The Reflexology Paths of Korea- Part 2

© ngothyeaun. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

The tourists who pass by them in the city parks of South Korea call them reflexology paths. But, to the people of South Korea wthese are barefoot parks with a barefoot shiatsu course. Some would say it’s a matter of semantics, that these look pretty much like “reflexology paths.” What’s really going on, however, is far more interesting than use of words. The paths, by any name, are a means of “well walking,” working toward health, as defined by the country’s traditions and trends.

Barefoot walking—especially in scenic surroundings—is seen to help one: enjoy nature, ease fatigue, relax stress and ease feet accustomed to walking on asphalt. General purposes of barefoot walking are noted as: “Can feel a sense of unity with nature. Accumulated stress and positive thinking to relieve the psychological, spiritual healing can be obtained.” “helping to ensure health;” “to keep health and to foster eco-experience;” “facilitate the natural way to treat everyday illnesses;” and “solve the day’s fatigue.”

The barefoot shiatsu courses provide a means to walk for health or as one focus of a park visit for a family outing, individuals or a couple. In addition to walking the course, one can enjoy nature, have a picnic, watch the children play, and use other park facilities such as in-line skating, badminton or other activities. Particular goals for walking the course include (as roughly translated by Google translate): “Plantar stimulate blood circulation, the immune system function and enhances the natural healing recovered;” “Feet to stimulate the muscles to release the knot, as well as the body's immune function that increases the natural healing;” “Peripheral nerve stimulation to the feet, the long-gathering capabilities, as well as smooth muscle came together to fulfill, such as fatigue is the body's natural healing that enhances immune function improves;” and “The human body organs and nerves, all connected to the human body, called thumbnails of your foot.”

Newspapers, television and government Web sites provide information about the paths. A Web site for the National Health Insurance Corporation includes a list of the 22 paths in Seoul city parks with details about the merits of the course: descriptions of the paths, contact phone numbers and directions on how to get to them. Descriptions include elements for considering use of each path: landscaping and/or plants in the surrounding area (city park, forested or mountainous); the surface underfoot; the availability of facilities to wash the feet after the walk or a path for children and whether it’s a hiking trail. More information

City Parks

Seoul City Parks

Photos are posted of “popular” barefoot shiatsu courses in several city parks including a children’s path. A list of barefoot parks in the city is included.
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Multiple photos show people walking the barefoot shiatsu course. This was most commonly mentioned park during a Google translate search. Senior citizens are pictured using paths.

A description of a family outing in Seoul includes children on a barefoot shaitsu course as well as a mother working on a child’s feet. Included in the description of the visit to the “barefoot in the park” activity is the phrase “sole chiropractor.” The word chiropractor appears at times among descriptions of walking barefoot.

A family outing at an unknown park in Seoul

“If you want to become health, walk barefoot”
Multiple pictures of barefoot shiatsu paths. One photo shows the design unique to Korean paths: the sole of a foot in a color of stone different from that of the path as a whole. A photo of a foot reflexology chart is shown as well as couples walking a path.
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“My feet are smiling”
A personal statement about using a barefoot park is included with photos of the path.
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Barefoot shiatsu course for children (?) is pictured in this park with pine trees normally found in the mountains. Captioning notes “walking down a chiropractor Press.” References to the paths as a “chiropractic activity” are not uncommon.
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Small Park
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Press Releases
Interesting reading from miscellaneous press releases.

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Forests

Civic Forest
The densely forested park includes an outdoor wedding hall, outdoor stage, playground and hydroponic facilities, monuments and sports facilities—and a barefoot path with an artistic and interesting design.
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Jang Jang Forest: “forest bathing”
“Chapter forest bathing and walking slowly magnolia, forsythia, cherry blossoms, azaleas and flowers are in bloom.” Mallards and fish are a feature of this forest walk. (Eds. Note: We love the phrase “forest bathing” found here as well as other Web pages. No water is mentioned. Perhaps it means immersing oneself in the forest as one would immerse in water.)
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Chonbuk Sunchang
A personal statement about a forest walk with photos. “Clear water flowing in the valley do not know the name of prehistoric grass bloom is simplicity. Barefoot walking on the path to the well-being when you get down to gangcheonsa gileneun good to walk along the forest trails. Fresh air flowing through the valley and the birds chirping and the sound is the harmony of nature can enjoy the orchestra. Thanks to the refreshing feeling becomes.” 

