An official element of any complete healthcare team, massage therapists today participate in big and small sports events, including the NYC Marathon, the Olympic Games, and the Davis Cup. In 1996, practically no serious athlete trains without regular MT sessions. European ice-dancers use massage all the time. And for good reason. Unlike performing artists, visual artists typically do not pay much attention to prevention and conditioning and do not see themselves as athletes.
Many visual artists suffer from back and neck pain, knee, shoulder, and wrist problems.
And like Sherry Miller, they usually respond extremely well to MT, which offers pain and stress relief without side effects. Many massage therapists themselves have a strong artistic background with a liberal arts education. When you re ready for your first MT experience, your money will be better spent in the office of a qualified massage therapist, someone who has been trained in and continues to be dedicated to the art of MT, focusing on you, not on the tip, not on the next body tossed onto their massage table, nor to some beauty or health product they re trying to sell. And many massage therapists offer a sliding scale to accommodate the less prosperous among us. When you call a massage therapist for your first appointment, you can briefly describe your situation, ask some questions, and get a feel about the level of professionalism.