Holistic Therapy Solutions - A Closer Look

Hi All,

I hope everything is going well for you.  It's been a whirlwind several months.  I've been in the new office for a while now, but I also enrolled in and recently passed an Emergency Medical Technician course.  My mother in law and sister in law came to live with us at the same time, and my mother in law was able be comfortable and well cared for, in her final few months of life (we'll miss you Kathy - she was a wonderful part of our family).  It was a very busy and sometimes crazy time, but it was a gift to be able to spend this time with my mother in law. 

As things are changing and resolving a bit, I realize I need to get back to focusing more on my business - Holistic Therapy Solutions.  Although I've been working and seeing clients, one of the things I never really did was properly show the new office and facilities.  So let me introduce Holistic Therapy Solutions, LLC in it's new/current location.  About 8 months ago I moved offices to the Pointe Business Plaza in the northeast part of Phoenix (16th Street near Glendale Ave).

The Pointe Business Plaza is a nice, well maintained, clean and comfortable business/office complex on 16th Street, right off the State Route 51.  I share office space with Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Katie Nuckolls.  We also share the office suite with three wonderful Licensed Professional Counselors.  If you need any of their services, I highly recommend all four.

It really is a comfortable office and when you arrive, there's a waiting area with comfy furniture and a nice relaxing space.

The office is just right for the massage and holistic therapies that I provide.  It's conveniently located...not far from central Phoenix, and close to all East Phoenix locations and Scottsdale.  It's just south of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve (in the shadow of Piestewa Peak).

Book an appointment soon.  Therapies include massage, craniosacral, and reiki.  I'm also available to consult on other holistic topics if you're interested.  I want to help, whether you need a nice relaxing session or you want to heal from injury or illness.  I also can bring chair massage to your office or event - always a nice perk for hard working employees or event guests.

 In the coming weeks I'll be discussing some of the therapies we provide and how they can assist with your health.  I'm also going to be outlining some of the new therapy options that you may find to be just what you need.

The office is at 7227 N. 16th Street in Phoenix, Suite 213.  Call, text or email for an appointment.  My website has all the info - www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

I hope your year is off to a great start.  This year - treat yourself well and kind.  Treat yourself with the love and respect, that you would treat others with.  Be kind to others as well...everyone needs that.  Together, we can make a difference.  Have a wonderful week.

Peace,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink, LMT, RM, CST
Holistic Therapy Solutions, Phoenix, AZ
cell/text: 443-850-4126
email: tom.kbrink@gmail.com
web: www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com
follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions

 

Cranial Unwinding...Amazing Holistic Therapy

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year!  2017 is here and I feel that it's going to be a good one.  I hope you're feeling well and enjoying the start of this new year.

One thing I'd like to do is to get back to blogging again.  I know there are a lot of folks who are hurting physically or psychologically.  There are many healing treatments and therapies available that can provide outstanding results.  I offer a few that can be very beneficial.  Today I'd like to highlight one: CranioSacral Therapy, (also known as Cranial Unwinding).  The following is the text taken from a flier that I put together, to educate folks on this healing modality.  I hope this helps.

CranioSacral Therapy flier - to offer a brief explanation and answer questions regarding this therapy.

What is CranioSacral Therapy?
CranioSacral therapy is an energetic bodywork modality.  We work with the cranium, cerebro-spinal system, and connective tissue systems of the body.  Thru tuning in to these systems, palpation and other light touch therapeutic techniques, we can help you release physical, mental, and emotion imbalances resulting from stress and trauma.

What is the Cerebro-Spinal System and Connective Tissue?
Cerebro-spinal system is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, the fluid that flows in and out and around these, and the membranes that surround them and contain them.
Connective Tissue is fascia.  It surrounds and is in muscles, around bones and organs, under our skin…it give us our shape and hold us together.

How does this help?
The brain and nervous system are the computer and sensory systems that “run” the body, and our mental and emotional selves.  They’re subjected to stress and strain on a daily basis.  Sometimes they’re damaged or out of balance from trauma.  These can result in restrictions around the brain and spinal cord and in connective tissue throughout the body.  When these systems get out of balance, damaged, or restricted we feel pain; physical and emotional.

