Acti-Tape Taping Class

Hi,

I hope you're having a good start to your week.  I'm feeling great.  Monday is typically a day I work from home and it's been a good day too.

I'm excited about a class I took this past weekend.  It was a therapeutic taping class, specifically using Acti-tape.  What is this tape?  It's an elastic tape designed to help people heal.  It promotes circulation, reduces heat in tissues, relieves pain, reduces inflammation, can draw out a bruise, excellent for breaking up scar tissue, help with structural support, help the fluid to move in the spine and there's even a taping protocol that can help with hay fever.  There's a taping set-up that can assist with carpal tunnel syndrome (want to avoid surgery??  This may be a huge help).  The tape is great to assist with lymphatic drainage also...and other uses as well.

Taping for Frozen Shoulder support

The tape has evolved from athletic trainers tables in pro sports and International and Olympic competitions to being available for use by Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and even Massage and Holistic Therapists like myself, to use on people who can benefit from it.

Taping for Lymphatic Swelling support

The tape is strong, elastic and can stay on up to 16 days.  As it starts to peel, you trim it down, until the last piece falls off.

The tape is great for shoulder support issues, weak muscles, and amazing for helping drainage (like for people who've had lymph nodes removed and need assistance with lymph drainage).

Taping to assist with inflammation of the bursae in the elbow.

Tape for Lymphatic Swelling and Inflammation in the Shoulder Blade area.

There's even a taping set-up to assist with Carpal Tunnel syndrome.  The tape is applied in such a way that it takes the pressure off the nerves that get inflamed in the carpal tunnel and allows them to heal.  It also supports the muscles in the wrist, palm and forearm.

I'm really excited to add this therapeutic modality to my holistic practice.  A little about the instructor - his name is Rod Lyman.  He's an Holistic and Massage Therapist here in Phoenix.  He and his wife own Beyond Today Co. (where I rent space for my practice).  Rod teaches a lot of classes, is a master of massage, energy work, and is now opening an on-line school - where people can take classes on-line.  I'll be posting my classes on-line as well (more to come on that soon).

So - if you need a taping - let me know.  I'm here to serve.

Have a great week.  Enjoy life, help others, and remember - a little gratitude is a good thing.

Peace,

Tom

web
www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

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JD Salinger Photo Art

Hi All,

Happy Friday.  It's been a pretty good week.  I've been busier at my business - Holistic Therapy Solutions, doing some massage and energy work.  And - I've got some artwork projects going as well, which I enjoy.

Recently, I had a little fun with a picture of the great author, JD Salinger.  There is a documentary made about him, not too long ago called, "Salinger."  I watched it a while back, (it was pretty good).  While watching, I took a photograph of a photograph of JD Salinger off of the TV screen.  It's an HD TV and so the picture turned out alright.  I took the photo because I figured I'd do something artistic with the photo.

So I had this photo of Salinger - it was this really good black and white portrait of him.  I guess I was a little inspired by him and of course, I read his most famous work, "A Catcher in the Rye."  So I was inspired to do something with the photo and I set out to have a little fun.

The amazing thing to me, is the quality of camera that the phone has.  I don't have the most high end phone either...but the phone takes a pretty good pic and it has some good photo adjustment tools.  So in the phone, I cropped the picture, and messed with the contrast and adjustment of the image.  Then I applied one of the arty borders to it.

When I got that far, I downloaded the photo on to my computer, where I could start playing with color. I love the old black and white photos with the watercolor touch ups.  My grandfather, Arnold Vahl, was an artist, lithographer, and printer.  He used to do some great coloring of black and white photos with watercolors.  I would have loved to see him work with the digital tools I've got now....I know he would do some amazing work...but I digress.  I added some blue around the border and added some really subtle coloring to him and the background (just like Grandpa might do), being careful not to lose the amazing effect of the black and white photo.

And there you have it, an easy piece of artwork using smart phone and photoshop.  That's it.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm attending a taping class tomorrow.  It's a class to learn how to use Acti-Tape - tape you apply to the body for therapeutic effect - helping to heal injuries.  Should be fun and a nice addition to my body-work practice.

Take care - be good to yourself and those around you.  Little things can help this world become a better place.  It starts with one person - you.  Have a great weekend.

