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Winnipeg seniors prove that laughter really is the best medicine

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It starts with just a smile. A deep breath to relax. Then a giggle. And then a full blown belly laugh. And it doesn't stop. The contagious laughter spreads throughout the room in seconds.

What's so funny? Absolutely nothing. They aren't telling jokes or watching a funny TV show. They are laughing for the sake of laughing.

Jeannine Carman has been a certified Laughter Yoga leader for 10 years. She hosts workshops for seniors where she helps them to relax and have a giggle — or two.

"What we do is different exercises that stimulate the laughter. It's not talking about anybody, it's not a joke. It's just a stimulated laughter exercise," said Carman.

The class involves simple breathing exercises, some light stretching and a whole lot of laughs. The idea is to relax and let go of stress or negativity, and to feel good about yourself. The laughter and good vibes spread throughout the class and before long everyone is smiling.

"A lot of people get scared away by the fact that it's yoga — just the visualization of turning yourself into a pretzel and laughing at the same time," Carman said, but she noted that the class is less about bending your body and more about bending social norms.

"The most common reaction is that 'this is just too weird, I don't want to allow myself to be silly.' But when you're allowing yourself to laugh on a daily basis, you realize the benefits of it, and how you can let go."

'People don't laugh enough'

For seniors at Residence Despins in Winnipeg's St. Boniface neighbourhood, the class is a way to let go of stress and be silly with one another.

"With everything that goes on in this world, you don't feel like laughing all the time. When you go to a place like this and you start laughing, it takes weight off you and you feel better after you laugh a little bit. Because people don't laugh enough," said Jeannette Fillion, 76, who admitted that she needs to come to class more often.

"It takes stress away. It's good for my whole body, for my whole person. I think it's wonderful," said Ange Fouasse, 84, who never misses a class.

Carman works primarily with seniors, some with severe dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and she says the benefits are evident right away.

"I have no idea what's behind their face, I don't know what their life is about, but … their caregivers turn and say, 'I have not ever in the years I've worked here seen a smile on that person's face, and I've seen a smile today' … to see someone who is non-responsive to all of a sudden have a little bit of a glimmer in the eye," said Carman, who
feels like she makes a difference.

Carman is participating in World Laughter Day, which takes place Sunday, May 3. There will be a Laughter Yoga session at the Oodena Circle at The Forks from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit Laughter Yoga's website.