Talk of the Town
Laughter and yoga can be powerful medicine

Caruso

Medical science has long known and accepted the therapeutic value of laughter. Human beings were made to l a u g hLaughterisa stress reducer in humans that lifts the spirits, makes them feel good and improves their interactions with others. In the past, happy, healthy humans spent 20 minutes a day or more in laughter. Now, the adult daily laugh time is probably five minutes or less in many countries. A regular 20-minute laughter session can have a positively affect health and well being. Laughter is no only fun but is a gentle exercise. Laughter fills the lungs and body with oxygen, clears the breathing passages and exercises the lungs. This is really important for people who don't get regular aerobic exercise. Laughing stimulates the body to release a cocktail of hormones and chemicals that have startling positive effects on the system. Stress is reduced, blood pressure drops, depression is lifted and the immune system is boosted.

Laughter yoga is based on the philosophy of "Acting Happiness." It involves a combination of laughing, exercises, yogic breathing, playfulness and stretching. It can be done alone, but is most beneficial in a small group setting, led by a certified laughter yoga l0eader. Almost anyone can participate in laughter yoga, even people with physical limitations of various kinds, because most of the exercises can be done while sitting in a chair

Laughter yoga came about 11 years ago because Dr. Madan Kataria, an Indian doctor and student of yoga, was writing a paper for a medical journal titled "Laughter is the Best Medicine." Dr. Kataria was convinced of the medical benefits of laughter and yogic breathing exercises and began to search for a way to bring these benefits together. Therefore, laughter yoga was born and people all over the world are enjoying the benefits of laughter by practicing in laughter clubs and workshops.

Gulf Breeze is very fortunate to have a certified laughter yoga leader. Her name is Alice Caruso. Caruso earned a bachelor of science and a master degree from Auburn University. Her master's is in rehabilitation -vocational evaluation and psychometrics from the school of psychology, intelligence testing. She became a trained certified laughter yoga leader in 2007.

Caruso said, "After attending a laughter yoga class at Everman's, I became interested in the concept and attended a laughter yoga training program in Atlanta, Ga. last October. I was trained by a certified teacher who received her training from Dr. Madan Kataria of Mumbai, India."

Laughter yoga combines laughter exercises and yoga breathing and gives the health benefits of hearty laughter. Laughter exercises almost always lead to real laughter, especially when practiced in a group. Caruso offers a workshop in laughter yoga at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Gulf Breeze on the second Saturday each month at 9:30 a.m. The class is free and the public is invited to attend. Remember that persons with disabilities can easily take a class in laughter yoga. For more information contact Caruso at abcaruso@mchsi.com or call 850-934-6317.

Santa Rosa Woman's Club

Santa Rosa Woman's Club (SRWC) met on March 4 and had a array of exciting activities, which was certainly highlighted by the an excellent program, welcoming new members, proposed officers slate for 2008-09, SRWC winners of the District Art Festival and the announcement of coming events.

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The meeting was hosted by the education department with Co-Chairman Shari Fulford and Wendy Brandon, assisted by Jean Barker, Barbara Oliver, Sue Simco, Rita Forbes, Jackie Owen, Mary Woodward, Betsye Haddock, Jo Ann Price and Betty Willis. With Easter bunnies and baskets of candy for table decorations, these ladies presented a program that captured the hearts of all the members. Shari Fulford introduced Leslie Jolly, third grade teacher at Gulf Breeze Elementary School, who told the story of the Jazzy Jelly Fish Café. The café was started three years ago, and so far has earned over $10,000 for charities of their choice. The children did the planning and work for this business venture. Two students, Max Kirchgessner and Corey Nolan accompanied Jolly to tell about their classes' business venture and what they had learned from it. To say that they impressed the audience would be an understatement.

Submitted photo The Laughter Yoga Group that meets at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church are (from left to right) Sandy Bearden, Jayne Overton, Lori Wendolek, Nell Davis, Esther Moore, Joe Tarbuck, Alice Caruso, Armand Caruso, Peggye Gallagher and Janet Simonson.

Three new members were welcomed to the club by Jane Parker, Membership Chairman. The new members are Heike Appelt, Jane Bennett, and Betsye Haddock. Their sponsors, Wendy Brandon and Mary Woodward, stood with them as they received yellow roses.

Shirley Gaddis, chairman of the nominating committee announced the proposed officers slate for next year. They are: President Barbara Gonshor, President Elect Mary Eder, First Vice President Linda Dawson Second Vice President Linda White- Spunner, Recording Secretary Polly Thompson, Corresponding Secretary Brenda Sadler, Treasurer Wendy Brandon and Anna Campbell.

Shirley Gaddis, chairman of the art department, announced the winners of the District Arts Festival. They are: Lolly Sandford, Carolyn Pfeiffer, Mary Eder, Linda White- Spunner, Annette Brinkman, Kay Craven, Marion Ginn, Alma Dearth, Bettie Lee Sundstrom, Sherry McReynolds, and Pat Landfair.