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Walking barefoot
Walking barefoot to a buddhist temple is shown with photos showing a walking meditation technique.
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Themed / Tourism
Jeju Halla hyuaeri Natural Living Park (Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes)
Walking barefoot on a volcanic maze is one of the features of “Korea's largest tourist attraction, Jeju Halla hyuaeri Natural Living Park.” Visitors “Can experience the unique culture of Jeju yeongwa the natural life of the park: Chasing a baby pig, hare, amusement parks, sodalguji riding, volcano clusters labyrinth walking barefoot, doltap pile, mulheo.”
Odongo
Photo of path at Odongo resort

The purpose of the “Yeosu Odongdo resort (is) to experience nature-oriented attractions in the themed attractions in the environment is changing experience.” including: “Odongdo barefoot shiatsu course, natural botanical garden, wildflowers through page to install the other hand, such as Turtle Ship and Panokseon exhibits, themed environments, and development experience to Destinations”
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Gangwon Hwacheon hwacheoneup 1-5 Ha Lee p. 45
A “waterfront promenade” is one feature at this island resort along with a campground and “Toe-ball, tennis courts, a multipurpose stadium, volleyball courts, and a permanent stage, hall, toilet, water and natural recreation leisure.”
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Longevity Village

Maintaining the health of the increasing elderly populations of small villages is discussed with the inclusion of a barefoot course. “Elderly people in the middle of town where you can relax in the brook is a small pavilion. Goteneun to promote the health of its residents and the various exercise equipment is made baljiap course. Finish to complete the lessons and dance sports, villagers descended. Elderly people walk barefoot baljiap course unpacked fatigue while sitting around ….”
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Sports Park
Bird’s-eye view of a barefoot shiatsu course in a sports park.

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Nature’s Reflexology Path: Vacationing on the rocks

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

Seal watching at Gerstel Cove

There’s nothing like taking your feet on a vacation that you too can enjoy. Or so one would think if following us around on vacation. Vacationing in Maui will find us up at the crack of dawn. If there’s scant sun for tanning on the beach, no matter. We’re there for the rocks our feet can enjoy anyway. Driving a hundred miles so our feet can visit their favorite beach in northern California?
No problem.

Okay. So we’re there to sun and enjoy nature too. Our rock walking hobby has given us unforgettable scenes. There was the time we were walking on the ocean-smoothed lava rocks at Grandma’s Beach in Maui when two male humpback whales decided to give us a show, fighting over a female and performing a full range of behaviors usually seen only in books (breaches, tail slaps, head slaps to name a few). Seal moms and pups and sea lions and sea otters have waved at us (or so it seemed) as they swam by in Northern California.

The eroded rocky ocean-side terrain of Gerstel Cove at Salt Point State Park in Northern California, gave us an opportunity to experience tafoni, a rare geological surface found in only a few places on earth. Like kids turned lose at Disneyland, our feet couldn’t decide where to go next. There were so many things to see and do: big rocks, little rock, rocks embedded in stone and, most incredibly and most challenging, the honeycomb-like tafoni all while surrounded by sea creatures and some of Mother Nature’s most unusual geographic formations.

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

Tafoni forms when erosion from wind and water shapes the sandstone, previously leached of its moisture with deposits of hardened rock on the surface. The result is a visually interesting and foot-stimulating ridged surface. The word tafoni is from the Italian for perforated and examples of this type rock are also found on Sardinia and Corsica. (To create this effect at home, we’ve first visited the aquarium section of the pet store and purchased the shallow rock basin for the bottom of the tank. A word of warning: this is extreme.)

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

.Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore close to San Francisco offered tide pooling opportunities to keep us busy as our feet enjoyed the varied rocky surfaces.

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

Maui

Lovely smooth rocks of all sizes and lovely views make Grandma’s Beach in Maui a favorite natural walking reflexology site. Viewed to the east is Haleakala, a volcanic crater rising to 10,000 feet; to the south is Kahoolawe and to the west is the island of Lanai.

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

Looking to the east and a cloud-shrouded Haleakala

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

Looking to the west and the island of Lanai

©2009 Kunz&Kunz

Close-up of ocean-smoothed rocks

The Reflexology Path kit from Barnes & Noble

Reflexology Paths of Japan

By Barbara and Kevin Kunz

The Reflexology Paths of Japan are unique among reflexology paths of the world. More information The paths commonly found throughout Asia consist of a sidewalk-like walking surface of embedded stone surface extending for the full length of the walk. More Information Elements from nature such as bark, logs, stones, moss, mud and more are found on the barfusspads (bare foot paths) of Germany.More Information Such paths target all reflex areas of the foot with occasional specific pressure applied to a reflex area as the foot meets a well placed object.

