Page 9 - Boca ViewPointe - April '21

April 2021 Viewpointe, Page 9

Manage Stress Looking Forward

With Exercise & Laughter With A Smile

By Oris Martin,
Fitness Director – Acts Retirement Life Communities By Judith Levy

What does exercise and laughter have in common? Everyday I get up
They’re both great stress busters! looking forward to a
It’s said that laughter is the best medicine. However, bright day and in short
as life gets more complicated it’s becoming increasingly order I’m shot down. I
more complicated to find relief in laughter. Laughter is try to plan out my day,
a way of expressing humor or joy that has numerous but there’s little to plan
physical benefits. and hardly anywhere
Laughter stimulates the major organs by increasing to go. Other than the
oxygen intake to the heart, lungs, and muscles. In addition, supermarket or an
it stimulates the brain to release more endorphins. It occasional dinner, out of doors of course, my day
also strengthens the immune system, relieves pain, and Getting physical activity every day is another great consists of household chores and phone calls to and
improves mood, all while helping people to manage stress way to cope with stress. As with laughter, when you from people I’d forgotten I ever knew and though
by easing tension, relaxing the muscles, and lowering exercise, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel I’m pleased they thought of me, I’ll probably never
blood pressure. good. Aerobic exercise such as walking outdoors or on see or speak to them again. So, I’m trying to look
At the same time, it decreases the levels of the stress the treadmill, cycling or spinning classes, swimming laps, forward but to what and to when?
hormone cortisol, which when elevated interferes with and dancing can also help you release built-up energy I know I’m in a funk, but there doesn’t seem to
the parts of the brain that manages emotions. Cortisol or frustration. Find something you enjoy that gets you be a vaccine for that. Well, good news I’m finally
is also thought to be a factor in the development of moving and do it for at least 30 minutes on most days. getting my COVID vaccine today. My husband got
heart disease, cancer, and dementia, because it increases Mind body exercise such as Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong his injection a month ago from the VA. They wouldn’t
inflammation in the body and interferes with the immune are also very effective at reducing stress. They all use give it to me even though I told them I’m married
system, putting us at increased risk for disease. slow controlled movements and breathing techniques to fifty-two years and that surely makes me a veteran.
Studies show that the benefits of laughter can be long help slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Hooray, I finally received my first COVID shot!
term, and over time it increases personal satisfaction, What if you combine exercise and laughter? Wouldn’t Not easily. I had to go to a park on Sample Road
lessens depression and anxiety, and makes you feel that be the perfect combination? Laughter yoga does and go on a journey that was non-ending. I travelled
happier. just that. In these classes, people practice laughter as in my car what seemed to be miles and miles, stop
If you do not have a natural sense of humor, here a group, and although it may seem strange at first, and go. I thought the place for this shot must be in
are some things that you can do to cultivate humor and participants soon loosen up and find themselves laughing Philadelphia. Finally, I got there and some kind lady
laughter. First take another look at the very situations that spontaneously. gave me an unnoticeable pinch on my shoulder and
cause you stress and try to find humor in them. Keep a If laughter is the best medicine, and exercise is good voila I was protected. Now I was required to wait
stock of movies, cartoons, and books that you find funny, medicine, together they’re a winning combination that fifteen minutes to be certain I didn’t have any adverse
and go to them when you need a humor boost. can provide years of good health and happiness.  effects, which thankfully I didn’t. The only effect I
had was a sense of protection and freedom from fear
which wrapped its arms around me, and it felt so
Advertise in This Newspaper! Call 561-746-3244 good. So, I’m urging everyone, ignore how irritating
it is to get on your computer at ungodly hours only
to find you are cut off and you need to get up again
another morning to go through this awful rigmarole
or call again to a line that’s perpetually busy, I say
do it! The rewards you will feel when you finally
accomplish this daunting task will be worth the effort,
I promise, and it will bring peace of mind to your
family too.
So now, I’m looking forward to eating out, still
outdoors of course, still wearing my mask, and
socially distancing, and looking forward to hearing
how my grandchild is doing back at school, and just
feeling much better about the future. All this from a
little pinch, with no after side effects for me at all,
just a dose of the good life lurking around the corner.
So, cheer up and please look forward too.

Judith Levy is the New York Times best-selling
author of GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERS, which
has sold over four million copies, and the mega best-
seller GRANDFATHER REMEMBERS, published by
HarperCollins. 

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