Neuroscience, Russian Massage, and Remembering Zhenya Kurashova Wine: An Interview With Will Stewart

When Will Stewart, owner of 3-D Optimal Performance, asked to interview me, I was surprised and honored. Will recently began a series of webradio interviews with many of the "heavy hitters" in the field of manual and movement therapies and neuroscience. These are individuals who are bringing an understanding of what neuroscience knows about the brain and applying it to manual and movement therapies. Will has conducted some fascinating interviews with physical therapists, manual therapists, massage therapists, athletic trainers, occupational therapists, and even his piano instructor, all with an interest in understanding how the role of the brain and the central nervous systerm plays a part in their approach to their work.

The interview is lengthy - almost 90 minutes long - but we had a lot of fun. We talked about how I came to be a massage therapist. We explored my evolution as a massage therapist and how I met my Russian Massage teacher, Zhenya Kurashova Wine. We talked about how Russian Massage is very compatible with current pain science and neuroscience. We also discussed the current state of massage therapy and our mutual desire to encourage science literacy, research literacy, and critical thinking skills in our profession.

I was thrilled to have an opportunity to speak not just about my work and my approach, but to honor my teacher. Zhenya passed away this past June after a long illness and it is a great loss to the world of massage therapy.

If you'd like to hear the interview, it's called Russian Massage and Neuroscience: Interview w/Alice Sanvito. I'd also recommend exploring Will's other interviews, checking out his blog, or watcing his videos of workout sessions and "edgework."

Enjoy!