REAL Exclusive Magazine

Spinal Alignment

By Kimberly Burns, OTR/L, CLT

Dr. Roger Sperry, Nobel Prize recipient for brain research, says “90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine”. Only 10 percent has to do with thinking, metabolism, and healing. When your spine is out of alignment, your brain will take energy from your thinking, metabolism, and immune function to deal with abnormal gravity/posture relationships and processing. With regular exercise and knowledge of how the spine is supposed to be aligned, the body will have a better chance to work and function correctly.

Exercise along with activity modification can help reduce improper alignment and nerve damage. Below are simple changes and exercises that will have lasting benefits for your posture and overall health. Read More

Thermage – The Non-Surgical Facelift

By Gail Coleman

Estetika Skin & Laser Specialists is proud to be the leading provider for the Thermage non-surgical facelift and body lift in the Sarasota area! We are a 4x Thermage Black Diamond Award Winner for the exceptional results we have delivered to our Estetika patients. Thermage is a safe, painless, and cost effective FDA-approved non-invasive radiofrequency skin-tightening treatment that allows patients to see immediate results that get even better over time!

How does it work?
Bring Back Your Youth with Thermage! Radiofrequency energy is delivered to all three layers of the skin to create controlled damage to the collagen fiber network to accelerate the body’s natural collagen building process. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and firmness due to sun exposure, smoke, exhaust, and many other environmental factors. As the elasticity becomes slack, our skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Thermage targets the collagen-producing layers in the skin to strengthen and restore the damage, creating tighter, smoother skin. The body’s natural collagen building cycle takes several months to reach its peak production, so your best results will be seen after 6 months and continue for up to 2 years or longer! Read More

Post-Election Tax Planning

By Craig M. Steinhoff

Are we in store for monumental changes to the tax code with the new administration?

The election of Donald Trump will have a significant impact on my clients – especially their tax planning. It appears very likely the federal gift and estate tax will be repealed. We may be seeing a capital gain tax at death like there is in Canada or no basis step up at death. Additionally, the IRS’ proposed regulations released in August that would eliminate discounts for lack of marketability and lack of control of closely held business interests are likely dead.

Trump also proposes to reduce Read More

Bride Hair Trial

By Sheila Venancia

On your wedding day, it is your day to shine and you want to look and feel more beautiful than you ever have in your life. Here are a few pointers to make sure you have a successful hair trial and that you walk away from your trial appointment with the confidence that your wedding day will run smoothly and that you will be the beautiful bride you have always dreamed.

When you’re meeting with your wedding hair stylist for the first time, keep in mind that since he or she doesn’t know your personal tastes, you’ll need to show as well as tell. The best way is to gather photos from magazines that feature hairstyles you like and search wedding hairstyles online. Maybe you absolutely have to have fullness to your hair or maybe you know that no matter what, you don’t want to wear your hair in a bun. Whatever it is, have those absolutes ready for your stylist. Read More

Razzle – Dazzle Style

Tis The Season To Be Glamorous!

By Becca Z. Towery

Deck the Halls with party dresses and shoes Fa La La La La … La La La La! Are you ready REAL Style readers for continuing the festive Party Season? Trends are glamourous this season and you are going to shine bright. Sure, a Little Black Dress or Le Smoking Suit is always on par for the party scene, but who says party dressing has to be so cut and dry. I’ve got just the look for switching it up this season — getting glammed-up just got a whole lot more fun and festive. Read More

Trends To Watch For In 2017

By Patricia Tan

As I write this, the end of 2016 has passed, and it is about time to get out our crystal ball and see what the New Year will hold. My business partner, Carla Rayman, and I had a head start on this. We were invited to present at the National Association of REALTORS annual convention in November and talk about the shifts we may see in global real estate in 2017. We started our research in October and are happy to share some of that with you here. Read More

Grand Opening of Clinique Of Plastic Surgery and Laser Institute

Creates Unique Affiliation With ZO® Skin Health

By William Henry, PhD

RGA-DESIGN LLC, and Focus Development, each of Tampa FL, are pleased to announce the completion and Grand Opening of the Clinique of Plastic Surgery and Laser Institute located at 240 1st Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL (www.cliniqueps.com 888-247-9886).

RGA Design and Focus Development designed and constructed the comprehensive renovations to the historic four-story building, which now is the home of the state of the art surgical center.

William Henry, Ph.D., is the principal architect at RGA. He has over forty years of experience and has earned the highest degree in Architecture, a Doctorate of Architecture, from the University of Pennsylvania. RGA’s emphasis includes engineering and design of commercial and medical and other professional facilities. Read More

2016 Suncoast Powerboat Grand Prix

Benefiting Suncoast Charities For Children

Photography by Danielle Gavagni, Michael Whitney, Mindy Towns & Tim Britt

Enjoy photography from this year’s event!

Click HERE to download PDF. Read More

Blue Moon Roof Top Party

Featuring The Libertore Fund For Children

Host:
Tim Mitten, Full Moon Properties/Promotions

Full Moon Night certainly turned out to be “ONCE IN A BLUE MOON ROOFTOP EVENT”. Everyone was VIP! The dress code was BLUE and everyone looked amazing. Sinna-G came back to Sarasota IN STYLE for a one-night performance with us….and killed it! The event was not on top of a parking garage but on top of the KRESS BUILDING on Main Street. A portion of the proceeds went to The Libertore Fund for Children.

Click HERE to download the event PDF. Read More

THUNDER BY THE BAY RIDES OUT OF SARASOTA!

By Ed Bertha

“I don’t want to make excuses. I just lost and I will learn something very important.”
Francesca Schiavone

No more Thunder in downtown Sarasota? Are you serious?

