Our friend Paolo Trinidad is making a name in the Philippines as the master teacher of a special healing theraphy called "Laughter Yoga".I have seen him perform and coach cancer patients at Corridor of Hope events in St Lukes QC..( my son Ryan is President). You start with artificial laughter but it can get pretty natural after a couple of minutes, downright hilarious infact! Experts say you can ACT yourself into feeling. So if you engage in the right actions..the emotions will soon follow.
When Ryan was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2007, I researched the connection between laughter and healing of cancer. I can never forget the story of an Asian woman who refused chemotheraphy for her breast CA and instead borrowed funny videos, watched them and laughed daily. She was completely healed!! Of course that sounds quite extreme.But everyone has heard a similar story. A story that connects laughter with healing.
At one check up visit to Dr Charity's clinic...she remarked that Ernie remains well today because of his very funny disposition (I have known that for 38 years now!! In fact that is the reason I am Mrs Ernesto Fernandez today). Our doctor agrees that there is a link. So there must be real evidence and science behind it!
Laughter releases a chemical in the brain called "endorphins". Endorphins act like a natural pain killer and gives you a feeling of happiness similar to taking marijuana. They also strengthen your immune system - the army of cells that fight cancer. Some activities that boost endorphins are exercise, eating comfort food, listening to music, petting a dog you love etc- (we've got 3 endorphine producers - our 3 doxies Ola, Garlic and Alic). But top of the list there is plain and simple laughter!!
Anyone who personally knows my husband will agree - he is an absolute clown!! He finds humor in everything! He can say the same corny jokes over and over again and I would still laugh as heartily as I did the first time I heard it in 1976! Someone else could say the same joke and not elicit the tiniest chuckle from me. Everyone loves HIM. Even my 86 year old Mom with Parkinson's disease and who survived 2 strokes, laughs so hard she turns red and cries. He is Mr Program MC for Christmas, Reuions, Weddings, Birthdays etc etc. He is such a blessing to be around with.
Mr FUN, likes to live life to the full! No wonder that is exactly what he gets - disease or no disease we need to live life to the full.
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." - Proverbs 17 :22
