About Us

Massage Therapy Associates of the New River Valley is a group of Licensed Massage Therapists practicing through out the Roanoke and New River Valleys. We are diversified integrative health care providers with training in a wide variety of specialties.

All of our members have passed a National Therapeutic Massage Certification Exam and are licensed by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Also all associates are members in good standing with either the Associated Bodywork and massage Professional or the American Massage Therapy Association.


Tod Whitehurst LMT

Tod is a licensed massage therapist and a member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). He is a founding member of Massage Therapy Associates of the New River Valley and past President of the Southwest Virginia Massage Therapy Association.

Tod was a faculty member of the Blue Ridge School of Massage & Yoga where he taught classes in hydrotherapy, sports massage, ethics workplace massage and hot stone therapy. Tod is a graduate of Lynchburg University and Blue Ridge School of Massage and yoga. He is licensed by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

Tod is trained in a multitude of modalities including Medical Massage and his sessions consist of a set of combined deep therapies encompassing many different styles including a technique of his own called “Muscle Comforting”. Each session is tailored to the specific needs of his clients.

Tod is trained in a multitude of modalities including Medical Massage and his sessions consist of a set of combined deep therapies encompassing many different styles including a technique of his own called “Muscle Comforting”. Each session is tailored to the specific needs of his clients.


Luci  Merlo
Massage Therapist
Lymphatic Therapist
Trager® Movement Educator
Aquatic Tai Chi Instructor
Rehabilitation RN
Contact: luciamerlo@aol.com or merloluci@gmail.com Text/call: 540-357-1125

VALLEY  ACTIVE 120 Professional Park Blacksburg, VA  24060 Phone:  540-750-1095

Luci Merlo offers a broad and balanced approach to massage and movement therapies.  Highly experienced in traditional deep tissue and myofascial release techniques, Luci further integrates advanced lymphatic and neuromuscular reeducation methods.    All of Luci’s sessions are grounded in deep relaxation as the foundation for lasting benefits.   She develops her relaxation training skills with on-going practice in subtle modalities such as healing touch, craniosacral therapy, meditation, and tai chi/gigong.

 Combining rehabilitation nursing with massage and movement therapies, Luci has cared for clients with complex conditions including chronic pain, stroke, MS, Parkinsonism, scoliosis,  joint problems, and spinal cord injuries.   She can help clients establish and maintain a rehab plan to improve daily function.  Therapeutic massage and movement education enhance the client’s progress with regular exercise and other treatment programs such as post-surgical care and chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation.

 Luci understands the challenges that her clients face in building total wellness—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual — and she knows that significant recovery is possible!  Understanding the challenges and rewards, Luci works holistically, treating each client as unique and multidimensional with distinct needs and goals.