The Reflexology Paths of Japan are designed to work each and every specific reflex area of the foot with carefully designed and crafted walking surfaces. The paths are found all over‹in urban areas and park settings: city parks, nature parks, fitness facilities, natural hot springs businesses, business parks, even a car park garage and the roof of a sewerage treatment plant. In some instances the Paths are included in theme parks with hot springs and / or facilities for traditional bathing.

Read on

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

http://www.dk.com/reflexology

Follow me on Twitter-http://twitter.com/footreflexology

Elusive Reflexology Paths of Japan

As a researcher it doesn’t get any better than the “wow” moment when the hunt for the elusive Japanese reflexology path finally came together: the thrill of the hunt, the pleasure of discovery, that moment of realization bringing together layers of research over twenty years—wow.

I knew it had to be there on Google translate somewhere—the Reflexology Paths of Japan. The topic is so popular and the paths in China so extensive, I knew Japan must have lots but my searches were fruitless. Then I combined my discoveries. I knew “foot reflex” was the term to use when searching instead of “reflexology” when searching for reflexology information in the Japanese language Google translate but “path” didn’t help—until I noticed the use of “promenade” on two sites I could find. Plugging in “foot reflex promenade,” I came across the Mother Lode. Web site after Web site of reflexology paths complete with extensive photos.

But the discoveries didn’t stop there. Now that I was in, seeing path after path, I suddenly noticed that many repeated the same elements: differing embedded stone sizes, a bridge, a by-pass (with one side for a more ouch-producing stone size and the other half a more gentle stone size). Yes, the configurations varied with the site available for placement of the reflexology path but I must admit I was truly moved when realized what I was looking at.

You see, the paths were replications of the original reflexology path at Shiseido designed by and built under the direction of Mr. Abe Shunichi around 1990. Mr. Shunichi was given the task of helping his company’s health by considering construction of a health facility. (“Our factory manager’s policy is that ‘good products cannot be produced by staff with health problems.’ A walking path and gym with equipment were both considered but then Mr. Shunichi drew on his personal experience with reflexology (see below) and decided to build a path to walk on and receive the benefits of reflexology. The true genius of Mr. Shunicihi’s work was to design individual segments in the sidewalk like structure. Each individual segment would include rocks specific to working each of reflexology’s reflex areas. Various materials were tested and a decision resulted that nine patterns “suitably press the Rwo-Shr points.”

What was truly moving was the realization that the efforts of one man would have such profound impact. Yes, Mr. Shunichi created an amazing blueprint for a generation of reflexology paths to come, impacting the health of his country by an unimaginable measure. (See below.) And, yes, research at Shiseido showed his efforts accomplished an improved productivity and a gradual decrease in health care costs.

I applaud Mr. Shunichi’s efforts but, you see, it was the realization, once again, that the work of Father Josef Eugster, had done so much to change our world yet again. You see, Mr. Shunichi became familiar with reflexology when he lived in Taiwan in 1983 and his wife was taken ill with gastritis that demanded continual medication. Mr. Shunichi and his wife were told about and started applying “the Rwo-Shr.” Rwo-Shr translates from Mandarin Chinese as “Josef.” It is the reflexology method named after Father Josef. In brief, however, let me say that Father Josef is quite literally a one-man army whose reflexology work, revived from ancient Chinese practices, created an enthusiasm for an idea that stormed the Asian continent.

Today Father Josef’s influence is all pervasive throughout Asia. Whole industries of reflexology products, practitioners, and, yes, reflexology paths started with one man working with ancient traditions. In Asian cultures where expectations of self-reliance in health is accepted and expected, reflexology was and is an idea whose time has come—thanks to Father Josef.

I really don’t know what to say at this point in my search for the Japanese reflexology path. I’ve come full circle through 20 years—Kevin and I met Mr. Shunichi and Father Josef at a Tokyo conference then and have studied their ideas since. I appreciate: the “wow” moment; the demonstration that an idea developed and expanded can have profound impact; the blueprint of what we in other countries can do to better our citizens’ health and, perhaps most of all, the clear message of the ability of one person to create a better world.

Barbara Kunz

The Reflexology Path kit

http://www.reflexology-research.com

http://www.dk.com/reflexology

Follow me on Twitter-http://twitter.com/footreflexology

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