Laughter Wellness sessions begin Nov. 2, and will be held every other Saturday until Dec. 14 at Comox United Church at 10:30 a.m.
The laughter sessions integrate simple Laughter Yoga exercises with the power of breath, movement, sound and more into an hour of fun that is a powerful tool in creating and maintaining good health.
If you have experienced stress this year you may have also had headaches, stomach upsets and depression. These are some of the short-term effects of stress that studies show have steadily increased in the past 30 years. Exercise, sleep and diet play a huge roll in combating stress, but there is one more essential stress buster: Laughter.
Studies show that just 15 minutes of laughter is as good as two hours of sleep and as beneficial to your heart as 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week.
Laughter increases circulation, and releases 'feel-good' hormones in the brain called endorphins, that are 10 times more powerful than the pain-relieving drug morphine. Laughing exercises your core and burns calories: just one hearty laugh burns four calories!
Susan Baker and Alan Pattinson, certified laughter leaders, came back from a three-day Laughter Yoga Conference with renewed enthusiasm for the health benefits of practising laughter. Thus, they followed the lead of the American School of Laughter Yoga's Sebastian Gendry and renamed the Laughter Yoga sessions Laughter Wellness.
Laugh and be well, Nov. 2, 16, 30, and Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Comox United Church. Donations appreciated to cover rent costs.
For more information, visit www.InvokeLaughter.com or call Susan at 250-890-0626.
— Laughter Wellness