Submitted photo Third grade teacher at Gulf Breeze Elementary School, Leslie Jolly, with students Max Kirchgessner and Corey Nolan.

Jane Parker reminded the group that a membership coffee and orientation will be at the home of Barbara Oliver on March19 at 10:30 a.m. Shari Fulford announced that the education department will be serving lunches at the sports ability contests on March 28 at Navarre High School.

Friends of Navarre Library Navarre Book Club

The fledgling Friends of the Navarre Library Book Club will read adult bestseller "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs. The club will meet at 10 a.m. Monday, March 24, in Navarre Library's meeting room, 8484 James Harvell Road.

"The Friday Night Knitting Club" is Jacobs' first novel. The paperback edition is number seven on the New York Times bestseller list and number 18 on the USA Today list. It also is on Target's and Books-a-Million's book club lists. Discussion questions are in the readers guide in the back of the book. Jacobs' website is http://katejacobs. com. Facilitator of the book club is Dianne Bayless.

Submitted photo The SRWC winners of the District Art Show are Carolyn Pfieffer, Kay Craven, Annette Brinkman, Alma Dearth, Linda White- Spunner, Mary Eder, Lolly Sandford, Pat Landfair, Marion Ginn and Sherry McReynolds. Bettie Lee Sundstrom is not pictured.

For more information about the book club, call the Navarre Library at 850-936-6120 or Patt Stewart at 850-932-0715, extension 103.

Emerald Coast Bead Society

The Emerald Coast Bead Society presents the annual spring show at First United Methodist Church, The Wright Place, 80 East Wright Street in Pensacola on May 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will see finished jewelry, chain mail, fine jewelry; fiber arts, bead embroidery, batik clothing and artwork, macramé items, lamp work, polymer and precious metal clay dichroic and glass beads and artwork, decorated gourds, soft sculpture creations and much more. Come enjoy the wonderful, unique, one-of-a-kind creations made by our members. Enjoy live entertainment by local musicians. Along with the bead show, the friends of the library are having their annual book sale to benefit the local libraries. Please be sure to visit the book sale in the gymnasium after enjoying our bead show. For further information, contact Mary Jordan at 850- 455-6109 or email Nona2kylie@cox.net.

Pensacola Quilters' Guild

The Pensacola Quilters' Guild has a night meeting and a day meeting so that anyone interested in the art of quilting can attend and share. The night meeting will be held on Monday, March 24 at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 9888 Pensacola Blvd. It begins at 6 p.m. to get acquainted and the formal meeting and program begins 6:30 pm. The program is called "Stash Management" and features a lecture by Sara Madison. Madison is a wellknown quilter, quilt teacher and quilt show judge. For persons who have managed to collect an overwhelming amount of fabric over the years, Madison has some great tips on how to keep track of it all. This practical and humorous talk takes a look at why we collect all these fabrics, and then suggests ways to organize, use, save, eliminate, and justify collections!

The day meeting on March 27 will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall, located at 519 North Palafox St., in Pensacola, begins at 9 a.m. Madison will again be the featured speaker and this time her topic will be "A Quilted Legacy." Madison can document four generations of quilt making in her own family. An 1860's appliqué quilt made by her great grandmother is the centerpiece of her family quilts. The collection also includes quilts by both her grandmothers and her mother. With this background in quilt history, it's easy to see why Madison's own style of quilting includes intricate hand appliqué and pieced traditional quilts. Remember The Pensacola Quilt Guild Quilt Show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29 at The Wright Place. For questions, contact Betsy at 850-916- 99828.

Pensacola Symphony Guild to hold the 'Magnolias and White Linen' luncheon

The 22nd Magnolias and White Linen luncheon, sponsored by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Guild, will be held Wednesday, April 2 at New World Landing in Pensacola. Doors open at 10:30 am and the luncheon will begin at 11:30 am. The patron party will be held on Tuesday, April 1.

The guest speaker of the event will be Ann B. Ross, author of the "Miss Julia" series of novels. Ross holds a doctorate in English from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and was a professor of literature at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Her debut novel, "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind," was hailed as "[a] charming comedy of manners" and "a romp of a book … with a distinctly Southern flavor." The "Miss Julia" series is now eight books strong, with a ninth slated for release in April. Ross will also conduct a reading and book signing at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on April 2 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Tickets to both the luncheon and patron party are available for $35 each and are available from Linda and Philip Balink- White at 850-476-6242. In addition, copies of selected "Miss Julia" books are available for purchase for $15 each, with half of proceeds going directly to the guild.

Sponsorship packages for the luncheon are still available, ranging from $250 to $1,000. Interested parties may contact Sandi Jacob at 850- 916-4337.

This is a wonderful opportunity to hear an entertaining presentation by a famous Southern author; to enjoy delicious food in a charming social setting; and to support the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.