Elmira Express

April is National Humor Month! Humor and laughter play an important role to our overall wellbeing. When we laugh, we relieve stress and become connected with others. In this edition of the Elmira Express, you will learn about the short term and long term benefits of laughter and also how it affects your mental health.

Laughing not only lightens your load mentally but it also causes physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

• Stimulate many organs. Laughter increases your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A good laugh ignites and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure.
• Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

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Laughter is also good for you over the long term. Laughter may:

• Improve your immune system. Laughter can release neuropeptides (oxytocin) that help fight stress and potential illnesses.
• Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers (endorphins).
• Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
• Improve your mood. Laughter helps to decrease your stress, depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier. It can also improve your self-esteem.

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Laughter not only makes you feel good in the moment, but those positive feelings remain with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep an optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss. Below are some ways laughter can improve your mental health:

• Laughter stops distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing.
• Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.
• Laughter shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and diffuse conflict.
• Laughter draws you closer to others, which can have a profound effect on all aspects of your mental and emotional health.

Smola Consulting is proud to announce that we will be hosting another wellness speaker event! Join us on May 17th @ 7:00 PM for 7 Habits of Supremely Happy People, presented by Corporate Culture Expert, Motivational keynote speaker and author, Yvonne Conte.

Click here to learn more about the event!

Skunk Cabbage Classic Road Race - Ithaca Events (visitithaca.com)

2022 STRC Mall Madness Indoor 5K (runsignup.com)

Free 5k- Greater Binghamton (runsignup.com)

Pink Moon Bike Ride - Ithaca Events (visitithaca.com)

2022 John Polo 5K (runsignup.com)

Planting Party & Watershed Clean-up at Eldridge Park | 96 Eldridge Park Dr, Elmira, NY 14903, United States | April 28, 2022 (happeningnext.com)

Cayuga Trails Club Hike - Ithaca Events (visitithaca.com)

For those on the Excellus BCBS health plan offered through Elmira City School District, HealthyRewards® powered by RallySM is an exciting way to earn rewards for doing simple things to get and stay healthy! You can earn a Visa Gift Card® or virtual gift cards from national retailers such as Amazon, KOHL’s, eBay and more – just for doing simple things that fit into your daily routine.

If you activate your Rally account throughout the month of April, you can still earn up to $365 in rewards! If you have a spouse on the Excellus health plan offered through Elmira City School District, they can also earn up to $365 in rewards as well. That’s a combined possible reward of $730!

Don’t miss out on your chance to earn and cash in on these rewards. To learn more, including how to register your Rally account, please click HERE.

Do you have an idea that you would like to see included in a future wellness newsletter? Please send it to Tracy Mennig at TMENNIG@elmiracityschools.com.

Email: ginther@smolaconsulting.com
Website: www.smolaconsulting.com
Location: 1 South Washington Street, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 5857774080