Watsu^® Around the World

Since 1980 when people were first floated and stretched in warm water with Watsu, the number of those it helps continues to grow. Today, in more than 40 countries, Watsu is proving its effectiveness with chronic pain and a widening range of conditions. It has been welcomed as a primary modality in Rehabilitation by Aquatic Therapists and is taught in universities around the world. In addition to the physical benefits derived from the movements and stretches warm water facilitates, Watsu's power to reduce stress underlies both its effectiveness with those conditions in which stress is implicated and its growing popularity among the general public.

Many come out of a Watsu saying they were more relaxed than they have ever been. Some say it was one of the most powerful experiences in their life. More and more are choosing Watsu at spas. Recently an Asian spa association voted Watsu the best of all treatments offered in Asian spas.

The lasting benefits of Watsu for special needs have been confirmed by many reports and studies.

That its benefits for the general population can also be long lasting was demonstrated by a study at a university in Brazil in which 10 subjects from everyday life were, at the end of their tenth weekly Watsu, asked what Watsu meant to them. All spoke of the positive effect it had in their lives. The common element in all their reports was a greater sense of unity between different parts of their being.

The greater sense of connection that most feel with Watsu results from the fact that in order to be moved and stretched in a Watsu you must be floated in someone's arms. Our trainings focus on how to make a safe enough place for everyone to let go in our arms. The Watsuer learns to connect all the movements and stretches to the breathing of those they float. Because every level of our being can be effected in a Watsu, they also learn to not try to lead anyone into any particular level or state, but to just be with them.

Our trainings have evolved over the years to better ease our students into this new way of working and being with someone in water. No matter how much bodywork or therapy some one has done on land, when they step into a pool and float someone, it is a new world. Everyone, whether they have any previous experience or not starts with the first two days of Basic Watsu where they learn to connect to the breath and be with someone with very basic moves. Because many find this experience of just being with someone they float can be as powerful as being floated, we encourage everyone to join us in our Basic Watsu.

To make this available to everybody, to support our Watsu instructors and the practitioners they train, and to insure that our programs prepare them for the growing numbers being drawn to Watsu, the non-profit Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association has been set up. WABA oversees the standards for Watsu and other related forms of Aquatic Bodywork. It maintains a Registry storing transcripts and authorizations of practitioners and instructors and organizes the annual World Watsu Week.