Thursday, January 29, 2009

Help is at hand

La Concejalía de la Tercera Edad in Bigastro is organising a series of workshops directed to the older citizens in the municipality.

These workshops will concentrate on:

* Mental Stimulation
* Risoterapia*
* Exercises for memory
* Social skills

The workshops will start on Wednesday 28th January and run between 4pm and 6pm in the Centro Social Integrado. The council anticipates that the workshops will continue for approximately two months.

The courses are totally free. Those interested must register in the Social Services area during opening hours.

* Risotherapia - I assume that the word comes from the Spanish verb 'reir' to laugh because the therapy is based on the old adage that 'laugher is the best medicine

More than 4000 years ago in the old Chinese empire, there were temples where people gathered to laugh with the aim of balancing their health. In India there are also sacred temples where people can practice laughter.

Scientifically, it has been proved that laughter provides many benefits. Laughter releases endorphins which are responsible in large part for our feeling of well being; it rejuvenates, removes stress, tension, anxiety, depression, reduces cholesterol, leads to weight loss, relieves pain, cures insomnia, reduces cardiovascular problems and helps cure respiratory diseases.

I don't know about all that but I do know I feel a lot better after watching Peter Kay's 'Live at the town hall Bolton'.

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