Tag Archives: #GoodLIfe

Laughter yoga is self-care

Laughter yoga combines deep, controlled breathing with simple stretches, childlike-playfulness, and self-simulated laughter. Benefits:Lower inhibitions/greater self-confidence More positive outlook Improved cardiovascular health, lung capacity and abdominal tone Improved digestive system Reduced stress Boosted immune system Better navigation of stressful or difficult situations Start your laughter yoga practice with Shoji Bridge. Free Zoom classes two timesContinue reading “Laughter yoga is self-care”

Laughter is a sunbeam to the soul

“Laughter is a sunbeam to the soul.” – Thomas Mann Laughing together combats loneliness. It helps build friendships and strengthen relationships. Spending a few minutes laughing together creates bonds and connects us. That connectedness helps us feel safe and secure and allows us to feel more relaxed and supported. It’s much harder to feel resentful,Continue reading “Laughter is a sunbeam to the soul”

Laughter is the best medicine

Stress makes our immune system work overtime. This contributes to so many physical difficulties: high blood pressure, aches, pains, inflammation. Laughter helps calm and strengthen our immune response. It reduces pain, lowers our blood pressure, and makes us feel better in so many ways. In just a few weeks, I’m launching a new offering thatContinue reading “Laughter is the best medicine”

Laugh more. Live better.

We spend too much time in “fight or flight” mode. Laughter counteracts the cortisol and epinephrine produced by our sympathetic nervous system. Laughing produces endorphins, dopamine and serotonin instead. We don’t have to be or feel funny or get the joke either. If you self-simulate laughter, your body doesn’t know the difference. Combine that laughterContinue reading “Laugh more. Live better.”

Ageism in Healthcare

We should consider it a blessing if we are able to grow old before we die. There is no shame in being old and continuing to live on this earth and to share the resources, richness, and rights of a living being in our communities. Neglecting our elder population and putting them away out of sight will not stop us from getting old or dying any more than talking about aging and death will cause them. If we can begin to address our fear of death, the terror of or mortality, we can come to love our lives, ourselves, our bodies and everyone else’s, too.

Decade of Healthy Aging

Yesterday, I talked about all the reasons we need to be concerned about our rapidly aging population. Today, I’ll explain how the United Nations is asking all of us in the public and private sectors to come together to create better living conditions for our aging society this decade. The hard truth is that unlessContinue reading “Decade of Healthy Aging”

Let’s talk about getting older

It’s my birthday month. Last year was a big – ZERO year, but also pandemic, so I didn’t do much to commemorate it. This year, each day until my birthday I want to talk about getting older and aging. We so undervalue our elders in this society, which leads to so many dreadful living andContinue reading “Let’s talk about getting older”

Life is lined

Do you have a favorite wrinkle? So far I have lines mostly around my eyes and mouth. I’m happy they have developed first from all the times I’ve laughed and smiled. I think they illustrate that I have spent more time happy, than wrinkling my brow/forehead in worry or exasperation. I know I’m lucky andContinue reading “Life is lined”

Memorial Day

I went to school with Steve five days a week, where he’d slam shut my locker, next to his, before I had my last books out. Or slam it and spin my lock so I’d have to start all over. He relished teasing me, but he’d also call me on the phone often, even decadesContinue reading “Memorial Day”