The healing power of humor is incorporated into all aspects of the Center’s curriculum. Humor abounds! On and off over the past years, depending on staff talents and the availability of special volunteers or contract employees a Humor Heals class has been part of the regular curriculum. The first Humor Heals classes were taught by Dr. Marti Southam when she served as the lead occupational therapist at the Center. As an OT and an alumna of Clown school, she has made great use of humor throughout her career.  Clifford Henderson and Dixie Cox of The Fun Institute in Santa Cruz provide wonderful and popular humor classes for people throughout the community. The Center recently benefited from their work. Medical researchers have been seriously studying humor for several years now. It is now know that humor reduces pain due to the production of endorphins during laughter. Humor also increases production of T-cells, interferon and globulins, strengthening immune function. There is a evidence that laughter significantly reduces cortisol levels thus reducing the damage caused by the stress response. And, it has a positive impact on intellectual and emotional functioning. What’s not to like?!

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