Community Highlights: Meet Christine Schneider

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Schneider.

Hi Christine, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was a professional singer for many years before I became a manual therapist. Back when I was in high school, I underwent a life-saving thoracic surgery that would later influence my career path. I was still performing 8 shows a week when I opened and started my private practice Lifelight Massage Therapy PLLC in New York City. I think it was comforting to my clients that not only did I work solely with professional voice users, but I also was one. I knew the demands of the industry, I knew what it took to maintain vocal longevity for a long run of a Broadway show (my longest run was three years), and I knew the amount of discipline it took to keep the performance at the highest level. I made the choice to stop performing when I had my daughter 7 1/2 years ago. And at this point, I love what I do so much I am not concerned about whether I will ever go back. I love supporting all of the amazing artists who get out on stage night after night. They continue to inspire and amazing me. And I am grateful to be considered part of their team!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t know if any road is smooth. There have been a number of challenges along the way. I think a major obstacle was learning to run my own business. I have 2 music degrees and a science degree and never had a business class in my life. I continue to get better each year with the help of my amazing husband, who runs the back end of both of my businesses.

I would also say that I am a doer, and sometimes I move things into action before they are fully planned out. Sometimes this has resulted in classes that need to be canceled or programs that aren’t fully filled. But for the most part, it works out well, and I am blown away by the interest and support.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
LifeLight Massage Therapy PLLC is the name of my private practice in New York City. We specialize in therapy for professional voice users (broadway performers, opera singers, sports broadcasters, fitness instructors, teachers, lawyers, and anyone who uses their voice as part of their profession). The therapy includes laryngeal, TMJ and medical massage geared towards function, rehabilitation, and maintenance for the voice. As of right now, I have 3 associates that work with me.

The Visceral Voice functions primarily as an online training platform for voice teachers, speech therapists, performers, and personal trainers who are interested in taking care of the professional voice. We have an 18-week voice/body self-care program that I run twice a year, with the winter/spring term beginning February 17, 2023. We hold an annual voice conference in collaboration with Penn State called OneBody/OneVoice which will be held in New York City this summer June 16-18, 2023. I hold several experiential anatomy classes throughout the year with various colleagues. We have several classes being offered this winter/spring with my colleagues Andrew Byrne and Jared Trudeau. I have a podcast title The Visceral Voice, which has free educational content with some of the best in the field.

I am also beyond thrilled to be the movement coach for the 2022-23 Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am definitely a risk taker! In my personal life and my professional life. I could give many examples of major risks that I have taken, but here is a little example that continues to influence my life. I love all things outdoors. I grew up in Colorado, so any chance I got to go skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, camping, motocross, and ATving, I would jump on it. In my 20s I realized I also love the water. I had the opportunity to get my certification in scuba diving. I desperately wanted to get certified. I was off the coast of Malaysia on a layoff from a show, and I contacted every doctor I knew stateside – they all refused to give me medical clearance because of my thoracic surgery and having had a punctured lung. They told me that diving was too large of a risk. At that time in my life, that risk was worth it for me, but I couldn’t get my medical team to approve me, and I also didn’t want to lie on my intake form. So I took a ferry and then a bus to Singapore to see a dive doctor. I failed the breath test 13 times. The nurse told me she would let me try one more time, so I took the biggest breath, blew into the machine, and barely passed. I wasn’t able to go through the certification for several more months, but I finally did, and it was absolutely incredible! It was worth the risk.

I grew up hearing all of the things I shouldn’t or couldn’t do because of my medical history. But when the doctors were telling me what my body couldn’t do, I continued to tell my body what it could do, sending gratitude for the continuous pumping of my heart, the breath in my lungs, the strength of my muscles. When I survived the experience I did in high school, I knew that the body is brilliant! I believe that I am not my medical history nor any diagnosis. And I know that movement is medicine and that it is essential to keep moving and doing the things that I love.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thevisceralvoice.com
• Instagram: thevisceralvoice
• Facebook: thevisceralvoice