What we’re about
The Portland Laughter Community Meetup will officially come to an end on May 18th, after a 14 year run. The recent drastic increase in the cost to run a Meetup is simply speeding up what's already been a long time coming.
Unfortunately, the Laughter Community has received blow after blow - First, losing the Hawthorne Wellness Movement Studio, home to our flagship Laughter club for 8 years, with zero lead time in the fall of 2019, then the pandemic in 2020 and finally my diagnosis 2022 sealed the deal.
In August of 2022, I started having numbness in my right hand. Then in September things escalated quickly. I woke up unable to use my entire arm, with the numbness quickly spreading across my body. I ended up in the emergency room where I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
I naively thought that I might be able to continue teaching and leading online, once the flare calmed down and I was stable, but it's become clear that this is not in the cards. Instead of stabilizing, my health has only continued to deteriorate. It's also become clear that it is impossible to keep a healthy Laughter Community without in-person sessions and regular leader trainings bringing in new people & leaders.
For some LY was a one time novel experience, for others it became our thing, our place and our people. It is a sad day for many of us, to see the end. One thing is for sure, it wouldn't have lasted nearly this long without a lot of laughter, sweat and tears from a whole lot of people. So while it has been my pleasure to put Laughter Yoga on the map, not only Portland, but the entire PNW, this community thrived and survived through tremendous group effort. This email would be huge if I listed every single person, but shout outs to those who started, managed, and lead various Laughter clubs and events over the years. Especially Laura Lou, Chris, Steve and Gail. And to Jaz and Bruce for giving LY a chance at your movement studios (Awakenings & Hawthorne Wellness) when no one else in Portland would give it the time of day.
Laughter Yoga completely changed my life and touched the lives of many. Thus anyone who's ever attended any Laughter Yoga class or Laughter Club in the area has been part of that process and part of the Portland Laughter Community. While it is the end of an era, I am forever changed and forever grateful for this opportunity and transformative experience.
~ Andréa Crisp ~