Once again Thunder by the Bay ROARED into Sarasota raising over $140,000 for Suncoast Charities for Children, yet garnering the WRATH of residents, business owners and some county commissioners. Net proceeds from this annual event allows Suncoast Charities for Children to provide support to five local non-profit agencies that serve over 8,000 children, teens, and adults with special needs. Now the festival is RIDING into Lakewood Ranch and Gulf Gate. Read More

Rehab Your Asanas

By Kimberly Burns, OTR/L, CLT

When first practicing breathing, one should learn how to align the spine properly to maximize the free flow of energy and the proper muscle activation for breath control. Our spine has 3 natural curves: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. We lose these curves over time with prolonged standing, sitting, and poor sleeping postures. Your breathing patterns can also become disrupted. A lot of us tend to be chest-only breathers, which limits the ability to fill the lungs. When you address spinal alignment and base all of your physical movements on the correct posture, you place your body in the best position to strengthen the stabilizers, protect the spine, and to breathe correctly. The inability to properly control spinal movement and breath can contribute to injury, re-injury or delayed recovery. Our postural muscles, transverse abdominals, and respiratory muscles are slow twitch muscles that are used for endurance. In contrast, fast twitch muscles are used for short bursts of movement. Slow twitch muscles are typically closest to the spine, and are deep and internal. They form our architectural support structure and are controlled at an unconscious level. Typically postural muscles are only supposed to engage at approximately 15-30% effort. When they are fatigued from injury/pain/nerve damage, fast twitch muscles could take over causing spasms and compression.

Yoga is a great way to activate our slow twitch fibers when it’s performed correctly! Read More

Thermage – The Non-Surgical Facelift

By Gail Coleman

Estetika Skin & Laser Specialists is proud to be the leading provider for the Thermage non-surgical facelift and body lift in the Sarasota area! We are a 4x Thermage Black Diamond Award Winner for the exceptional results we have delivered to our Estetika patients. Thermage is a safe, painless, and cost effective FDA-approved non-invasive radiofrequency skin­tightening treatment that allows patients to see immediate results that get even better over time!

How does it work?
Radiofrequency energy is delivered to all three layers of the skin to create controlled damage to the collagen fiber network to accelerate the body’s natural collagen building process. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and firmness due to sun exposure, smoke, exhaust, and many other environmental factors. As the elasticity becomes slack, our skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Thermage targets the collagen-producing layers in the skin to strengthen and restore the damage, creating tighter, smoother skin. The body’s natural collagen building cycle takes several months to reach its peak production, so your best results will be seen after 6 months and continue for up to 2 years or longer! Read More

Plan Your Legacy

By Craig M. Steinhoff

For most, estate planning is more about how assets are transferred to heirs than assessing taxes.

Maybe Tony Soprano was living dangerously, but no one expected James Gandolfini to die at age 51, including Gandolfini. The popular actor who played the lead role on the long-running cable TV series “The Sopranos” left behind an estate valued at more than $70 million. But his will was so poorly planned that nearly half of it is likely to go to the IRS.

When the flame went out for Prince, the international pop star was 57 and clearly not past his prime, recording and touring and still acclaimed for his energy and intensity on stage. Ironically, he was an artist meticulous about the business of his music yet he left no will, and it will likely take a decade or longer to sort out the distribution of his enormous wealth.

Only a few of us have to be concerned about how to plan for reducing estate taxes. For 2016, the estate and gift tax exemption is $5.45 million per individual, up from $5.43 million in 2015. That means an individual can leave $5.45 million to heirs and pay no federal estate or gift tax. A married couple can shield $10.9 million from federal estate and gift taxes. More than half of U.S. states do not have an estate tax. So for most of us, the issue is how we want our assets distributed, how they will be managed and making certain we leave a meaningful legacy for our family. Read More

Are You Sleeping With The Enemy

When You Go To Bed With Makeup On?

By Sheila Venancia

Admit it, if you wear makeup, at one point or another you’ve probably gone to sleep without removing it. Whether you forgot you were wearing makeup when it comes time to go to bed or you were just too tired to bother taking it off….. we’ve all been there. The important thing is to make sure it doesn’t become a habit. Makeup is supposed to help you look and feel more beautiful, but leaving it on overnight often has the opposite effect.

Our skin is covered in pores, and those pores not only allow us to sweat, but they also allow us to secrete sebum, a waxy lubricant that helps moisturize and protect our skin. Sebum also helps remove dead skin cells and other irritants from pores in the process. The problem with makeup is that it clogs pores and prevents sebum from doing its job. Instead, sebum builds up, which can cause acne.

If you want to avoid waking up to pimples, you need to remove your makeup each night before bed. You can use a makeup remover, facial cleanser, cold cream or toner to cleanse your skin and make sure it’s free of makeup. And don’t forget to remove your eye makeup as well.

So, just how bad is it to go to sleep with your makeup on? Read More

Florida’s Fall Fashion Forecast

How to Dress for Fall in Warm Climates

By Becca Z. Towery

The Fall Fashion challenge has come once again for Florida fashionista’s. Dressing for fall in Florida can sometimes prove challenging with our hottest temperatures and highest humidity levels being in September and October. No need to sweat, Just because temps are warm, it doesn’t mean we need to miss out on the fun fall trends altogether.

For my readers, who live in Florida, where it will be a long time before the thermometer will dip, I wanted to share some tips and trends you can embrace this fall even though it is still hot. With a little creativity, you can embrace the best of fall without breaking a sweat (literally). It’s all about adapting the trends. Too hot to wear a leather jacket? Try a pair of leather shorts or a skirt instead. Flannel shirts got you “glistening”? Try tying one around your waist or finding a similar pattern in some material other than flannel. Read More