Cranial Sacral Therapy is an energy work modality that can be very helpful for people who have struggled with various forms of trauma and stress.  This gentle energetic therapy can be very healing and can help you to come back to place of balance in your body and life.

Sometimes, (using the computer analogy), this therapy is like a “re-boot,” to the system; helping to bring back balance and wellness.  Also – there’s a physical unwinding aspect.  This therapy helps to release and unwind areas in the Cerebro-spinal system where flow is restricted and also helps release holding patterns in connective tissue…both result in helping the body function in a more balanced way.

I've worked with several military veterans who have suffered from Post Traumatic Brain Injury and Traumatic Brain Injuries.  This calming and natural therapy has always been helpful to release some of the tension and pressure that remain long after the tour of duty.

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If you feel this therapy can be beneficial for you, let me know.  I'd be happy to discuss it or set up an appointment for you.  I'm located in Phoenix, AZ.  Call, email, or text for an appointment.

We're in a time of new beginnings...with the new year, we tend to start fresh again.  If you're suffering, and you're ready to try something different - this may be a solution for you.  Be good to yourself and love yourself...you're worth it.  Have a great 2017.

Peace,

Tom

Holistic Therapy Solutions, LLC
Tom Kreienbrink, LMT and Holistic Therapist
www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com
email: tom.kbrink@gmail.com
phone or text: 443-850-4126
Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions
Blog: http://tomkbrink-design.blogspot.com

Seasons Greeting - Christmas Card

Hi All,

Yes...I'm back.  I've been wrapped up in a very intense semester of school - and, I'm finished.  Things are going pretty well here in Phoenix.  It's winter - and really nice.  Very nice to have cooled off a little after a long hot summer.  So I'm grateful for that and so many things as we approach this holiday season and the beginning of another calendar year.

One thing I'm grateful for is the opportunity to pick up a pen and paper and do a little drawing this evening.  I started with a quick pencil sketch and then picked up a ball point pen and inked the Santa picture - (I had a supervisor that used to do some portraits with ball point pen for fun...and they turned out really good).  However - tonight, speed and a little quality were the objective, because I'm running out of time before Christmas.

So I put together a quick little pic of Santa.  It certainly could have been better, but it turned out the way I wanted it to.  Then I took a picture of it with my phone and opened it up in Photoshop on my Mac, so I could do a little painting and layout a card.

Here's the Photoshop painted product.  I accented a few things and added a little bit of a muted overlaid color.  I wanted it to have a loose and sketchy feel, but of course, be recognizable as Santa.  It still helps to have the Wacom tablet with the stylus to do the drawing and painting on computer.

After reformatting into a wider format that could accommodate the text, I added some quick hand drawn lettering and a loose hand-script font typed message at the bottom.  Then added some finishing touches and the card was complete.  It's not the Mona Lisa, but it's done in about 2-3 hours and on-line.  More than that, it's fun to get pencil/pen and paper in hand again and have a little fun.

Hopefully I'll be doing more artwork in the future as well as holistic therapy, massage, and an EMT job of some sort (in process of getting certified).

I hope wherever you are this Christmas, that you have a wonderful blessed Holiday.  I celebrate Christmas - whatever holidays you celebrate, I hope you have a nice break and an amazing time.  It's a great time to come together with family and friends and neighbors.  Enjoy them and spread a little love and kindness to everyone you meet...we're all God's kids.  And...have some fun too.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Tom Kreienbrink

New Adventure

Hi All,

Happy Fall!  I hope things are going well for all of you.  Things have been busy and hectic here...and I think we're finally past 100 degree days for a while. Ha!  We'll see....

It's been a while since I've shared on the blog and I wanted to let you know why.  I'm still in the holistic health biz and still an artist and designer, but I've also gone back to school.  I'm in school to learn to be an emergency medical technician.

I'd been thinking about it for quite a while and finally took action to get into the program in this fall semester.  It's a quick one semester program and when I'm finished I'll be qualified to be part of an ambulance/rescue squad team, work in a hospital emergency room, or some other job where they have EMTs.

