The WRF Honorary Board
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Anneke van ‘t Wout Kaspers
Anneke was one of the founders and board members of the VNRT, founder of Dutch reflexology associations, cofounder of Reflexology Network in Europe RiEN, is a member of the International Council of Reflexologists ICR, was on the ICR board and treasurer, and Is part of the BeNeLux reflexology Network of RiEN and helps to organize international reflexology conferences. Because of her rheumatic issues Anneke moved to Spain because for the dry weather. Having been involved with reflexology for more than 50 years, continues to be an advocate for reflexology by currently working on the development of a total health organization in the Netherlands, to create a new system for health.
Christine Issel
Christine holds a Master’s Degree in Humanities. Her interest in reflexology began in 1969 when it helped her with a medical issue. Christine is the author of Reflexology: Art, Science & History, Eunice Ingham a Biography—Her Life and Legacy of Reflexology, and Christine’s latest book, Energy: The New Frontier in Reflexology, and with Dr. Sandi Rogers, Ed.D., of Australia Reflexognosy A Shift in Paradigm. She is also the publisher of Eunice Ingham’s last book, The Stories the Feet Are Telling.
Over her many years of work in the field she has founded associations in the USA and internationally, contributed to their newsletters and organized conferences for them. Christine is co-founder of the American Reflexology Certification Board. Christine, as a legislative consultant working with reflexologists in a number of states, has managed to obtain 32 exemptions from state massage laws and contributed to the five state reflexology laws over the last thirty years through writing many position papers and appearing at public hearings before legislative committees. With her extensive background in reflexology she consults and lectures on all aspects of reflexology, a discipline she is passionate about.
David Wayte
David is the Principal of Jubilee College, the UK’s largest provider of Reflexology training, he is a Founder Partner of the Integrated Reflexology Consortium and was the first Reflexologist to be made a member of the Royal Society of Medicine. David teaches in the UK and internationally and is passionate about two particular areas of Post Graduate Reflexology: On how Reflexologists should protect their fingers and thumbs and avoid repetitive strain injury – hence his development of Finger Free® Reflexology. Also being as David is a cancer survivor, he is very aware of the power of Reflexology for palliative and hospice work. He loves to share how treatments can be adapted in these environments.
David also runs a Reflexology YouTube channel with the highly original name of ‘Davids Reflexology Channel’ that has a weekly podcast called ‘Wednesdays Reflexology Wisdom’. Here techniques are showcased, well known Reflexologists are interviewed and topical events are discussed.
Helga Dittmann
Already during her studies in pedagogy at the FU Berlin, Helga Dittmann started dealing with reflexology on the feet, inspired by the book “Stories that the feet tell” by Eunice Ingham. Another inspiration was a first lecture by Hanne Marquardt, also at the Free University in Berlin. 1984 she acquired basic skills from a naturopath near Munich and attended training in foot-, hand- and ear-reflexology at the American Academy of Reflexology in Los Angeles in 1987. In collaboration with her instructor Bill Flocco, she developed professional training in foot-, hand-, and ear-reflexology over the next few years. Since then, she has trained numerous reflexologists* and attended several continuing education courses in reflexology herself. She soon discovered that not only the body reacts to the stimuli on the reflex zones, but also the psyche. With the previous knowledge from her studies and further qualifications, such as naturopath, systemic family coach, stress management trainer and hypno-therapist, she developed the method of Emotional Release Reflexology, which she successfully uses, presents and teaches internationally.
Helga was one of the founders of RiEN (Reflexology in Europe Nexus) and from1997 to 2000 chairwoman of RiEN. Together with some of her students she also founded the German Reflexology Association, which was transformed into a network 2023 and served as Chairwoman from 1992-1998.
Dr. Jesus Manzanares Corominas
Dr. Jesus Manzanares was born in Barcelona Spain and graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 1982. He specializes in family medicine, integrating homeopathy and reflexology with conventional medicine. His pioneering reflexology research in neuro-physiology spans more than three decades with 70,000 clinical cases. Research in the field of reflexology began for Dr. Manzanas with a focus on three primary goals: 1. explain the neuro-physiological basis (the nervous system pathways for reflexology): 2. determine specific anatomical location of the reflex areas of feet (developing precision mapping of the foot-to-body connection): and 3. establish reflexology protocols for pathologies. Further research included biopsy studies to determine the characteristics of the tissues in the feet or areas referred to as a ‘deposits.’
In his books, Reflexology Research Handbook (2017), Reflexology Maps and Deposits (2018), Manzanares Textbook of Reflexology (2020), Dr. Manzanas diagrams his investigations in elaborate details, illustrates the reticular core of the brain stem as the common pathway from the feet to internal organs of the autonomic nervous system and charts his reflexology protocols with dosaging (specific amount) of pressure, duration, and frequency. Dr. Manzanar shares has groundbreaking discoveries at numerous classes, conferences and conventions around the world.
Lee Anthony Taylor
Born in England, Lee Anthony Taylor was coaxed into trying reflexology while meditating on the banks of the river Ganges in India many years ago. What started off as a simple head massage turned into a foot treatment with the most amazing results and benefits. He immediately left a high-flying job in London and began to train as a reflexologist within weeks of his return. He’s never looked back. Since then, he has become an internationally-renowned speaker, presenter, author and teacher within the reflexology world but still retains his roots as a practitioner. His work takes him all over the world where his unique teaching style has been universally acclaimed for its simplicity and its highly effective delivery. He has been a Conference Speaker at the ICR: Rome 2001; Cairns 2007 and Anchorage 2019 and has presented at other conferences in person or online since 1998. His fresh approach on challenging subjects such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, pregnancy, diabetes and allergies has been welcomed by students, who have been given guidance on how to apply their skills and knowledge.
