NHI Student Delights in Massaging “Idiots”

NHI Graduate Jenn Taylor with “American Idiot” cast members Tony Vincent ("St. Jimmy") and Christina Sajous ("Extraordinary Girl").

Jenn Taylor, a student of National Holistic Institute, is very excited about providing massage to the cast of American Idiot, a new musical based on the eponymous Green Day album.  She is completing her externship through the Saint Francis Center for Sports Medicine in Walnut Creek, under the supervision of DPT Patricia Commer.  NHI Student Life & Career Coordinator Aviana Lynn recently had the opportunity to visit with Jenn about the experience.

Jenn has extensive background in theatre and dance, including work with the famous Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat production years ago.  However, the opportunity to massage with American Idiot was a serendipitous one.  Jenn signed up with the Sports Center before their involvement with the show.  It came as a pleasant surprise when she learned she would practice her massage skills in such a familiar atmosphere as the Berkeley Repertory Theatre which hosted the musical’s world premiere.

Jenn describes the show as very high-energy, and lots of fun to watch.  The actors really give it their all, “basically giving themselves whiplash over and over again” during many of the dance moves.  Because of this physical intensity, the cast is super-appreciative of the massage that Jenn provides before and after the performances.

As dancers, “they really appreciate knowing what’s going on with their bodies.”  Jenn, whose mother is also an NHI-trained massage therapist, enjoys using what she’s learned here at NHI to educate the performers about possible issues, while simultaneously providing them with a little relaxation.

The cast has been so enthusiastic that there may be a paid position in Jenn’s future.  With the theatre managers expressing interest in having her provide massage therapy for future productions, Jenn may well return to the performance world once again – this time practicing her new love of massage therapy.