Former pizzeria owner taps into holistic medicine

Vicki Koepke made pizzas for 17 years when she owned Bada Bing Pizza in Fredonia and Cedar Grove. Now, she’s taking a holistic approach to work with a new venture at Sole Shine Reflexology in Belgium. 

“It’s total opposites,” Koepke said about the career change. “That’s what I do. Once I’m fascinated by something, I have to dive into it.”

Under the tutelage of longtime reflexologist Lila Mueller, Koepke was certified in January after 300 hours of training at Ray of Hope Academy in Belgium. The program has been in existence since 2014 and will have five more prospective reflexologists graduate in spring.

Koepke is currently seeing clients at Mueller’s business, Ray of Hope, at 640 Main St. They first met in 2013 when Koepke was receiving treatment from Mueller.

“I had fibroid tumors. They wanted to do a hysterectomy and I didn’t have insurance because I just opened a restaurant in Fredonia,” Koepke said. “I saw her once a week for six weeks and she completely resolved the problem. What she did to my stress level was just amazing. I could feel something shift.”

Mueller specializes in acute conditions like lymphedema while Koepke focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. 

“I really want to help our veterans,” Koepke said.

Mueller began treating people on a part-time basis since 2003 and became a full-time practitioner when she retired as clerk and treasurer for the Village of Belgium in 2010. She discovered reflexology in the 1980s when she was afflicted with acute fibromyalgia.

“I went to reflexology once a week for five months and everything turned off. It never came back,” Mueller said. 

Reflexology is an alternative medical practice that involves applying pressure to specific points on the hands, feet, face and ears.

“We’re doing energy work. Essentially, we are getting the entire body to work with the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. By stimulating the exterior parts of the body, we help correct any blockages within the meridians and the body can repair itself,” Mueller said.

“People always classify us as massage, but we’re not. It’s a complementary therapy and we don’t touch the trunk of your body.”

The women said the practice necessitates constant education. Last week, Mueller became certified in reflexology lymph drainage.

“As of this date, only 14 reflexologists have attained this certification (in the country) and I am the only one in Wisconsin,” she said. 

Koepke said it was difficult selling her pizzerias, but it was time to try something new.

“It was a hard decision, but I knew it was time to move on and I like helping people,” she said. “Lila offered me an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime mentorship opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

In addition to offering lessons, Mueller provides her students with a three-day course that involves developing a business plan and other strategies for a start up. She credits her 29 years as a clerk and treasurer for providing her with the necessary business skills.

When Mueller isn’t busy treating her more than 2,000 clients who span from Florida, Iowa and Illinois, she works as a reflexology preceptor at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee.

“People come and shadow me when I’m working at the hospital,” Mueller said. 

She said she treats a range of people, from toddlers with colic issues to the elderly recovering from a stroke.

“Obviously we don’t touch infants the same way we would for an adult, but a little gentle pressure can really help a child, and we teach our technique to the parents,” Mueller said.

Koepke and Mueller said it is an advantage working together because they can see couples at the same time.

“Often times, a person will bring their spouse or partner along. Instead of just waiting around, we can work on them on the same time,” Koepke said. “It’s kind of funny because someone may show up in a bad mood and they end up leaving in a good mood together.”

Mueller said there are many misconceptions about the practice.

“I am a Christian and some religious people violently oppose reflexology because they think I’m summoning some other spirit, but that’s nonsense,” she said. “Our goal is to make people live healthier lives and stay away from unneeded medication.”