Broadway, Besties, and Birthday Sushi: Why Play Is Part of My Self-Care

Here’s something I believe with my whole being: Self-care isn’t optional for massage therapists. It’s not a “treat.” It’s maintenance.

Our bodies are literally the tools of our trade. Our nervous systems are in constant conversation with other people’s pain, stress, and scars. My clients' fascial systems tell me the stories of their lives up until the point that they arrive on my massage table. If I don’t actively recharge, both physically and emotionally, I'm at risk for burnout or injury.

Which brings me to New York City...

My Bestie’s Birthday, My First Broadway Show

Last month I was lucky enough to fly to NYC and celebrate my bestie's birthday and meet up with friends. This wasn’t a business trip. It wasn’t educational. It was joy-forward, connection-heavy, nervous-system-approved self-care.

We saw "Chess, the Musical," which just re-opened on Broadway. It's her fave. It was my first Broadway show (yes, I know. Somehow I made it this far without Broadway. Look at me grow.)

The music is by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA, lyrics by Tim Rice, and this revival was directed by Michael Mayer. Lea Michele was divine. Truly. But Bradley Dean? That man sang to my soul! The whole production was dramatic, emotional, layered, and alive in a way only live theater can be.

The Arts Matter

I've seen plenty of theatre performances in Vegas, once in Minneapolis, a few in The West End, London. The theatre brings me into the moment: breathing, listening, feeling. For body workers especially, that kind of presence is medicine.

Theatre gives my nervous system permission to soften. It pulls me out of the grind and drops me into story, drama, dance, music, and shared humanity.

Then we made a stop at The Metropolitan Museum of Arts. We wandered through The Met just as they’d put up their Christmas tree. The lights, the hush of the space, the sense of history layered on beauty...reverent moments like that stay with me and shape how I show up to my work.

This is what work-life integration actually looks like for me. I don't believe in work-life balance since something always feels out of balance. So I say "work-life integration" instead.

Birthday Sushi and Nervous System Reset

Taking the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty meant the full New York experience, including a tour guide delivering an enthusiastic lineup of cheesy Big Apple jokes.

And then there was the omakase. If you’ve never done omakase, here’s the deal: it's a small bar that seats about a dozen people. And the chef decides. One piece at a time. Slowly. Intentionally. About sixteen courses total.

At some point, the entire sushi bar sang happy birthday to my friend. Strangers. Chefs. Servers. They were all-in. It was boisterous and intimate and perfect.

There was also an 80's-themed speakeasy where my friends fully committed to the bit: crimped hair, neon, no irony. We also visited a Russian vodka bar where I happily sipped a drink, listened to the performer singing rock n' roll covers in Russian, and soaked in the atmosphere. No rushing. No productivity. Just being human with people I love. My nervous system ate that up.

omakase sushi bar nyc singing happy birthday

Why This Actually Makes Me a Better Massage Therapist

Massage therapy is physically demanding. Emotionally intimate. Even when we are passionate about our work, it takes something out of us.

If we don’t refill the tank, our bodies will pay the price.

Yes, I do “serious” self-care too:

• Acupuncture almost every week for years

• Monthly myofascial release

• Weekly chiropractic care

• Hyperbaric oxygen

• Ongoing therapy

• Meditation

• Journal

All of that matters. But so does joy: Baking with my kids. Karaoke. Hiking. Music. Dancing. Yoga. Laughing with friends. Sitting quietly without expectation because, as one of my favorite humans says,

"Sometimes working looks like staring out the window." ~ Jay Harris

When the nervous system relaxes, creativity and flow show up naturally. Some of my best work ideas happen when I am in flow.

Why My Self-care Matters to Clients

As massage therapists, we model what health looks like. A balanced lifestyle means a balanced practice. Our clients feel it when we’re regulated. When our cups are full. When our hands are steady and our presence is grounded.

Taking time off to see a musical, celebrate a friend, look at art, and eat sushi one perfect bite at a time might seem indulgent. For me, it’s professional maintenance.

And after Chess, after Broadway, besties, and birthday sushi I came home inspired, connected, and ready to do my work with a full heart. #luckygirliegirl 🍀