Laughter yoga at Pelham Library

Did you know a child under the age of 5 laughs about 300 times every day?

Older folks might laugh 5 to 10 times a day.

You see,  all of our lives we’re told to “grow up,“ “act your age.“ And most of us do. But I found a group of folks who laugh…act silly and don’t seem all that interested in growing up.

Most are retired adults…..they come to the senior center in Pelham. Some come 5 days a week. 

Bingo keeps the brain active they say. They play most every day…but they’re doing some other stuff too.“

They laugh…they laugh on cue…and the more the laugh, the sillier they act. The pretend laughter becomes child-like…Silly if you will.

Barbara Roberts from the Pelham library first saw laughter yoga demonstrated at a librarians conference.

“The benefit of this senior center and the fellowship of what we’ve developed here is there is scientific evidence that social interaction, being with people can add as much as 9 years to your life expectancy,“ Roberts said.

Once participants accept that it’s OK to wear goofy sunglasses and act silly, it starts to seem like the thing to do. 

Laughter yoga involves movement…deep breathing…and, who says opening an umbrella inside is bad luck.

“I’ve seen people who have come to the center and they’ve been depressed, they’ve been in poor health, and their health will improve and they have a better outlook,“ Roberts said.

Barbara Roberts and her staff don’t fit the mold we think of when we think of librarians or libraries.

If you live around Pelham, you might want to check the senior center out.  Wherever you live, Barbara Roberts says just get movin’.

“Yes, that is the key for any senior to stay active, keep your mind active, exercise your body and be with other people,” Roberts said. “If you can do those three things you can have a long and happy life.“