His first book ‘Effective Reflexology™’ has been essential reading for all therapists interested in the feet. He has pioneered Coronal Zone Reflex Therapy™ – a powerful but subtle form of reflexology which has been praised by both practitioners and patients for its immediate health benefits. He has also published two more books to add to his growing list of publications – Effective Reflexology- the Way Forward and Don’t Shoot the Messenger (due 2024).
Liza Thomas
Liza started her career in the Corporate World working as an Accountants and Marketing Administrator. In 1997 she made the decision to study Reflexology and Aromatherapy. On completion of her studies she opened her own practice and has been a registered therapist ever since. In 1998 she joined the International Council of Reflexologists (ICR) as the Editor of their quarterly newsletter and then took over as Administrator in 2011. Liza has been an integral part of the ICR team promoting Reflexology around the globe.
Dorthe Krogsgaard
With 40+ years of experience working full time in her Copenhagen based practice, Dorthe is one of the reflexology veterans in Denmark. Throughout her career, she has always been actively involved with raising the profession’s standards and documenting its effects. Dorthe has served as chairperson for the Danish Reflexologists Association, FDZ and was instrumental in establishing FDZ’s Research Committee. Dorthe Krogsgaard has lectured at numerous international conferences and served as a board member and vice president of the International Council of Reflexologists.
Peter Lund Frandsen
Five years study of medicine at University of Copenhagen, Denmark, one year of physics and philosophy at West Georgia University, USA. 40 years of closely following the development of energy medicine. Peter is a complementary therapist specialized in bio-holographic modalities such as Reflexology and Nerve Reflexology. International presenter and educator.
Touchpoint – Dorthe Krogsgaard and Peter Lund Frandsen started their professional cooperation in 1998 as coordinators of the RiEN 2000 reflexology conference in Odense, Denmark. A few years later they established Touchpoint offering complementary post graduate training to therapists world-wide. Dorthe and Peter also co-founded the Institute of Integrative Therapies in Copenhagen, where they have their clinical practice, teach, and develop new reflexology techniques. Touchpoint is well-known around the world for their “Round about…” series of advanced reflexology seminars, integrating energy medicine with a range of reflexology traditions. In 2022 Touchpoint launched the world’s first online streaming platform for reflexologists: ReflexologyPlatform.com
Sandi Rogers ED.D, ND
Dr. Sandi Rogers became interested in natural therapies when a close friend developed cancer. Her friend explored many therapies to gain pain relief. Sandi was impressed with the relief gained through Reflexology, Herbal Medicine and dietary modifications. Sandi’s journey since then has led her to become a Naturopath, Medical Herbalist, Masseuse and Reflexologist. She has presented to international conferences and initiated the Reflexology Research Unit at the Victorian School of Reflexology and Herbal Studies. Her goal is to make reflexology accessible to everyone and to promote professionalism in the field. Dr. Sandi Rogers continues to be in private practice as a Naturopath and Medical Herbalist following the true traditions of Natural Medicine. She uses the tried and true principles that are linked to the natural medicine and takes a special interest in folk medicines. An equal passion in education as she enjoys being in the classroom sharing her experiences and passion for natural medicine and as an extension from formal classrooms, Sandi mentors practitioners and graduates, again helping them on their journey in business and clinic.
Sandi founded the Global Reflexognosy Research Institute for Professionals (G.R.R.I.P), is a former president of the International Council of Reflexologists (ICR) and vice president of the Reflexology Association of Australia (RAA). Sandi has been a strong advocate for critical thinking within the field of reflexology, written numerous books including ‘Professional Reflexology for Everyone’ and ‘Reflexognosy – A Shift in Paradigm’ co-authored with Christine Issel.
Dr. Terry Oleson
Dr. Terry Oleson is an internationally known lecturer in the field of auriculotherapy. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1967 and received his Ph.D. in Psychobiology from the University of California at Irvine in 1973. While working at the UCLA Pain Management Center, Dr. Oleson conducted pioneering research on auricular diagnosis and auricular acupuncture, including the first double blind evaluation of auricular diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders punished in the journal Pain in 1980. He has published over 30 scientific articles and two books on auricular acupuncture, including the Auriculotherapy Manual: Chinese and Western Systems of Ear Acupuncture and the International Handbook of Ear Reflex Points. Dr. Oleson has presented his work on standardized auricular nomenclature at meetings of the World Health Organization in 1990 and has been a principal speaker at other international symposiums on auricular medicine held in China in 1995, 2005, 2010, and in France in 1994, 2000, 2006. Dr. Oleson was co-chair of the International Consensus Conference on Acupuncture, Auriculotherapy, and Auricular Medicine that was held in 1999 and again in 2006 and 2014. He is President of the Auriculotherapy Certification Institute and he is on the faculty of Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, the American University of Complementary Medicine. In 1998, Dr. Oleson received the Auricular Acupuncture of the Year Award from the International Congress of Chinese Medicine. Dr. Oleson serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and on the journal Medical Acupuncture. His private practice is in Los Angeles, California.
