laughter is good medicine

There's nothing like taking time off with girlfriends to get in a good laugh or two.  For me, laughing is my reset button.  Lately I've found myself laughing a lot in thrift stores: we've been seen blowing a ram's horn at Arc, practicing the Shake and Weight in Goodwill and most recently beckoning Mom into a Palm Springs thrift store to rescue me out of the two sizes too small dress!  Ha!
 
Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.  Laughter triggers the release of endorphins.  These are the body's natural feel-good chemicals, which promote an overall sense of well-being and temporary pain relief.  You worried about catching the flu or has pain gotcha down?
 
There's a time for everything.  In Genesis Abraham and Sarah had a good chuckle when God told them they would be having a baby at 100.  In Ecclesiastes we learn there's a time to weep and a time to laugh.  
 
Maybe you don't have access to a gal pal nor a second hand store but you can try this exercise by yourself at anytime.  At F.R.O.G. Pose, we use our God given breath, physical postures and focus on God's word to lift our spirits.  You don't need to be in front of a mirror but it can help conjure up a good belly laugh.  Set your intention on Psalm 121: 1-2 -  I lift my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

1. Inhale deeply as you turn up the corners of your lips to form a smile on your face.
2. Open your hands and spread wide to the webbing of each finger with fingers pointing upward.  Prepare to clap your hands such that you touch all the acupressure points on the entire hands.
3. Clap your hands three times with the rhythm of long... short, short.  With each clap, exhale and exclaim "God is Very Good".  Repeat once.
4. Inhale
5. Lift arms and face towards heaven and say "YAY!" with a FULL exhale.
6. Repeat 3 times.
7. Place your left hand over your heart and your right hand over your belly.  Make a good hearty audible laugh.

 
Laughter is how we can see and hear happiness.  Come make your joy visible and audible as we take a deeper look at God's sense of humor as noted in the bible.  We will do some laughter therapy and stretching on our mats this week:  Monday 8am, Wednesday at noon and Thursday at 7pm.  2900 Valmont Unit F1, Boulder.