Page 11 - Boca Exposure - September '19

Boca Exposure, Page 11
Reality Check √: ... Healthy Answers On Living

And Loving Life: “Lighten Up, Chill Out!”

By Dale Brown, B.S., M.A., How would you describe your sense of humor? If you • Laughter Meditation: This therapy consists of three
C.E.C. Dale is a motivational can laugh at little things that happen in life, not get stressed stages. Stage one requires the person to stretch every
speaker who has spent many out over everyday happenings, you could be doing more muscle without laughter. In stage two the person is asked
years as a Certified Life Coach for your health than you think. to gradually start with a smile and then purposely belly
and has written numerous You may have heard the expression, “Laughter is the laugh or cry, whichever comes first. In the last stage the
articles and ebooks relating best medicine.” Well, it appears that laughter does more person suddenly stops laughing or crying, closes his eyes
to self-improvement and ways for you, both mentally and physically, than you may have and breathes in silence, concentrating on the moment. The
to build a high-performance imagined. The study of laughter, known as gelotology, has entire process takes about 15 minutes and is usually done
team. Her education and proven that your ability to take life a little less seriously on an individual basis.
years of experience in physical can actually keep your heart healthier. Statistics show • Laughter Yoga and Laughter Clubs: This exercise
fitness and training of elite that people with heart disease reacted less humorously to is done in a structured format in a group or club with the
athletes has enabled her to life itself, and even showed more anger and hostility in use of laughter exercises that last for 30 to 45 minutes.
sharpen her knowledge in many health-related areas. The positive situations. It incorporates breathing, yoga, stretching exercises, and
following is one in a series of columns devoted to many topics Having a good laugh does more than produce a short- laughter without the use of humorous materials.
that deal with the mind/body connection and the importance term high; it also has lasting effects on the body, such as:
of living a healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be Lowering blood pressure; Reality Check on page 12
reached at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com. Exercising muscles of the abdomen, face, leg, and
Have you ever thought about how good laughing makes back;
you feel? It lifts your spirits and makes you happy. When was Reducing stress hormones, such as cortisol and
the last time you had a really good laugh? Not just a giggle, adrenaline;
but rather one that rocked the house? You may have noticed Reducing the frequency of colds – by immunoglobulon
that laughing is contagious. I guess that’s what’s fun about in saliva;
going to a comedy club or a movie, where people gather for Increasing learning, when during instruction humor
one reason: to give themselves a chance to laugh. led to increased test scores; Providing expert specialized care
A friend recently told me that her son measures his friends Improving alertness, creativity, and memory. for over 25 years
based upon their ability to laugh together. When these kids Not only has the physical value of laughter been
team up, they can’t help but have fun just laughing about all found to keep the doctor away, it has a major relevance • Commitment to Treatment and
kinds of things. Now with the start of the new school year, to your mental health. So much so that it has led to the
he’s worried that his buddies will be in different classes and development of various therapies to help patients cope Diagnosis of Retina, Macula and
his laughing days will end. The ability to laugh seems to and treat a variety of psychological issues. If you would Vitreous
come easier when you’re young, before we get older and like to sharpen your laughing skills, one of the following
take life more seriously. therapies might be just what you’re looking for:
To me, a sense of humor is right up there with other values • Humor Therapy: This type uses funny books, shows, • Personalized Patient Care
that hold a place on my list of deal breakers. I grew up with movies, or stories to spark discussions from patients’ own
a father who loved to tell stories, play practical jokes, and humorous experiences, individually or in a group.
make funny faces that made us reel with laughter. It’s not a • Laughter Therapy: In this case, the client’s laughter • Several Locations for Patient
wonder that when it came to selecting a soul mate, finding triggers are identified…things like situations, jokes, Convenience
a guy who made me laugh was important. I have to say that comedians, etc. that make him/her laugh. A humor profile
to me my husband is hysterical and missed his calling as a is then created to aid in the laughter therapy on a one-on-
stand-up comic. one basis with exercises for the client to practice. • Advanced Treatment for Macular
Disorders

• Advanced Surgical Techniques

• Affi liation with “State-of-the-Art
Surgical Center”

Lauren R. Rosecan,

M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S.

Diplomate American Board of Ophthalmology

“A center of
excellence for
the diagnosis
and treatment

of retinal,
macula and
vitreous
diseases and
disorders.”

We Have January 21

Emergency Care!

(800) 445-8898

www.theretinainstituteoffl orida.com

BOCA RATON
1050 N.W. 15th Street, #114, 33486

Locations also in West Palm Beach,
Palm Beach Gardens and Stuart