Laughter Club of the New River Valley

(540)392-3723 or (540)544-6820

To receive updates on events please join out listserve by sending an email to tod@laugh4u.org

(under construction) 

Media Kit

Health Benefits

Testimonials

Qualifications

Appointments

Directions

Blacksburg Map

Blacksburg Map (pdf)

Links

Laughter Yoga

Thursdays 7:00-7:30pm at Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga. 2001 South Main Street, Suite 106, Colony Park, Blacksburg or the Unitarian Church 1301 Gladewood Dr. Blacksburg (see below for locations)

(New 6/8/09)

  • The Meeting time has been Changed from 5:45pm to 7pm. We will still meet on Thursdays at the Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga unless otherwise noted below.

  • The Unitarian Church in Blacksburg starts its own laughter club and will meet once a month and is open to the public. Meeting dates are June 18th, July16th and August 20th
  • Regular Meeting June 11th Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga

  • Regular Meeting June 18th will be held at the Unitarian Church 1301 Gladewood Dr Blacksburg (map click here)

  • June 25th cancelled

"IT WAS AMAZING.  I didn't even know it was possible to laugh like that without a reason. I was still laughing on my way out the door; it was great! …. It was like a breath of fresh air - on the inside AND out! My friends …. said they couldn't even remember the last time I was that happy, giddy and lit up. There is a difference in feeling happy and actually being thoroughly happy. I can't even begin to tell you how much I needed last night (and I didn't even realize I needed it until I was experiencing it).  The meditation was just invigorating! It reminded me that I can still laugh even when I want to cry".

Camellia

Cost: Free

What is Laughing Yoga?

It is intentioned sustained laughter used to promote health. Unlike other forms of Yoga there are no postures and unlike traditional forms of laughter there are no jokes nor humor. The body cannot tell the difference between real or fake laughter so we use the natural bodily response to take advantage of the physiological, emotional, psychological and spiritual effects of laughing.

Health Benefits

  • Blood & all major organs are fully oxygenated leaving us bursting with energy
  • Blood pressure drops, circulation improves and pulse rate drops
  • Depression is lifted, even chronic depression is often cured
  • High endorphin levels put us in a great mood and reduce any aches & pains
  • Immune, digestive & sexual systems that are switched off by stress are switched on
  • Self confidence is boosted, communication skills and creativity are boosted
  • Our lymphatic system is massaged and our immune systems boosted
  • Stress levels reduce by 75% or more and we become more stress resistant

Testimonials

"Laughter Yoga combines laughter with yogic breathing exercises. It is a perfect way to laugh and get exercise at the same time. It approaches laughter as a body exercise so it's easy to laugh even if you're depressed or in a bad mood. I've tried it, and it works." Oprah Winfrey.

 

Qualifications

Tod Whitehurst NCMT is a Laughing Yoga instructor and nationally certified Massage Therapist.  He teaches massage therapy at the Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga and is the coordinator for the Blacksburg Laughter club.

Appointments

To make an appointment for a laughter yoga session please contact Tod Whitehurst at 392-3723 or tod[at]laugh4u.org

Directions

Blacksburg

we are located at 2001 South Main Street, Suite 106, Colony Park, Blacksburg. There are two entrances to Colony park use the southern most entrance. The one NOT across from Bank of America.

Do not use the Internet mapping engines for directions. There has been some recent construction and it has not caught up with the mapping sites. Use the directions below.

From Downtown Blacksburg

Head South on Main Street (460 east business), passing Ellett Road on the left and the large NBB bank on the right. Colony park is on your left. Pass the first entrance and go to the second. We are in the first building on the left. It is marked Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga.


From Christiansburg

Take 460 West toward Blacksburg, past the stop light at the Montgomery County Hospital. Go through four lights passing professional park on the right. Pass a Wilco station and Car Wash on the Right. Turn right into Colony Park. We are in the first building on the left. It is marked Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga.


From Interstate 81

Take the Blacksburg/Virginia Tech exit. Continue 460 west and take the Blacksburg Exit. Bear left on the exit ramp to the Main Street Business 460. Go through one stop light passing professional park on the right. Pass a Wilco station and Car Wash on the Right. Turn right into Colony Park. We are in the first building on the left. It is marked Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga.

From West Virginia / Giles County

Travel 460 East to Blacksburg. Continue on 460 bypass. Go through a light at Toms Creek Road, pass the Prices Fork Exit and pass the light at the Southgate entrance to Virginia Tech. Take the next exit - the Blacksburg exit. Stay in the left exit lane, bear to the left and turn left at the light. Go through two stop lights passing professional park on the right. Pass a Wilco station and Car Wash on the Right. Turn right into Colony Park. We are in the first building on the left. It is marked Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga.

Links

Here are some links that we find very useful and informative