Best of Rhode Island 2009 Editors' Picks

Laughter can reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, banish pain and improve respiration. Why not do it often and on purpose? That's where laughter yoga comes in. Convinced that regular hearty laughter helped her recover from a whole host of maladies, including post-traumatic stress disorder, instructor Kik Williams started leading classes at social service agencies and yoga centers (including the East Side YMCA, Providence Healing Arts and Breathing Time in Pawtucket) throughout the state. Anyone can do it: Williams provides inspiration (embarrassed laugh, cocktail party laugh, trying-not-to-laugh laugh) and all you've got to do is let it rip.