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Welcome to The National Foot Zone Association where wellness meets community and transformation begins. Our mission is to provide a nurturing space where individuals can explore the profound benefits of the Foot Zone, fostering both personal growth and collective harmony throughout the nation.
We are a non-profit association (501-c3) brought together by several advocates of the Foot Zone Industry. Our organization recognizes the common ground of all Foot Zone Schools and provides a place of unity and support for each Certified Foot Zone Practitioner. In 2014 these advocates and Foot Zone Schools made efforts to protect the industry and the public. Together they established minimum standards of education, practice, and ethics to assure Practitioners in the State of Utah met professional requirements. Although these minimum standards were established, many schools may require additional hours, classes, and professional ethics education for Foot Zone Certification that are comparable to other therapeutic industries. In 2024 the decision was made to come together as a national organization to promote the Foot Zone industry nationwide and also create a national directory.
Mission Statement:
The National Foot Zone Association is dedicated to providing the opportunity for Foot Zone Practitioners across the United States to qualify as professionals, to further the welfare of the foot zone profession, and provide opportunities for the Foot Zone community to gather together for mutual edification.
History:
Foot Zone Therapy has ancient roots, with foot-based healing practices appearing across many cultures. In 1979, Ed and Ellen Case uncovered Egyptian depictions of foot and hand treatments dating back to 2500 B.C. Similar traditions existed in ancient China, India, and the Incan civilization, and among Native American tribes like the Cherokee, who saw the feet as a spiritual connection to the Earth. The Japanese practice of Zoku Shin Do also reflects this shared global understanding of healing though the feet.
In the early 1900's Dr. William H. Fitzgerald revived the practice in the U.S. with his "zone therapy," mapping the body into ten zones, treatable through pressure points. His student, Dr. Joseph Riley, expanded his work. Eunice Ingham further refined the practice in the 1930's, emphasizing the feet as a mirror of the body's organs, and developing reflexology. Around the same time in Norway Charles Ersdal recovered from paralysis though reflexology and later developed his own detailed system of foot zoning. He opened a clinic in Kristeiansad and taught throughout Europe. In 1989, Ersdal Brought his technique to the U.S. at the invitation of Katri Nordblom. He trained students who went on to teach and adapt the technique. Ersdal passed away in 1995. Today, Ersdal's legacy continues though may schools who adapt his original foot zone technique and add new insights while preserving its core principles.
Ethics:
I understand that to promote public trust and maintain a high standard of conduct within the Foot Zone Profession and Industry, I shall:
Maintain a professional standard of honesty, integrity, and fair play. Treat all Foot Zone Practitioners, Students, Supporters, and other Healthcare Professionals courteously and respectfully and uphold the honor of the Foot Zone Industry. Be mindful and respect all individuals' inherent worth, privacy, and confidentiality, and hold the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standard by providing and respecting their privacy and confidentiality. Pay annual dues to the NFZA as stated, and to Provide complete and accurate information.
I understand if I do not abide by the Standards of Conduct, and Code of Ethics, and/or provide false information to purposely defraud or undermine the National Foot Zone Association or any of its members, students, healthcare professionals, or supporters, I will immediately be removed from the membership of the National Foot Zone Association and be required to reimburse the association for my membership dues, any damages I may have caused, and/or legal fees that may have resulted.
Board Directors: The NFZA Board of Directors is comprised of Foot Zone Professionals from all over the country. We are committed to expanding the practice of the Foot Zone throughout the nation and bringing practitioners together in community and strength. Each member of the board of directors serves a term for two consecutive years.
Our Philosophy: At the heart of our organization is a belief in the transformative power of The Foot Zone. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone, regardless of age, background, or experience level, can discover the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of this ancient practice.
Our Community: The National Foot Zone Association is more than just a place to practice Foot Zoning; it’s a community. We cherish the connections formed throughout the nation and strive to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere where friendships blossom and support thrives. Our community events, workshops, and conferences provide opportunities for deeper engagement, greater learning, and shared experiences.
Our Commitment: We are committed to making The Foot Zone accessible to everyone and helping practitioners throughout the nation maintain or increase their knowledge and skill level needed for optimal Zoning. Our quarterly schedule of classes, workshops, and biennial conferences are designed to cater to a wide range of interests and abilities.
Join us and embark on a journey of wellness, and community. Together, we’ll explore the many dimensions of The Foot Zone, creating a balanced and harmonious life. Welcome to our family.
Our Board
Our Board of Directors are members of the NFZA from around the nation, from the Islands of the Pacific to the East Coast of the United states. Our board brings a variety of experience and schooling to the table and, as such, are committed to the growth of the Foot Zone industry in general and the growth of the individual practitioner.
