A CLASS held in Huddersfield town centre turned out to be a laugh a minute.
The event was a two-hour laughter yoga workshop, held as a quirky fundraiser to help raise much-needed funds for the Welcome Centre, a charity for people in crisis, based at the Methodist Mission in Lord Street.
Workshop leader Christine Renshaw, of Bolster Moor, said: “Laughter is actually an aerobic exercise. It has many benefits, from lowering your blood pressure to increasing your heart rate and boosting the immune system. It also relaxes the muscles, reduces stress and even improves your mood.”
Laughter yoga, founded in 1995 by Indian GP Dr Madan Kataria, includes specific exercises which take the participants from a giggle to a chuckle to a belly laugh. Reaction from participants after the workshop included: “It was brilliant fun!” “Never laughed so much in my life!” and “Just what I needed."
Money raised from the class will be used to support local people. Over the past year, the Welcome Centre gave out over 4,600 packs of food and household items to local people in crisis.
People are referred to the centre from more than 80 different agencies and are given practical aid in the form of food and bedding packs, clothing, toiletries and home-starter kits, but the Welcome Centre is facing a real challenge to cope with increasing numbers of referrals, largely as a result of the current financial climate.
Any companies or individuals interested in making a donation to the centre should contact Karen Selley by email at: thewelcomecentre@btconnect.comor call 01484 340034.