I've felt drawn to work in the healing arts my whole life - either in self study of holistic and natural healing, or working as a medical illustrator in Air Force teaching hospitals for 10 years of my time on active duty, and of course obtaining the holistic healthcare degree and massage license.

So here's my plan as of right now.  I still am renting an office in NE Phoenix to do massage and energy work.  Once certified as an EMT, I'll start looking for job opportunities where I can practice my new skills and still provide holistic therapies at my office.  At some point I may continue on to paramedic school....we'll see.

So that's whats going on and why I haven't been blogging lately.  One of these days (soon), I look forward to completing EMT school and getting back to "normal." (whatever that is...LOL).  At that point I'll get back to blogging, doing more artwork, etc....

It's a crazy time here in the USA...our elections our especially heated this year.   However - just come back to the present moment.  Enjoy it, whatever you're doing...and breathe.  Elections will come and go, and it will be alright...whatever the outcome.  Have a great week...remember - in spite of all the craziness in the world, we can still make it a little better place for each other and those coming behind us....one day at a time.

Peace and Love,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink is a Massage and Holistic Therapist, owner and operator at
Holistic Therapy Solutions, LLC in Phoenix, AZ
www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

Healing - Be Gentle With Yourself

Hi All,

How are you doing?  I hope you're all having a good summer.  We're nice and toasty warm here in the Arizona desert...and that's alright.  That's what we do.  Wherever you are - I hope you are enjoying every day.

My topic today is, "Be Gentle With Yourself."  This is something I tell my clients on a regular basis.  A lot of my clients have some type of physical or emotional issue that they're wanting to heal.  I provide massage, cranial unwinding or reiki to help them.  They're good therapies and can be profoundly helpful, however we all play a role in our health and healing.  Our attitudes, how we treat ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally are important to our healing too.  That's where, being gentle with yourself comes in.

We don't always treat our bodies in a way that promotes healing.  When we should be eating right, slowing down for a while and resting the injury, we may not.  Being gentle with myself, so I can heal means getting plenty of rest.  It can mean treating your body to a little extra pampering like Epsom Salt baths, (of course) massage, and if needed - backing off of the exercise regimen for a while.

Nutrition is also important in being gentle with ourselves.  Plenty of water to keep the body well hydrated is always important, especially when nursing injury or illness.  Of course you want to be selective about the food you eat, eating healthy, nutrient dense foods will promote healing.  

We also want to be gentle with ourselves mentally and emotionally as well, whether you're dealing with a physical or emotional condition.  How do you talk to yourself?  Are you kind to yourself, or do you beat yourself up for even little mistakes?  I know we all can be hard on ourselves now and then, but it's really counter productive.  How would you talk to a friend that's down?  That's how you need to treat yourself...be loving and gentle with yourself - all the time.  Of course we can still have high standards for ourselves, but we can learn from our mistakes and press on, instead of berating ourselves.

Another way we can help ourselves and be gentle with ourselves is to practice daily meditation.  Meditation can be as simple as relaxing the body and slowing down the mind.  The part that many people find difficult is slowing down the mind.  Jon Kabat-Zinn, a mindfulness expert says we should "be present, without judgement."  This will help slow the mind chatter, but it will take practice.  Meditation is so good for you and after a while you'll notice so many benefits.

Here's the bottom line - it's all about balance.  If we don't treat ourselves right, we don't reap the benefit of being in that comfy, healthy, centered place of balance.  Being gentle with ourselves can be a part of coming back to that.  Of course you may need body work (like massage or cranial sacral therapy), you may need to seek out medical attention, or other professional help.  Always get the help you need to get on track, but don't neglect your part....be kind and gentle to yourself.  You deserve it.

I hope you are always gentle with and take good care of yourself.  Enjoy life.  It can be so much fun.
If you're in the Phoenix area, come by and get a great massage or energy work session.  If you need help learning meditation, I can assist with that as well.  Let me know.

