Our feet are probably one of the most stressed parts of the body - we go through life with them.
That's why they need a lot of relaxation and care. The foot reflexology course on the sun terrace, which was newly inaugurated in May Gezeitenland, provides an excellent remedy. 20 differently shaped ceramic stones were installed over 1.400 meters to stimulate the different zones of the feet and body. Freya Fuhlrott from ProConHealth is responsible for the foot reflexology path project and brought “him” to Europe.
Foot reflexology has been practiced for thousands of years as an alternative medical treatment method, for example (other advanced cultures such as the Egyptians were already aware of the health-promoting effects of FRM) in traditional Chinese medicine. Freya Fuhlrott's idea of a “Via Sensus”, as it is called, has existed in Germany for not quite that long, but at least for 16 years. “In 2001, we read a magazine report about a Japanese doctor who built a foot reflexology course for his wife, who had kidney disease,” explains Fuhlrott. “As a business economist, I was initially very skeptical that simply walking over shaped stones could change your body feeling and even improve your health.”
After doing some research, we started the trip to Japan and tested several foot reflexology courses. “This experience was incredible, the physical reactions were immediate,” continued the foot reflexology therapist.
The initial euphoria was quickly followed by disillusionment. The cost and dimensions of Japanese faudpadjes were not compatible with the ideas of Freya Fuhlrott and her business partner. The paths there are sometimes up to 200 meters long. But since people were completely convinced of the simple application and its effect, ways and means had to be found. “So I first completed training as a certified wellness trainer in order to deal with the origins of foot reflexology theories.”
An important part of this training was the book “Zone Therapy or Relieving pain at home” by Dr. WH Fitzgerald from 1917. From the Zone Therapy described in the book, the American Eunice D. Ingham developed the practical teaching of foot reflexology, which was established by Hanne Marquardt in Germany as the standard teaching that is valid today. Freya Fuhlrott's next step was to train as a foot reflexologist according to Ingham/Marquardt, which she completed at the International Institute of Reflexology in London.
“The content and didactic quality of this training was outstanding. In addition to the practical application, there was comprehensive teaching about the holistic nature of our body and the necessary functioning interaction of the various organs and systems,” says Fuhlrott.
“At the time, my daughter’s feet were regularly used as guinea pigs. “But that couldn’t have been that bad, because she still likes to hold out her feet to me for a massage,” says Fuhlrott with a grin.
After further self-study with doctoral theses and further literature, today's concept of Via Sensus was developed, which is based on seven pillars.
- The surface as a requirement – movement as a basic need – the foot as a sensory organ
- Zone therapy as a basis
- The teaching of foot reflexology therapy as a requirement
- The foot is the neglected sensory organ
- Using the body's natural reactions to reflexology stimulation
- Promoting psychosomatic intelligence as a basis for health literacy
- Makes sense for the user – makes sense for the operator
During the theoretical basis, a first prototype of the Via Sensus was built in the meantime. “The Japanese courses were mainly made of natural stones and, according to the locals, they were personally collected from nature by the master according to shape and size.” However, due to the complex reproducibility and also for hygienic reasons, natural stones were not an option. Freya Fuhlrott: “With a Westerwald ceramic specialist, we developed special ceramic molded parts that are tailored to the foot reflex zones and the application process, the properties of which guarantee the effect of professional use, are visually and tactilely appealing, and at the same time are hygiene-optimized and frost-proof for outdoor use. And all of this based on natural Westerwald clay.”
The first prototype was effective, but was too painful for European feet. The course was also too difficult and too complex to produce. It was only through further experience and trial and error that today's Via Sensus finally developed as it does now Gezeitenland stands and can be used. All 1.400 molded parts are placed in a trim pattern specially developed for Borkum - each individual placement has its significance with regard to the qualified foot reflexology application.
“Today, the Via Sensus foot reflexology course offers a qualified foot reflexology application which, through its simplest application, offers people a unique physical experience, contributes to their homeostasis and is ideally suited to promoting their own health skills. The feet in particular are a suitable sensory organ for rediscovering your own sense of feeling. The direct processing of targeted stimuli and the subsequent adaptation reactions in the body offer a way to relearn the language of one's own body," describes Freya Fuhlrott. The name “Via Sensus” is derived from Latin and means something like “path of the senses”.