Crysta Goes Visiting, Issue #74, Winter 2020

By Crysta Coburn

In this column, Crysta Coburn writes about crazywisdom-esque people and happenings around Ann Arbor.

A Time 4 You Bath and Spa Treats with Adrian Leek

It is vitally important to make time for yourself and get back to you on a regular basis. But that can be hard, especially with how busy our lives are, and when you throw parenthood into the mix, when you are responsible not only for yourself but for your children, devoting time to only you can feel selfish and that much more difficult! 

Ypsilanti-based A Time 4 You Bath and Spa Treats to the rescue! It was actually Adrian Leek’s family that guided her to learning about naturally and simply made bath and body products and launching her own business. “When I became a mother I was very, very particular about what I put on my baby for skin care, but mostly drawn to mixing my own oils for relaxing and calming effects using lavender, chamomile, and olive oil for after bath and bedtime,” Leek shared with me. “My kids LOVED the massages, and I loved knowing that I was able to make something so healthy and enjoyable for my kids.”

About starting her own business, Leek said, “When my second child was diagnosed with autism, it changed our lives...but I was already on the right track with my pursuit of natural hand-made products. With my son’s condition, it was all the more important that natural products were used because so many sensitivities come along with autism. On the flip side of this lifestyle is that we tend to live such stressful lives, and I’ve found it necessary to make a conscious effort toward self-care. A Time For You Bath and Spa Treats was created to help inspire others to stop and not only enjoy a moment to ourselves, but take better care of ourselves...so we can continue to care for the people and things that we love.”

I asked her about how she learned to make her products and where she finds the ingredients. She said, “Research, a love for these kinds of products (natural and simply made), feedback from people that use them, and of course...trial and error. My ingredients come from a mixture of places, my focus is on high quality, responsible, and clean materials.” At the moment, she sources many of her materials online and is “looking for a brick and mortar location to buy materials.”

When I asked Leek why self-care is so important in her life, she answered, “I have learned over the years that it is necessary to consciously try to balance our level of stress with something calming, positive, and relaxing. I believe that these things are imperative to keeping our balance and allowing us to continue with the necessary things that we find important to us.

Leek is hoping to have her products on boutique shelves within the next five years. In the meantime, find A Time 4 You Bath and Spa Treats on Etsy and at local farmers markets.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/timeforyouyes or ATime4YouBathTreats.etsy.com. Or you can email time4youyes@gmail.com. 

Read related article: Crysta Goes Visiting, Fall 2018

Bunny and Smooch and Deborah Secord

After growing up in Canton, Deborah Secord studied theater at Eastern Michigan University “and stayed in the area afterward for the artsy, quirky, creative community that Ypsi offers.” It is through theater that I met Secord. She starred in the workshop production of my husband Greg’s play Whatever Happened to Captain Future? with the Ypsilanti-based Neighborhood Theatre Group.

Then, when Greg and I were vending at our area’s newest book festival Booksilanti, I learned that Secord is more than a talented actress—she makes delightful handmade jewelry, too! Each piece is made from the pages of children’s books. As her sign read, “Beloved books go from trash to treasure.” I couldn’t resist buying a pendant featuring the Mad Hatter from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, for which I have received several compliments since. (It was a tough choice between that and Winnie the Pooh!) Secord learned to make jewelry through trial and error and watching YouTube videos. “I went through a lot of learning what didn’t work before I figured out what did!” 

When I asked why she chose books to make her jewelry, she answered, “I just hate to see books get thrown out—especially Children’s books. [...] When you are a child and you discover a love of reading, certain books just speak to your soul and become a part of you—at least that’s how it was for me. I can still remember how certain books smelled, the warmth of the sun on my back as I lay on the floor in front of the window with my pile of books, the feel of the pages of certain favorites, rough paper smoothed to soft over a thousand re-reads. I have so many books that are falling apart because I read them over and over again. To be able to carry that book with me when it’s no longer readable, to save it and give it new life as a cherished piece of jewelry makes me feel like it’s getting some of the love back that it deserves.”

In addition to acting and jewelry making, Secord also enjoys spending time with her family and loves to bake. “I made rainbow layered unicorn cakes for my daughter’s first birthday this summer and have done golden snitch cakes, pizza cakes, roller skates, and more!” The name Bunny and Smooch is inspired by her daughter and her daughter’s toy bunny. “My spare time and fun time is generally spent hanging out with my family. Most days we like to cuddle up on the couch and watch Great British Bake Off, HGTV, or old episodes of our 90s favorites like The Nanny and Mad About You. Weekends are spent running around Ypsi, camping throughout Michigan, visiting fun and funky art shows and festivals, and catching up with friends.”

In addition to selling at the occasional festival, Secord’s jewelry can be bought online through Facebook. 

For more information visit www.facebook.com/bunnyandsmooch or email bunnyandsmooch@gmail.com. 