Peace and Love,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink, LMT, RM, CST
Phoenix, AZ
Website and follow on Facebook
Web: www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions

A little Design Job - Biz Card

Hi All,

Recently I took on a job to re-design a business card for a friend.  She has a busy tailor and bridal shop and needed to re-order cards and make some changes.  So I happily took on the job.  The downside is that she didn't have all the original files, but we did manage to pull together some of the elements.  So it was almost starting from scratch (sometimes that's better anyhow).

I was able to get a photo of her original and trusty sewing machine (I want to say it's name is Rex?), and we pulled together logos and a map.  Some Photoshop touch-up work was required to ensure all of the images were good enough quality for print.

I started with the info I had and created a new layout - the way I would do it.  We had a few rounds of minor tweaking and we also had to add the new line of bridal fashions that she now carries.  My friend Janine does have some strong preferences on a couple items, of how she wants them to be presented on a business card.  So we finalized the design and here's how it turned out.

The New Business Card design for Janine's Alterations/Kizmett Clothing in Phoenix, AZ.

 

It was a fun little job and the new design carries some elements of the old card for consistency in branding, but also has the necessary changes and info.

If you're in Phoenix and you need high quality alteration work, bridal fashions, or custom clothing - Janine's is the place to go.  Check it out.

Take care everyone.  Stay cool this summer - if you're in Phoenix, that's especially important.  Drink plenty of water look out for one another.

Peace,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink
Graphic Design and Illustration

Portfolio: www.behance.net/tk-art
HTS Website: www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

Fascia...What is it and why should I care?

Hi All,

We're heating up here in Phoenix....summer time.  Ahhh!  I hope you're enjoying summer, wherever you're reading this.

Today I'd like to talk a little about fascia.  Fascia is the web-like structure of tissues that hold everything in the body together.  It gives us our shape and form.  It's very sheer and very strong.  On the photo below you'll see its the gooey clear substance covering the exposed tissues.

Fascia covering tissue.

Fascia is around everything from the cellular level, to muscle fibers, to muscles, organs, under the skin, in and around everything....it's everywhere.  Our nervous system runs thru fascia as well as blood and our energy meridians. 

So why should we care about fascia?  What does this mean to us all?  When our fascia is hydrated and loose and in balance, all is well and the body feels good and functions great.  However, sometimes it gets out of whack.  Parts of your fascia can get dehydrated, or get torqued or get holding patterns from trauma....this will make your body hurt in those areas.

Damaged fascia can block hydration, and inhibit nervous system signals and blood flow.  That can have profound effects on the body.  It's not like you can just drink water and loosen up and hydrate these tissues.  You need to take some action.

Fascia sheath...super strong, sheer and web-like.

There are things you can do.  Getting some body work would be a good start.  There are massage techniques for releasing fascia.  Energy body work can also help unwind those holding patterns and stuck areas of fascia as well.  I practice CranioSacral Therapy, (also known as Cranial Unwinding).  It's a great modality for this kind of body work.

CranioSacral helps unwind holding patterns in fascia and help to bring you and your fascia back to a place of balance...where you feel good.  Ultimately, we want to feel good and be in a place of balance.  Remember - when your fascia is in a healthy balanced state, your body systems flow and work the way they are supposed to.

What else can we do to keep our fascia healthy?  We can drink plenty of water and eat good wholesome food.  You are what you eat right?  Eat junk...then that's probably not going to serve you in the long run.  We can exercise our body...move that thing and do some stretching every day.  Keep the body limber.

Here's the disclaimer.  Body work doesn't take the place of seeking medical help when needed.  However, mainstream medicine doesn't always have all the tools and answers.  That's why an integrative approach to wellness is so important.  I share an office with a Naturopathic Physician.  She has so many great answers that are not always available from your general practitioner.  Everyone has their place.

I hope this is a helpful introduction to fascia and fascial health.  I'm certain you'll be seeing more and more about this as it becomes a bigger focus in the holistic and medical communities.

Have a great summer.  Be good to yourself and others....Life's short.  Enjoy every moment.


Peace and Love,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink
I'm a massage and holistic therapist located in Phoenix, AZ.
For more information go to:  www.holistictherapysolutions.weebly.com
have a blessed day.