The power of laughter
Despite the typical British summer weather, I’ve had a fun, busy time this month, including a trip to Ardington School of Crafts to run a Highland Cow Powertex workshop and my first shift as a volunteer in the gift shop at Upton House.
The most enjoyable part of my summer was the three-day Curious Creatives Art Retreat in the Cotswolds. We stayed in the dormitories of Kingham Hill School, with cabin beds and common rooms to negotiate! I celebrated my birthday whilst there and my ‘dorm mates’ made it a lovely day.
I wholeheartedly agree that ‘laughter is the best medicine’! I didn’t know anybody at the retreat but the shared giggles and humour brought us together and turned into guffaws and hysterics by the end of the week. I don’t think I’ve laughed that much for years and it was such a wonderful feeling.
As well as the arty workshops I’d signed up to, there were extra events to take part in and I chose drumming for one of my sessions – I had so much fun and would thoroughly recommend this.
The power of laughter boosts our mind, body and spirit – it’s scientifically proven! Apparently laughter improves brain connectivity and elevates our pain threshold by releasing endorphins and serotonin, the happy hormones.
Laughter and humour are positive traits, so people with a sense of humour often have a more positive view of adversity as they can see the ‘bright side’ of situations which is a good coping mechanism for dealing with stressful situations. The ability to bring humour to unhappy times can help to change the energy and emotions of people who are struggling.
When we start to laugh, it soothes tension by stimulating our circulation which can relax our muscles and relieve stress. The long term benefits of laughter can be an improvement in our immune systems, pain relief, creating connections with others and improving our mood and self-esteem.
If you find your sense of humour has deserted you, don’t worry, it can be relearnt by reminding yourself of photos, cards or comics that make you laugh. Also, by finding funny films or books, silly videos online, listening to a funny podcast or even visiting a comedy club.
If we can find a way to laugh about our own situations – to turn that frown upside down – and share the humour with others, the stress can melt away! There is even laughter yoga where they practice laughing, forced at first but then it becomes spontaneous and natural.
I certainly shared lots of laughs on my art retreat, as well as trying out some lovely new arts and crafts. For me, discovering new things and meeting new people is a great stress-reliever. I’ve already booked onto next year’s course and I’m looking forward to the laughs!
If you want to have a good time learning something new or developing a skill that you packed away, come and join me for a Powertex workshop. There are lots to choose from at www.artisticretreats.co.uk
Photo by Daniel Lezuch on Unsplash