Reflexolo-chiTM Healing with Greg Knollmeyer

According to the Reflexology Association of America, “Reflexology is the application of specific pressure by the use of the practitioner’s hand, thumb, and fingers to a reflex map resembling a human body which is believed to exist on the extremities.” Reflexolo-chiTM was developed by Gloria Zimet as a gentler, less penetrative variant that incorporates the body’s life energy (chi). The impact of reflexolo-chi can be felt as quickly as the first session. I decided to investigate this myself, and I made an appointment with local practitioner Greg Knollmeyer. 

I have a painful tailor’s bunion on my left foot that I was eager to address. Knollmeyer explained that there is a long list of ailments that can be tackled with reflexolo-chi, such as stress, headaches, joint pain, PMS, allergies, digestive disorders, and so on. My chief concern was my bunion, however, which I could feel quite sharply as I limped into the office and hopped onto the table. Even while resting, my foot throbbed.

Rather than press on my foot, Knollmeyer manipulated my toes and lower leg to make adjustments, starting with the problematic left. (It reminded me a bit of a chiropractic exam I had many years ago in California, and now I wonder if that doctor perhaps had some of this training.) For anyone with sensitive feet, this is probably a better route than traditional reflexology. 

I felt my body slowly loosen up, and the ache in my left foot gradually faded away. Knollmeyer was also easy to talk to and happy to answer any questions and concerns that I had. When he was finished with the left leg, he lifted my foot, moved it around, and invited me to get a feel for how the left side of my body felt. Aside from pain-free, I felt more connected from top to tip.

Learn more at Biodynamiccranialsacral.com

“Okay, good,” said Knollmeyer, and set down my left foot. He raised my right foot and asked the same question while moving the foot gently in all directions. I was surprised by the stark contrast. My right leg felt hollow and disjointed. Knollmeyer worked on that side until my whole body felt whole again.

After the session, I asked what I could do about my foot pain in the future. Was there anything I could do about my shoes?

“Shoes are a corset,” he answered. Having worn several corsets, I knew exactly what he meant. He suggested not sticking to only one pair of shoes. “If possible, change shoes halfway through the day.” That way my feet wouldn’t get stuck in a position they found uncomfortable.

Knollmeyer also showed me a simple exercise that I could do to slowly get my turned out duck feet back in parallel alignment. Walking and standing with feet turned outward stresses feet and knee joints, just to name a few. Which I wish I had known when I went to physical therapy for mysterious knee pain a few summers ago.

I was impressed by the results of my first visit. The pain was gone! Not forever, but it was a relief to walk around the rest of the night pain free. And I feel better armed to get my body back in alignment and pain free in the future.

To learn more or make your own appointment, visit gregknollmeyer.com, call (734) 678-9508, or email gk@GregKnollmeyer.com. 

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Crysta Goes Visiting

By Crysta Coburn

Hitting the Stage with Kristin Danko

You could not meet a more upbeat and passionate person than Kristin Danko, the executive creative director of Ypsilanti’s newest theatre company, Neighborhood Theatre Group (NTG). Kristin and her partner, Aaron Dean, founded the company after spending years in Chicago’s experimental theatre scene. Kristin, who holds bachelor’s degrees in both theatre and music and a master’s degree in arts administration from Eastern Michigan University, brought her talents to Ypsilanti in 2013. Why did she leave the Windy City for our little Ypsi? I sat down with her at Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea in Ypsilanti, across the street from her alma mater, to find out.

After seven and a half years in Chicago, Kristin had tried her hand at everything from storefront theatre and musicals to improv and comedy. She loved it all, but …“I got really tired of acting,” she told me. “I wasn’t feeling challenged, and I wanted to challenge myself in theatre in a new way.”

So when she was accepted into EMU’s graduate school, she and her partner packed up and headed to Michigan. They originally looked at living in Ann Arbor but were shocked to discover that rental prices were comparable to what they had been paying in Chicago. They found themselves more attracted to the DIY-vibe of Ypsilanti, and also liked the quirkiness of the city. They’ve lived in Ypsi for over two years now and have no plans to leave.

“There is so much talent here!” Kristin gushed, but she also lamented that there aren’t enough outlets for actors to pursue after graduation. She and the whole NTG crew hope to change that by becoming the “premier experimental theatre for Ypsilanti,” a place where actors can get their start and experiment with original shows. “New theatre companies are a dime a dozen in Chicago,” she said. “[Ypsilanti has] more opportunity to explore the art form.”

The NTG will be performing a cabaret show March 24 to 26 at Ypsilanti’s Back Office Studio, where Kristin is also Artist in Residence. They will also perform a weekly sketch show at the same studio starting Fridays in May. The goal is to get their own space, but for now they are thrilled with the support they’re receiving from the community.

What Kristin finds so magical about theatre is the “connection of energy” between the audience and the performers. “You’re creating something with a group of people that’s bigger than you. Once you perform, we get to all go through this together.” The excitement is contagious. I can’t wait to see what Kristin and NTG come up with next!

