Interview With Gena Thurston - PT For Voice
Gena joined me from 'the room where it happens'
Listen & subscribe on iTunes ... on Spotify ... or anywhere else
Prefer video? Watch on YouTube
Other than an anesthesiologist wielding an endotracheal tube, I’ve never let anyone touch my throat, inside OR out, until I met my guest today. Listen in to my interview with vocal tension’s worst foe: physical therapist Gena Thurston!
Things we talked about
- Why a vocalist might want to work with a physical therapist
- How Gena developed her unique, multifaceted approach to treating patients
- How it was to work with the cast of Hamilton
- Working with muscle tension dysphonia
- The tricky subject of powering the voice from the pelvic floor without overdoing it
- Back muscles, singing in heels (thanks for those questions, Mark Thress:)
- Specific exercises she demonstrates on her Instagram feed
- Why, when and how to book an appointment with Gena
About Gena
Gena Thurston is a PT (physical therapist), DPT (doctor of physical therapy), CIDN (certification in dry needling) professional who works with a unique mix of orthopedic manual therapy, myofascial release, dry needling, manual-resisted exercise, cupping and vocal massage.She works with a wide variety of patients and ailments, but has a special interest in singers and musicians with vocal tension. Having worked extensively with Broadway singers including the cast of Hamilton, Nashville is very fortunate that she now practices as part of Steve Kravitz Physical Therapy.
Gena's links:
- Website: https://stevekravitz.com/our-team/gena-thurston/
- Instagram: @thevocalpt
- Her mentor Walt Fritz's courses: https://www.treatingtmj.com/foundations-in-manual-therapy-voice-and-swallowing-disorders/
posted by Judy Rodman
@
12:01 AM
2 Comments :
At January 22, 2023 at 1:22 PM ,
Ron Calabrese said...
Hi Judy. I read this with much interest. Now a-days my therapy is used to ambulate from point to point after rather involved back surgery. For years I suffered from periodic excruciating leg pain due to a bad back. Everyone told me to delay surgery, which was a big mistake considering my waiting left me with neuropathy, numbness in my feet. So yes, your singers should definitely take care of their whole body structure if they want long careers with painless movement both vocally and physically.
Happily, my voice is still working while I use the church podium for support. Christmas Eve mass went extremely well, but exhaustion in my legs was apparent after about 45 minutes of singing.
At January 22, 2023 at 1:24 PM ,
Judy Rodman said...
Ron, thank you for chiming in on this... so happy to know your incredibly rich operatic voice is still filling your venue! And remember, as the old adage goes, 'motion is lotion' to the joints. Glad you're doing that!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< RETURN