Kristen VanWagoner
Chair 2024
After working in the dental industry for nearly a decade in many areas as a dental assistant and front office manager, Kristen was introduced to foot zone therapy 9 years ago. Having received multiple foot zones while expecting her second child, she felt deeply that this was something she needed to pursue. So with her 3 week old baby in tow, she attended classes to become a certified foot zone practitioner and has loved it ever since. She is elated when clients feel the amazing effects of the foot zone and loves to support them on their health journey. Kristen has been zoning for nearly 6 years, and instructing for nearly three years. She now lives the Dayton Ohio area, and she is excited to help establish a strong foot zone presence in the area. Kristen recently served on the board of the Utah Foot Zone Association and is humbled to be the initial chair for the National Foot Zone Association. She is actively seeking ways to be able to connect the foot zone community nationwide while also introducing and promoting it to other healing modalities and holistic practitioners as well as the nation at large through education and outreach.
Kristen is eager to work with the rest of the NFZA board to expand the reach of foot zone therapy to states nationwide.
Stephanie Marcum
Chair Elect 2024
Stephanie Marcum has been a dedicated foot zoner since 2005. She received her professional training at We Do Feet Seminars, where she also served as an instructor for several years. After relocating to Oahu, Hawaii, Stephanie founded Foothold Seminars, a training program that equips individuals around the world with the skills to become certified foot zone practitioners. In 2014, Stephanie was instrumental in organizing the first combined foot zone conference, bringing together practitioners from various schools to promote collaboration, innovation, and growth within the community. A lifelong learner with a passion for holistic health, Stephanie continually draws inspiration from the gifts and talents of others, expanding her knowledge and refining her craft to help others achieve wellness and balance.
Jeanie Robbins
Secretary 2024
I have always been fascinated by the body and how it works. I love that our bodies, given the proper environment and nutrients, can heal themselves. Our bodies generate new blood as needed. The body has the ability even to repair broken bones.There is a joy that comes from seeing results on clients who come in with this or that issue and receive relief! It is truly an affirmation to touch a spot on the feet and have them say,"Yes, that is an area I have been struggling with."My first introduction to Foot Zoning was when I was ten years old, and my family took a long road trip with some dear family friends. The woman had terrific hands and could fix any complaint my sister and I could come up with. I was utterly fascinated. Years down the road, I found a page in a magazine that detailed foot zone signal locations. I studied this and practiced on anyone who put their feet near me.Next. I borrowed a VHS training series by Eunice Ingham and read her books. My subsequent exposure was when a friend introduced me to a friend who had recently completed a training course with SureFooted Renewal in Utah. I quickly signed up for these classes and made the treks to Utah to learn. I love it. Later, while attending the Utah Foot Zone Association conference, I listened to Amber Jensen, the founder of Wellness Life Zone Foot Zone Academy, teach about the fascia system. I knew I needed to learn more, and I signed up to make multiple trips back and forth to Utah to Certify with Wellness Life Zone. I am so glad I did.I realized the impact that foot zoning could have on people and committed to the teacher training course to make it available to more people locally in Montana. I have appreciated each learning phase and look forward to sharing my skills with others interested in experiencing the benefits of a foot zone or those who want to learn.
Mary Balllif
Membership Clerk 2024
Mary Ballif was born and raised in Utah. Years of health struggles led Mary to discover the world of holistic health and healing. As her passion for natural health and wellness grew, she was introduced to the foot zone modality where she experienced the power of the feet. Mary felt called to the foot zoning trade and was blessed to receive her initial training with We Do Feet Seminars in 2015. After building a successful foot zoning business in Tooele, UT, she continued her training with Wellness Life Zone where she received a second certification. Mary also became an instructor for Wellness Life Zone where she
shares her passion for foot zoning with her students. Mary has a passion for learning and pursues knowledge that can help her family and her clients continue to achieve their health and healing goals. She has taken numerous classes on mindset, mentoring, essential oils, nutrition coaching, food preservation, and fermentation. She is also a certified Redi 4 Wholeness Mentor.
She and her family now live in St. Louis, Missouri where she looks forward to introducing foot zoning in her new community.
Tamara Wilcox
Treasurer 2024
Tamara was born and raised in the Ogden, Utah area and lived in Plano, Texas as a teen as well. She went to LDS Business College and graduated in Administrative Assisting. She met her husband while working in Salt Lake City; and then moved everywhere her husband’s employment, the U.S. Army, sent them. 10 years later they settled in Tooele, Utah. She’s been interested in natural healing methods since she was a teen and she received her first foot zone in 1999. After that experience, she looked forward to the day when she could learn this amazing modality. The opportunity came to her town in 2015 when she began classes and graduated the next year. Later that year, she learned about another school and took their full course as well, graduating with them in 2017. Tamara values education tremendously and thoroughly enjoys continual learning about Anatomy and Physiology and how it pertains to the Foot Zone so she is able to add value to other people's lives by helping them in their journey toward healing and health.