Peace,

Tom

On-line art gallery
www.behance.net/tk-art

FB-Art page
www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Kreienbrink-Art-and-Design

Nutritional Facts

Hi All,

Well I just finished a pretty good Monday.  I was busy doing massage and energy work today.  It was mostly a surprise too.  Very Nice...happy to be able to help.

On Thursday evenings at 5pm, I lead a Holistic Weight Management group.  The components include, nutritional information, group support, and each week I do a group hypnosis session.  I also provide a hypno CD that folks can take home an listen to on their own in between....all for $15 per week - no sign ups or membership - just come if you are having issues with your weight.

If you're ready to make some changes around food - this is the way to do it (In my humble opinion).

Today I'd like to share a little nutritional info I've come across recently.
This is pretty alarming information about sugar...

Refined Sugar - High Fructose Corn Syrup

 - Recommended no more than 1 pound per month

            1 tsp sugar = 4.2 gram

            453 gm = 1 lb

            1 12 oz soda = 10 tsb of sugar

            1 - 2 liter soda = 1/2 lb of sugar

US govt estimates each person averages 741 lbs of Sugar intake per year.

Almonds...I eat these pretty regularly.

- high in Omega 3 fatty acids

- High in Vitamin E

- concentrated source of oxalates - good source of calcium

- Promote Healthy Heart, Weight, Digestive Syst, and Gallbladder

- Keep refrigerated

A little info about Vitamin D

- Needed for strong bones - helps the body absorb Calcium

Good Sources

- Fatty Fish -- Wild Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel are best

- Mushrooms, Egg Yolks, Cheese

- Milk, Yogurt, Cereal - it's added in them

- Sunlight

and...Flaxseed.  I do have some ground flaxseed.  Good stuff!

- Great source of fiber

- most concentrated plant source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

  -- the heart healthy nutrients that also have snit-inflammatory properties

- contain phytoestrogens - estrogen precursors found in plants known as lignans.  they help to balance estrogen levels in the body and also have antioxidant properties.

So each week I find a few little nutritional nuggets that can be incorporated into your diet a little at a time.  Moderation is key.

Have a great week folks.  Lets make it a good one.  Do something nice for someone.

Peace,

Tom

www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com - or follow Holistic Therapy Solutions on Facebook.

Life As Art - Pacific Edition

Hi All,

I hope your new week is going well.  We're getting back in the groove here in Phoenix after a little treck to San Diego - and the weather has just been perfect.  (it'll be hot hot soon enough).

This past Thursday night we headed out for a long weekend in San Diego, California.  It's a nice 350 mile drive thru the desert and it's nice that we have some family there too.  We stayed with Sue's brother and were able to spend some time with a couple nephews and niece as well.

Pacific Ocean from Point Loma Peninsula.

Friday morning Sue and I headed out to explore San Diego a little.  We headed to the Point Loma peninsula.

Shelter Island - inside of Point Loma.

We made a few stops on Point Loma - even stopped at a Navy Exchange store, at a small Naval Base and picked up a few items.

At Silver Strand Beach - Point Loma in the distance.

We then drove thru town to Silver Strand Beach park.  It's a beautiful, relaxing place.  A great place to kick back for a while.  No swimming for us this past weekend.

Old Town La Mesa, CA.

Saturday we poked around old town La Mesa's shops looking for that thrift shop or antique shop treasure and then ended the day down in La Jolla - seeing the Seals on the beach and watching the sunset.

Beach at La Jolla, CA.  It was nice, a little chilly and breezy.

Seals laying around on the beach.

Some Seals lying around - and a few in the water too.

Sue and I - enjoying the waterfront.

The California sunset - I can almost hear a Beach Boys song playing.

All in all it was a pretty nice little getaway.  I hope all of you have a great week.  If you're in the northern tier - hang in there - Spring is coming.

Take care and be good to those around you.  Do something nice for a stranger for no reason.  Volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen.  Little by little - we can make things better.  When there is no one - you be the one.  God Bless.

Peace,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink

Holistic Therapy/Massage practice
www.holistictherapysolutions.weebly.com

Art Website
www.behance.net/tk-art

Energy Work Therapy For Veterans

Hi All,

It's Friday!  WooHoo!!  I hope you've had a good work week.  Mine's been pretty good.  I've been able to shift gears at work and at home.  Today I able to focus on some projects around the house and made some good progress.  I'm grateful for that.  This weekend - back to work.