Contact Kristin at neighborhoodtheatregroup@gmail.com. Follow NTG on Facebook at facebook.com/neighborhoodtheatregroup, on Twitter @NTGYpsi, and on Instagram @NeighborhoodTheatreGroup.

Crafting Up Something Fun with Celena Lopez

Celena Lopez of Ypsilanti is an independent, clever, and crafty lady. She has made handcrafted blankets for all of her friends’ babies, mostly knitted, but “the last one was quilted because I ran out of time.” I don’t generally think of quilting as a quick and easy task. That’s the kind of can-do attitude that Celena brings to her projects. She may not always know how or when a project will get done, but it will get done, and in my opinion, it will be beautiful and carefully and professionally finished.

After her first year in the world of D.I.Y. craft fairs, Celena had already graduated from sharing a table at Ypsilanti’s twice yearly show DIYpsi to having a full table all to herself. She has also traveled for out-of-state craft fairs, such as Handmade Toledo Maker’s Mart. She sells under the name Diosa de la Luna. Her wares can be found year round through her online shop and at the Eyrie located in Ypsilanti’s historic Depot Town, a store that features only Michigan-made products by local artists and crafters.

It was the Eyrie’s owner Janette Rook, a friend, who initially started Celena on her path to selling. As Celena puts it, “She said one day, ‘I know you’re a crafty person, why aren’t I selling your stuff?’” Another friend and independent artist Marcy Davy of All Things Grow also encouraged Celena to get involved in craft shows.

After thinking hard about what she could sell, Celena settled on her beloved Ypsilanti’s iconic (and infamous) water tower, knitting its image into dish cloths and sewing felt pieces onto fabric framed in wooden embroidery hoops. The tower has also been turned into a stuffed toy and anthropomorphized with big eyes and a “hair” bow for a female tower or a bow tie for male. Both are adorable. She has branched out into other hoop designs since. (I purchased one depicting a jar of fireflies that made the perfect housewarming gift for a friend who moved to California, where they don’t have fireflies.)

Recently, Celena has moved into becoming an independent sales rep for other artists “specializ[ing] in connecting wholesale buyers with artists of trendy paper goods and gift items.” She explained to me that with her finding the buyers, the artists can concentrate on creating, allowing them more time to meet product demands.

This hasn’t slowed her down too much, though. She still works on her own art while also holding down an hourly part-time job and finds time for outdoor adventuring with her husband, Ben, and their too cute Pomeranian, Asher. This last year, Celena successfully trained for and completed Ypsilanti’s Color Run despite the arthritis in her ankle caused by an injury, which just proves this woman will take on anything! And win.

You can email Celena at contact@celenalopez.com and find her online at both diosadelaluna.weebly.com and celenalopez.com, or like her on Facebook at facebook.com/DiosadelaLunaDecor.

A Look at Ayurveda with Andrea Ridgard

The word Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words, ‘ayur’ (life) and ‘veda’ (study or science). Andrea Ridgard is a bright and passionate local Ayurveda healer and practitioner who was gracious enough to sit and talk with me. She explained that Ayurveda goes beyond just “the study of life” — it can also mean the study of one’s self. As Andrea put it, Ayurveda is “asking yourself ‘Who am I?’”

“The base line is the five elements,” said Andrea, which are earth, water, fire, air, and ether. They come together in pairs to make the three vital energies called doshas. As a healer, Andrea is looking for what has come out of alignment, something that “feels off,” between these energies. She pays particular attention to skin, eyes, and digestion. “A healthy digestion equals a healthy constitution!” (This is why Ayurveda is so frequently tied to diet.) When something feels off, such as sluggishness, sudden insomnia, and constipation, “you’re not aligning with yourself.”

When a patient sees Andrea for the first time, she has them fill out a form that asks many questions about lifestyle. She told me this is often enlightening for the patient because they start to notice patterns and habits in their lives that they never realized before. Sometimes it’s, “Wow! I have no routine!,” which can be stressful on a body.

Andrea is not likely to prescribe treatments like taking herbs, which she has less knowledge of. As a hatha yoga instructor (yoga is a sister study of Ayurveda), she is more likely to suggest that a patient practice a certain posture for a 30-day stretch and take notice of any changes that occur in his or her body. She described Ayurveda as a “slow science,” not a magic pill. “Patients need to take on some responsibility,” she said. “It can be a very big lifestyle change for people to slow down. There’s a lot to miss when we’re rushing.” She sees being an Ayurvedic healer as “an invitation to stand beside someone and help them on their healing.” She will refer patients to others who are more capable of helping when possible.

One simple practice Andrea advises for anyone is to start the day with a cup of hot water. (The amount and temperature is up to how much the individual can stand.) This will warm up the digestive tract, making it easier for the body to process food, and it will ease constipation better than coffee. I started it myself. I’m not a morning person and often skip breakfast. Now I feel more settled and ready for food in the mornings. Try it and see what you think!

Contact Andrea at andrea@groundedhere.com. For more information and a list of her class offerings, head to groundedhere.com.

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