“Laugh For The Health of It”
Northport and Sarasota Communities
Programming Brings Joy and Learning
to Northport and Sarasota Communities
On June 18 at the Northport Library and July 18 ,2016 at Gulf Gate Library in Sarasota, community residents, numbering over 70 participants in all, laughed and learned with Hedda Matza-Haughton, LCSW, presenter, laughter expert, and arts and health practitioner for “For the Health Of It” Consultation services and Arts For Health Sarasota- Manatee . This interactive, fun-filled program created and brought across the nation by Hedda, focused on how you can increase laughter and joy in your daily life. Laughter has positive health outcomes. During this 90 minutes highly interactive event participants learned the physical and emotional benefits of laughter and joy. Each participant created their own personal list of ways to increase laughter in all aspects of their lives. This is one of many Artists in the Libraries program offered this summer and compliments the Adult Reading Program.
Some of the participant shared these responses at the end of the programs: “I think we need to have this program every week; I learned today that laughing as a way to deal with stress can help heal our immune system; I need to be more mindful of the daily need for joy and laughter; I didn’t know that laughter had so many physical and emotional benefits and that I can help my arthritis and other ailments by laughing.”
The two librarians who helped organize these programs shared the following:
Richard Hodder from Gulf Gate Library in Sarasota said, “Thank you so much for bringing this wellness program to Gulf Gate Library, which contributed greatly to this year’s Adult Summer Reading Program theme of healthy exercise for mind, body and spirit. All the participants raved about the energy and joy you brought to their afternoon, and I’m sure they will want to continue spreading that joy in their daily lives!”Janis A. Russel from
Northport Library said, “All of the participants…seemed very appreciative of your enthusiasm and creativity. I was amazed t how you got almost everyone so comfortable within the first 10 minutes that they were vying with each other to have the most flamboyant dress-up costume.
Presenter: Hedda Matza-Haughton, LCSW, has worked extensively in the area of stress management with a specialty in laughter and joy techniques, and integrating improvisational drama into educational programs. She has created and directed numerous workshops and has appeared on local and national TV. She is a consultant, health educator, teaching artist, and licensed certified social worker with over twenty five years of experience in healthcare. She is the President and founder of “For The Health of It” Consultation Services, creator of the nationally acclaimed improvisational drama program “Words Not Spoken,” and popular Princess Juicy Joy Laughter Kit, as well as Co-Chair of Arts for Health Sarasota-Manatee, Inc. Contact Hedda to set up a laughter program for your organization or community. Call her at 941-923-7477 or via her website, Laughforthehehalthofit.net
