Welcome to the 5th online workshop of the Thalasso Working Group!
Participation at the event is free of charge. Please fill-out the Registration form to attend.

PROGRAMME

11:00 – 11:10 Welcome address and introduction by Marlies Sobczak and Dr. Siyka Katsarova
11:10 – 11:25 Dr. Marcus Wengel: “Minerals and Thalassotherapy”
11:30 – 11:45 Ms. Claudia Wagner: “Thalasso for Today’s Health & Welness Travellers”
11:45 – 12:00 Ms. Silke Lambert: “The Sea on Prescription: Investigating the Link between Sea Spray Aerosols and Human Health Benefits”
12:00 – 12:10 Overview and future projects
12:10 – 12:20 Questions from participants
12:20 – 12:15 Future projects and announcement of the first speaker for the Spring edition of Thalasso workshop, Ms. Margrét Grímsdóttir

About the Speakers

Dr. Marcus Wengel from Prof. Dr. Biener GmbH will speak about minerals in thalassotherapy. His presentation begins with the ocean — a rich source of minerals that can influence human health in many ways. He will focus on selected minerals and their benefits. Drawing on more than 60 years of expertise in marine minerals, his company successfully transforms this knowledge into medical wellness products.

Claudia Wagner from Fit Reisen will share her perspective and experience on thalasso health cures using natural remedies from the sea. For over 45 years, Fit Reisen has been creating and promoting healthy holiday experiences — from holistic and natural healing retreats such as thalasso therapy, to health spa hotels that integrate the latest advances in modern spa medicine and medical wellness.

Silke Lambert, a PhD researcher at Ghent University, collaborates with the Blue Growth Research Lab to investigate how exposure to coastal environments can support physiological health. Her research aims to expand our understanding of the mechanisms behind these effects. The title of her presentation is: “The Sea on Prescription: Investigating the Link Between Sea Spray Aerosols and Human Health Benefits.”

Margrét Grímsdóttir is the Director of Nursing for Heilsutofnun NLFI, a Rehabilitation clinic in Iceland. She has long-term experience working in rehabilitation settings and has specialised in burnout and recovery. Margrét has been studying the experience of individuals who have undergone inpatient rehabilitation following severe burnout and how medical rehabilitation programs with the empahizes on natural remedies may support sustained improvements in well-being and quality of life. The aim of her presentation is to offer insights that may help improve rehabilitation strategies for individuals suffering from burnout and stress-related disorders.

The Thalasso working group, a collaborative effort between ESPA and Staatsbad Norderney, is dedicated to the advancement and professionalisation of Thalassotherapy within the health and lifestyle sector. Led by Marlies Sobczak from the Netherlands and Mr. Wilhelm Loth, Staatsbad Norderney, the group aims to integrate Thalassotherapy more closely into European healthcare practices. Emphasising the benefits of a seaside location and a healthy maritime climate, the group focuses on innovation and sustainability under medical supervision.

For more information please contact Ms. Marlies Sobczak at: thalasso@europeanspas.eu

We are glad to announce the next online workshop of the Thalasso Working Group and the first speakers:

Dr. Marcus Wengel from Prof. Dr. Biener GmbH will speak about minerals in thalassotherapy. His presentation begins with the ocean — a rich source of minerals that can influence human health in many ways. He will focus on selected minerals and their benefits. Drawing on more than 60 years of expertise in marine minerals, his company successfully transforms this knowledge into medical wellness products.

Claudia Wagner from Fit Reisen will share her perspective and experience on thalasso health cures using natural remedies from the sea. For over 45 years, Fit Reisen has been creating and promoting healthy holiday experiences — from holistic and natural healing retreats such as thalasso therapy, to health spa hotels that integrate the latest advances in modern spa medicine and medical wellness.

Silke Lambert, a PhD researcher at Ghent University, collaborates with the Blue Growth Research Lab to investigate how exposure to coastal environments can support physiological health. Her research aims to expand our understanding of the mechanisms behind these effects. The title of her presentation is: “The Sea on Prescription: Investigating the Link Between Sea Spray Aerosols and Human Health Benefits.”

Stay tuned for more information! Registration will open in September.

The Thalasso working group, a collaborative effort between ESPA and Staatsbad Norderney, is dedicated to the advancement and professionalisation of Thalassotherapy within the health and lifestyle sector. Led by Marlies Sobczak from the Netherlands and Mr. Wilhelm Loth, Staatsbad Norderney, the group aims to integrate Thalassotherapy more closely into European healthcare practices. Emphasising the benefits of a seaside location and a healthy maritime climate, the group focuses on innovation and sustainability under medical supervision.

For more information please contact Ms. Marlies Sobczak at: thalasso@europeanspas.eu

Join the next European Thalasso Exchange!

We are also excited to invite you to our next Online Thalasso Workshop, an unmissable event for anyone passionate about the future of wellness. Join us on Wednesday, April 16, from 10:00 to 11:30 am – this is your chance to engage with key industry leaders and gain valuable insights into the cutting-edge developments in Thalasso therapy. Participation is free of charge, registration is required.

The event

We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Marie Perez, President of Thalasso France, for her ongoing commitment to promoting Thalasso on a European scale. Her invaluable contribution continues to shape the future of this remarkable well-being approach.

What’s on the Agenda?

10:00 – 10:05 Introduction by Marlies Sobczak, ESPA Thalasso working group
10:05 – 10:20 Prof. Dr. Todorka Kostadinova (University of Varna) and Dr. Evgeniya Vladeva: “ Thalasso Therapy in Bulgaria: Current and Future Development”
10:20 – 10:35 Dr. Inez Linke, biologist and Founder of oceanBASIS (Kiel, Germany): “Health benefits of active ingredients from the sea”
10:35 – 10:50 Nicola Ackermann, Institute Fresenius (Taunusstein): “PFAS in seawater”
10:50 – 11:05 Dr. Jana Asselman/Julia Kinet (University of Gent): “The positive health effects of Coastal Walking on Stress and Cognitive Function”
11:05 – 11:20 Dr. Friedhart Raschke, Island Norderney, Germany: “The Thalasso educational program”
11:20 – 11:30 A short introduction to the autumn Thalasso workshop
–Claudia Wagner manager, Fit Reisen: Thalasso health cure with natural remedies from the sea – a holistic approach to prevention, wellness and beauty
–Dr. Marcus Wengel, CEO Biener GmbH: Minerals in Thalasso – The ocean is home to a variety of minerals that have a wide range of influences on our health. In this lecture, we will take a closer look at some of these minerals
11:30 – 11:40 Q & A and conclusions

Register here

Discover a Life-Changing Thalasso Experience

Thanks to the tireless efforts of ESPA board member Marlies Sobczak and the amazing Thalasso working group, we are excited to introduce a unique opportunity in the Netherlands: Certified Prevention Programs, with financial support from German health insurance. This exceptional offer allows clients to immerse themselves in 6-days of rejuvenation and wellbeing once a year at some of the most stunning Thalasso health destinations across the Netherlands –  Cadzand, Veere, Noordwijk.

 A Life-Changing Experience Awaits the guest!
This isn’t just a getaway – it’s a chance to recharge, renew, and experience the healing powers of the ocean, fresh sea air, and innovative wellbeing therapies.