Groups get into the funny business

Adults speak in chicken. A few minutes later, they might be playing with ‘mental floss’ or… Adults speak in chicken. A few minutes later, they might be playing with ‘mental floss’ or pretending to ride an imaginary roller coaster. Welcome to the Three Rivers Laughter Club, a Pittsburgh-based laughter club that’s part of a growing worldwide phenomenon where people meet, mingle and laugh. According to the World Laughter Tour Inc. Web site, there are about 2,000 clubs worldwide. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Built off the idea that laughter is the best medicine, these groups are becoming an increasingly widespread medium for people to reduce stress and boost their spirits.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘There’s so much being done to substantiate [laughter],’ said Sharon Hamovitz, a member of the Three Rivers Laughter Club and a certified laughter leader ‘- she attended international workshops to earn that title. ‘I just know that it works. It makes people feel good.’ The Three Rivers Laughter Club, led by Dave Russell, meets every first and third Thursday of the month. Participants drop in for a free session of yoga-inspired exercises designed to put them into a positive mental state. ‘It’s kind of like adults acting silly,’ said Russell, who encouraged his club members to add little bits of laughter to their lives. He said he always laughs when his phone rings. He doesn’t answer it laughing, but laughs until he says, ‘Hello,’ he said. A certified laughter leader, Russell volunteers his time because he believes in the power of laughter. When someone new arrives, he gives an explanation of the research done in support of laughter’s positive influence on health. ‘Our bodies don’t know the difference between stimulated versus simulated laughter. We don’t wait for something to be funny to experience the benefits of laughter,’ said Russell. Exercises promote light-hearted atmosphere Regular attendees Victoria Dym, of Mt. Lebanon, and Marygrace Antkowski, of Lawrenceville, have participated in laughter clubs together for at least two years. ‘It’s laughter club. We’ve waited all week to laugh!’ said Dym, after being jokingly scolded by the group for laughing prematurely, during the warm-up. Russell uses a blend of common laughter exercises, such as ‘mental floss for mental health’ ‘mdash; which involves pulling one’s arms back and forth over one’s head, in a giant flossing motion, while laughing ‘mdash; with original exercises created in the group, like an imaginary rollercoaster. Other exercises are interactive, like the one where participants walk around the room and gawk and squawk to each other for about a minute in chicken jargon. Even practicing silent laughter contributed to the light-hearted atmosphere. Participants accidentally let out audible giggles, chuckles and the occasional shriek. ‘That’s laughter club,’ said Russell. ‘We just do some silly things and laugh a bit.’ Activities vary with group The club atmosphere encouraged Hamovitz to become a laughter leader herself. But Hamovitz doesn’t lead a regular group like Russell does. Instead, she conducts laughter workshops for groups and businesses. A member of the National Speakers Association, Hamovitz said she tries to tailor each workshop to her audience. Hamovitz said he can use basic moves, such as a drink-pouring routine, in which participants hold a hand out in front of them like they’re holding a cup, pretend to pour a drink into the imaginary cup and then switch hands, laughing the entire time. He also makes slight changes to them so they appeal to a particular audience. Hamovitz said she often uses a milkshake routine Russell uses when she’s with children, but if she’s in a corporate setting she lets people pick their own drink to pour. She prefers a Bloody Mary. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Tailoring the exercises is easy, she said, because new exercises are made up all the time, especially when people speak about something they like. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Regardless of the exercise, though, the focus is always on the laughter. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Laughter brings you into the moment,’ said Hamovitz. ‘It’s a moment of peace and tranquility. People are so stressed out.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Hamovitz and Russell both said that they are careful not to use exercises that could offend any of their participants. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Simulated laughter is meant to lead into real laughter, cutting out a reliance on common humor, which often comes at the expense of others, Hamovitz said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Humor is subjective, but laughter is universal,’ she said. ‘When someone tells a joke, some might find it funny and some might find it offensive. We don’t tell jokes. No one gets hurt with simulated laughter.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Despite that, Hamovitz recognizes that some people are still uncomfortable with the idea of forcing themselves to laugh. Usually that’s because they don’t know what to expect, she said. ‘ Hamovitz tells her groups to share their experience and spread the news about laughter. ‘ ‘I always tell people that they have to use it, take it and teach it to someone else,’ she said. ‘Laughter is contagious, so start an epidemic.’