I've got an opportunity to go up to the Merritt Center in Payson, AZ, where I'll be working with a group of military veterans.  I'll be heading up there tomorrow and providing CranioSacral Therapy for some of the Vets.

I wish I could give credit for this illustration.  I took the original diagram
and painted it.  I didn't draw the original diagram though.

 The Veterans at this workshop are all combat Veterans and are at the Vets Weekend Retreat to help them heal and leave the trauma of combat in the past.  CranioSacral is an amazing energetic therapy that can help the client unwind those "issues in the tissues," and release them.  It can help the Vet heal physically and also mentally and emotionally.  Of course, with something as traumatic as combat, the physical and emotional healing can be tied very close together but often, when the physical has healed, the mental and emotional pain and trauma remains.

I met Betty Merritt about a year ago.  We were attending a focus group in Phoenix to give input on alternative and complementary therapies to the Veterans Administration.  Recognizing that allopathic medicine is not always the answer, they're looking at alternatives that may be helpful for our Veterans returning from War.  After the focus group, she invited me to come up to her place and provide some therapy for some of the Vets at her retreats.  Last time I did some massage, this time I asked if I could do some CranialSacral.

So tomorrow morning, Sue and I will pack up the therapy table and head 100 miles north and east to Payson to the Merritt Center.  It's a small retreat center where they have a number of different workshops and retreats throughout the year.  Several times a year, they host the Veterans weekends.  This is their passion.  They invite these combat veterans to attend, free of charge, and offer therapy and groups all weekend long to help these Vets heal.

You can find out more about the Merritt Center at their website:
 http://www.merrittcenter.org/vets/vet-program.htm 

I'm truly honored to have the opportunity to work with these folks tomorrow and looking forward to it.

Have a great weekend everyone.  Be good out there - do great things!

Peace,

Tom

My website:
www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

Follow me on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions

Be Brave

Hey All,

Happy Monday!  It's a new week and another opportunity to go out there and be the best you, that you can be.  Me personally - I'm headed to the accountant's office to do my taxes.  I'm happy to get that behind me for another year.

Today I want to highlight a piece of artwork that I did for a friend of mine and colleague - Towanda Allen.  We went to school together at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.  She was on a different track than I was, though.  She studied Transpersonal Psychology - with part of it being the Coaching field.

Almost since I've known her, she's been planning a Mother/Daughter Empowerment Workshop.  I'm not sure of the title, but it's meant to uplift mothers and their daughters who may need to be given the tools to be strong, independent women.  (I'm sure Towanda would have a much better/clearer description of it).  As planning this workshop, she also has been telling me she wanted me to do a major artwork for this - a piece of theme artwork.  The theme is Bravery - or - to be Brave.  I was honored to be a part of this project.

Finished Art - Brave - digital paint

She wanted a piece that could be used as fine art (printed), and as a graphic with the theme - "Brave."  After giving it some thought, an idea came together.  A brick wall with Brave on it - in graffiti style with a little flower coming up thru the cracks in the cement, in front of it.

original sketch

As usual, it starts with the sketch, taking a photo of it and bringing it into Photoshop.  I brought in a brick wall photo to overlay the sketch and started painting the graffiti on a layer above it.  I wanted the artwork to be graffiti, but bold and optimistic.  I worked the flower in, on a layer in front.  Kind of a tough, brave, but somewhat vulnerable little yellow petalled flower.

early stages

OK - the symbolism is very obvious - you may even say it's cliche.  That's alright with me and my client Towanda liked it also.  Some of the young girls who will attend her workshops are those vulnerable, gutsy little flowers, coming up thru the cracks.  Coming up in a tough place to grow, but coming up and doing the best they can.  

Finished Art

Towanda Allen is an inspirational coach and also has a radio show on blogtalk radio.  She's written a book and working on another (first is in the process of getting published).  For more information about her seminars keep an eye on her web site:

www.TowandaAllen.com

Her radio show:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theconnector2013/2013

That's it for now.  Keep spreading the love people - be kind to a stranger today - help someone out in need.  You'll be amazed at how good it feels...and it's the right thing.

Peace,

Tom

www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Kreienbrink-Art-and-Design

www.behance.net/tk-art