This week’s person of the week is Cynthia Curtis, co-owner of Phillipsburg’s Perfect Christmas Tree Farm and Leader of Laughter Yoga at the Funny Farm

Cynthia Curtis co-owns the Perfect Christmas Tree Farm on Route 22 in Phillipsburg with her husband, John. They have always been recognized for the unique events they host at the Farm over the course of each year, particularly at Christmas-time, but six years ago, Cynthia took on a new venture—Laughter Yoga.

Everyone knows the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Over the past 50 years, there has been plenty of scientific research on laughter and humor and its positive effect on the human condition. Not only is laughter good medicine, but, Cynthia added, “Laughter is free, and available 24 hours a day, every day.”

She attended a 2-day class in New York City in Fall 2013, after which she received certification as a Laughter Yoga Leader. She then launched the Funny Farm Laughter Club at Perfect Christmas Tree Farm, offering free weekly sessions. In 2017, she visited Germany and took a 5-day class, where Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the Laughter Yoga Movement, was a guest. She returned home a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher.

Since 1995, thousands of Laughter Clubs have been established in 120 countries on six continents. Run by trained volunteers, they are free, non-political, non-religious, and non-profit. Their goal is “happiness, health and world peace” through laughter. As Cynthia said, “Laughter is contagious. People who laugh together make a connection as friends.”

The Phillipsburg Free Public Library recently hosted a Laughter Yoga class. Cynthia addressed the history, practice, and benefits of the program, and then warned the participants, “You will sweat—this is a mild aerobic exercise, but it IS exercise!” Drawing from her own experience over the past six years, she suggested, “Sometimes, if you’re stressed, nervous, or having a bad time, take a few minutes off and laugh. See if that doesn’t make you feel better.” 

Next up was a 20-minute laugh-a-thon, which is the time it takes for the body to release “feel good” endorphins into the brain. The exercises during Laughter Yoga were loud or silent, big moves and small, a roar and a giggle. Cynthia led the group through assorted prompts, all involving laughing and…a sneeze, vowel recitations, animal impersonations, fake cell phone calls, walking on hot sand, sumo stances, smelling flowers, mimicking Santa, empty pockets, and more.

After all the laughter and interaction, everyone took a seat for a 20-minute cool down. Cynthia gently had the students close their eyes and concentrate on mindful breathing, moving energy up and down through their bodies. She asked that they “put a smile on their liver and on their pancreas and on their stomach. Every breath tells you you’re alive. Breathe in, breathe out, release, feel good. Make your lungs smile.” She concluded by quietly urging her students to “feel good, comfortable, released, and better than before,” followed by a laugh (of course). Afterwards, the eight attendees variously noted they felt tingly, refreshed, calm, and enlightened.

Cynthia said she laughs all the time, probably more than the 20 continuous minutes a day prescribed to reap the perks of Laughter Yoga. She laughs when she’s bored, she laughs while stopped at a traffic light, she laughs on a treadmill. She laughs alone, with her husband, John, with a group, or with people across the nation and around the world via Skype (www.facebook.com/skypelaughterclub). There’s no restriction on where, when, how, or why you laugh. Just do it and feel “the happy!”

Join Cynthia Curtis, certified Laughter Yoga teacher, at the Phillipsburg Free Public Library every second Monday of the month at noon and 7 p.m. Beginning April 6, she will run a Saturday session at the Funny Farm Laughter Club at Perfect Christmas Tree Farm, beginning at 6 p.m. Times and dates may change, and classes will be added, so check www.go2laugh.com or www.facebook.com/funnyfarmlaughterclub for up-to-date information.

When it comes to the people and happenings of Warren County, you can count on award winning photographer Cathy Miller to be there to record the moment.