Anyone who knows me (as their Pilates instructor, friend, family member) knows that I am a goofball. I love laughter, witticisms and people who are able to laugh at themselves. I’ve never taught a Pilates session/class where I didn’t inadvertently use some wacky metaphor that at the very least made a client smile*.

(*Don’t get me wrong–I find over-the-top slapstick humor inappropriate, distracting and annoying.)

So I find it ironic that I inhabit the ‘Wellness World’, where people often take themselves very seriously–teachers and students alike. I ultimately try to teach clients how to cultivate a sense of well-being and strength and comfort in their bodies. But in an effort to “get it right”, we often hold our breath, clench our teeth and carry ourselves like little robots in a pursuit of perfection.

I wish we would all learn to laugh at ourselves more often, because it makes the world a more inhabitable place. But that is common knowledge.

What most people don’t know is that laughter actually strengthens one of our most important core stabilizing muscles–the Transversus Abdominis. Cool, huh? Every time you laugh or cough you are recruiting your core muscles. Check out this little diagram of your core…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transversus_abdominis_muscle

So. Here’s Sarah’s RX for a hot body:

1. The Broccoli Clause: No matter what you eat on any given day, always include 1/2 a head of broccoli.
2. Sleep 7hrs+/night.
3. Move as much as possible. We are genetically built to move.
4. Laugh when at all possible.

Here’s my core curriculum (pun intended) for laughter:

Any movie involving Christopher Guest. He is King Midas of hilarity. Anything he touches turns to pure comedic gold).
Arrested Development. The whole cast is divine.
Michael & Michael Have Issues. I once snorted milk out of my nose while watching this show.
Amy Poehler. She has a brilliant way of flaring her nostrils for comic effect.
The Colbert Report. Love his lop-sided ears.
Kristen Wiig. Especially as Judice on SNL.
Any short story by David Sedaris.

Please comment on this blog post with YOUR favorite funny people/shows so we can create the ultimate funny list.