Laughter Yoga Lets Participants Chuckle Their Way to Health

Did you know laughter can be exercise?

Linda and Bill Hamaker have been teaching laughter yoga in Massachusetts for more than four years as a way to help students exercise while putting a smile on their faces.  The classes feature a range of breathing exercises and activities that get participants to laugh over and over.  Using laughter as exercise gives health benefits that include a better immune system, stress releif, and bigger lung capacity as the diaphram is strengthened.   On Thursday, Linda and Bill traveled to Westwood to present laughter yoga in the Center at Westwoods on Gay Street.  More information on laughter yoga is available on Bill and Linda's website. 

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Laugh Your Stress Away at the Westwood Laughter Circle

Participants laugh with this community every third Wednesday evening at The Center at Westwoods Meditation Hall, 590 Gay St.

Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: July 20

Laughter yoga, a story hour and more....

"Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more and let us know what you think of the new feature in the comments section. 1. Weather: Sunny skies are expected today with a high near 89, according to the National Weather Service. 2. Story Time: The Westwood Public Libary's story time will run from 11 to 11:45 a.m. today at Temple Beth David. 3. Laughter Yoga: The Westwood Laughter Circle will meet tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Westwoods Center. 4. Computer Help: The Westwood Public Library will host a computer help session today from 4 to 4:50 p.m. 5. Young Adult Summer Reading: Library patrons can read a book of their choosing,  write…

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PatchCast: A Flash Mob, Students Say Goodbye and Yoga With a Twist

A video roundup of the area's latest developments for Monday, June 27.

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Ryan O'Connor

11:27 pm on Friday, July 1, 2011

Nice work, Schooley.   more ›

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Laugh for Your Health with Laughter Yoga [VIDEO]

Linda and Bill Hamaker hosted a free session of Laughter Yoga on Wednesday.

As the planned event for Laughter Under the Stars was forced inside due to rain this past Wednesday, Linda and Bill Hamaker considered it a laughing matter. "Years ago, I would have been so upset if an event I had planned to hold outside didn't work out, but now, all we can do is laugh," said Linda Hamaker, who along with her husband Bill, discovered Laughter Yoga in 2008. The pair led a group of participants in several laughing exercises and free-flowing meditation at the Westwoods Center in a free event planned to coincide with the summer solstice.  Laughter Yoga offers participants the power to laugh without comedy or stimuli and the benefits can be powerful.  "Laughter releases serotonin and endorphins and makes you feel good," said …

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