Maleah Gordon
Legal Liaison 2024
Maleah Gordon loves people and is passionate about sharing the hopeful message of holistic healing. She is a wife, mother, and owner of A.NEW Foot Zone Academy. Through her education program, keynote speeches, and conference addresses she has been able to instruct and inspire thousands to a happier, more fulfilled way of living. She finds joy in teaching others effective and practical tools that can change their very existence. She has used these tools and healing modalities to help her overcome serious physical and mental dis-ease, changing the direction of her life. Maleah’s mission is to bring the Foot Zone to every community, spreading collective healing and joy.
Brooke Humphreys
Member at Large 2024
Brooke Humphreys is a certified Foot Zone Practitioner and Instructor studying through the Academy of Foot Zone and has been zoning for 4 years. A native of Southern California, Brooke moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota a year ago and she loves the area. She is in the throws of mom life with a 2 and 4 year old at home. But when they are sleeping you can find her foot zoning. She loves learning about different holistic modalities to help her clients and, to keep a healthy balance in her daily life.
Saige Ellingford
Member at Large 2024
Saige began her foot zoning journey in 2016 she felt a massive draw to take a foot zoning class and defer her last semester at Weber State in Professional Sales against the advice of her college professors. In 2017 she graduated both from foot zoning school and college within two weeks of each other. She then took a job in the trucking industry in sales where she worked 47 very long weeks in what she refers to as “cubical hell.” Until she quit and said I am going to go work on people’s feet for a living and returned to her hometown where she had already began growing her business on the side! Since then, Saige felt the call to start her own school Wise Ways Inc. at the end of the day Saige truly believes every person could benefit from a foot zone and that requires a lot of trained hands to do so! She is excited to be part of this board to help make foot zoning accessible everywhere! This modality truly has changed the entire trajectory of her life and she is passionate to share that with others!
Maggie Beach
Member at Large 2024
Maggie Beach is a dental hygienist with 16 years of experience and more than 30 years in the dental field. She has observed over her years in public health that most people, and even children are developing more chronic diseases and are on substantially more medications. Because oral health is linked to the overall health of the body, she became very interested in studying holistic solutions. Maggie certified as a Foot Zone practitioner in 2019. She pursued Foot Zone training with gifted and intuitive practitioners, graduating from Zone Restoration with Jeannie Harold, and also from Wellness Life Zone with Amber Jensen. She experienced a lifetime of benefits from Foot Zone through her mother, who trained with Dr.Charles Ersdal in the 1990s. Maggie is a licensed massage therapist, and continues to study the human body and herbal medicine. Maggie has always had a strong desire to help people and share her knowledge and skills about natural and holistic health with others. She is excited to see that knowledge of foot zone as a therapy is spreading across the country, increasing access to more people. Maggie was born and raised in Cache Valley, Utah and currently resides in Eastern North Carolina with her delightful and supportive husband.
Rita Jutras
Member at Large 2024
I have been a Cosmetologist for over 40 years. I have always loved helping people. In 2007 I was introduced to energy healing. Since then, I have trained in Usui Reiki, Shamballa Multidimensional Healing, Tibetan Healing, Touch for Health, Acupressure and Sound Therapy. When I found Foot Zoning, I was excited! With all the modalities that I work with it is about clearing blocked energy so the body can heal. Foot Zoning adds to this perfectly. Foot Zoning has been a great addition to my energy healing practice.
Dave Weber
Member at Large 2024
Dave has been happily married for 8 years to his wife Kimberly. They live in Ogden, UT and are both entrepreneurial minded. While his wife has taken the motivational coaching and author route, he became an alternative medicine practitioner. He has been foot zoning for 4 years and absolutely loves it! He was also trained as an herbalist from the Homegrown Herbalist School of Botanical Medicine and consults his clients on herbs as well as medicinal foods, meditation techniques, exercises, and affirmations to help heal the body. While foot zoning is his expertise, he loves to expand his knowledge on nutrition so that he can share the best information he can, all while foot zoning his clients. He has been driven in this direction of health because he has had a number of health problems, some of which he was born with. Having been through his own plethora of health trials and experiencing another chance at life thanks to skilled doctors, he has been interested in healthcare ever since his teens. He believes that everyone has something amazing to share to the world; and often reminds people that they are significant.
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Bringing the Nation Together One Foot at a Time
Register with the National Foot Zone Association to be listed as a Practitioner or School that is certified to practice Foot Zoning in various states throughout the nation.
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