At New Leaf Community Market, the Best Medicine is Food… and Laughter

The sound of laughter emanated from the New Leaf community classroom in Half Moon Bay on Wednesday, November 9. It was the first meeting of the new monthly workshop, "Laugh if Off: Improv for Wellness" that meets the second Wednesday of the month.

Workshops are facilitated by the co-founders who collectively have experience in improvisation, clowning, and storytelling skills. “We invite other community members to join us and say yes to the collective, collaborative and creative joy of improv,” said Rowlette. There will be some structure to the class, but the plan is to provide a relaxed, nonjudgmental and safe environment for people to be in the moment, let loose and play. Each class will include an introduction to improvisation with a warm-up exercise, and large and small group improvisation activities. Warm up activities at the first workshop included red ball thank you and exaggeration circle. After a round robin storytelling exercise, the group played imaginative games called Hitch Hiker, World’s Worst, and Blind Freeze.

In Blind Freeze two people do a scene together on a suggested theme while the rest of the players face away. Each time the moderator calls "Freeze" the next player in line takes the place of one of the people acting out a scene and the two then act out a new scenario. This exercise unleashes the imagination, and strengthens listening and other communication skills.

Not only are the workshops fun, improvisation also has many health benefits. It fosters mindfulness, and can help people who are shy or have social anxiety build their confidence and feel more comfortable in social situations. Laughter decreases stress by releasing endorphins, the body's natural, feel-good chemicals and can even temporarily relieve pain. “Laughter can also strengthen immunity, and that’s a good thing with winter around the corner,” added Rowlette.

The class is designed for adults and no experience in improvisation is required to attend. The next workshop is Wednesday, December 14 from 7 pm – 8:30 pm and costs $5. New Leaf is located at 150 San Mateo Rd, Half Moon Bay. Preregistration is suggested. To register, visit www.newleaf.com/events

About the Co-facilitators

Martha Longhi has long loved performing and the art of improvisation. In her early 20s she studied with Jean Shelton at the Jean Shelton Acting School in San Francisco until mid 1985 when she became a mother. She put her entertainment goals on the shelf and focused on her family. Now, years later, Martha is grandmother to two beloved grand children and is a successful real estate professional in San Mateo County. She has returned to improv and is excited about using this art form to help people laugh and “play themselves to wellness.”

Bob McComb’s interest in improvisation comes from his recent involvement with the San Mateo Storytellers Club where he first experienced improvisation storytelling and attended an improv workshop. Improv tickled his fancy and inspired him to attend the recent LifePlays improv workshop hosted at New Leaf. Bob brings five years of Toastmasters experience to the effort where won a few Tall-Tales contests and served in various club officer positions. Bob was raised on joke telling and his mother was often heard saying, “If that boy didn’t have sense of humor, why, he’d have no sense at all.” If life’s choices are either having fun or freaking out, Bob prefers to have fun and asks, who wouldn’t?

Bebe Rowlett, New Leaf Half Moon Bay’s store marketing coordinator, has long enjoyed teaching and performing dance and has wanted to grow her performance skills with both improv and clowning. She has studied clowning in San Francisco with clown and educator Christina Lewis, and is excited to venture into the similar collaborative art of improv. She brings to the group a willingness to be silly and give others permission to do the same. She encourages others to let go of the inner critic and free the creative self with a sense of adventure and humor.

About New Leaf Community Markets

A natural grocery company with seven stores, including a location at 150 San Mateo Rd, Half Moon Bay, New Leaf has been serving the community for over 30 years. New Leaf is committed to offering customers choices that have the most beneficial impact on their health and the health of the environment. Helping customers make informed decisions is an integral part of this commitment. A wholly owned subsidiary of New Seasons Market since November 2013, New Leaf is the first grocer in California to achieve B Corporation certification, which means that New Leaf uses the power of business to solve social and economic problems. New Leaf’s mission, to nourish and sustain our community, is reflected in the 10 percent of profits given annually to support local nonprofits working to improve the quality of life. www.newleaf.com