetings at 7 PM on the 4th Wednesday of each month -- so feel free to come out and experience the benefits and fun! Please e-mail us for more information. Our goal is to have a positive impact on people's lives - creating a more peaceful and productive world - one smile and laugh at a time.

We also provide laughter yoga sessions for terminally ill adults and children in hospitals, and seniors - at senior centers and nursing homes. (If you like - Rick will also bring along his trumpet & play a few jazz/blues tunes to liven things up...) On a fee-basis - we hold workshops / retreats / team building sessions at corporations, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and other organizations.

Though our sessions - we also create awareness about the physical and mental benefits of laughter. People vastly underestimate the benefits of a positive attitude - which also creates a positive chemical makeup in the body. The mind and the body are connected. "Laughter exercises" have the same benefits as real laughter (fostering increased health & wellness & a more positive attitude) - due to the mind/body connection.

Rick states, “Laughter puts us intensely in the moment. The ability to fully live and experience the ‘now’ is of utmost importance because it is the only moment (not the past or the future) where we can experience happiness. Laughter is something that can be done any time of the day, by any one. Simple, unrestrictive, it and no-cost - it is an activity that is universal."

"With a Northwest Community Hospital nurse measuring "before and after" blood pressure of seniors, in three different senior centers in January 2007 - systolic pressure dropped 10 points, and diastolic - 5 points after I conducted 20-30 minute Laughter Yoga sessions with them. In two of the centers - even though the seniors were sitting (normal laughter yoga sessions are standing) -- the results were the same."

"Laughter is a stress buster. It reduces levels of stress hormones epinepherine and cortisol. Laughter strengthens the immune system. Recent research into the effects of laughter by Dr. Lee S. Berk, Professor at Loma Linda University, California, demonstrates that laughter increases the count of natural killer cells and antibody levels. Laughter therapy also helps to increase antibodies (immunoglobulin A) in the mucous of the nose and respiratory passages."

"Dr. William Fry of Stanford University claims that one minute of laughter is equivalent to 10 minutes on the rowing machine. It contributes to a sense of well-being because more oxygen is taken in during laughter. It is also an exercise suitable for all, including those confined to a bed or wheelchair."

We look forward to improving your health, wellness, team-building, and comraderie, and giving you more peace in life in general. To your health, happiness, and longevity!

Laughter Yoga Video With Dr. Kataria, in Arlington Heights Illinois