Mr. Paolo Trinidad, a certified Laughter Yoga teacher introduced Laughter Yoga to the Sisters. Laughter Yoga helps the Sisters to release their negative feelings, stress and anguish. Mr. Trinidad pointed out that as we laugh, our bodies release hormones and chemicals that have positive effects on our system. Stress is reduced, blood pressure drops, depression is lifted, immune system is boosted. Aside from hearty laughter, a combination of some yoga and breathing exercises, is added to enhance the session. It employs simple laughter exercises, interspersed with gentle breathing, warm up and stretching exercises, rhythmic clapping and chanting in unison.
These exercises are done as a way to improve health, and increase well-being. In Laughter Yoga, laughter is a tool, not an emotion.
While Dr. Blecy Varona gave a talk on “Making Healthy Endothelium: Reversal to Heart Disease.” Endothelium is a layer of cells lining the blood vessels, heart and lymphatic vessels. When the arteries are blocked with fats, the endothelium will burst which result to aneurism and stroke. Usually patients undergo heart bypass in order to survive. Dr. Varona pointed out the importance of eating a balance diet that include vegetables, fruits and low calorie foods. She also encouraged everyone to have regular exercise as part of healthy living. She brought the latest instrument that can show through a microscope the capillaries of the sisters. The condition of the capillaries reflect the condition of one’s heart.