Watsu

Watsu is a form of aquatic bodywork used for deeprelaxation and passive aquatic therapy. Watsu is charac-terized by one-on-one sessions in which a practitioner ortherapist gently cradles, moves, stretches, and massages areceiver in chest-deep warm water.

1 OverviewWatsu, originally developed by Harold Dull at HarbinHot Springs, California in the early 1980s, combines ele-ments of muscle stretching, joint mobilization, massage,Shiatsu, and dance, performed in chest-deep warm wa-ter (around 35C = 95F). The receiver is continuouslysupported by a practitioner or therapist while being back-oated, rhythmically cradled, moved, stretched, and mas-saged. The eects of warm water, gentle touch, andnumerous owing movement techniques produce a deepstate of relaxation. Watsu is now used worldwide as aform of passive aquatic therapy for physical rehabilitationof illness, injury, and disability.[1][2][3][4]

2 History and originsIn the early 1980s Harold Dull adapted Zen Shiatsu foruse in warm water pools at Harbin Hot Springs in north-ern California, with emphasis on connecting with thebreathing patterns of the receiver and establishing a med-itative state during sessions. Dull observed that people re-ceiving Watsu treatments entered a deep relaxation state,with strong physical and emotional eects. In the earlyyears, massage therapists were the main practitioners ofWatsu, oering sessions as a new category of aquatictherapy called aquatic bodywork. By the late 1980sand early 1990s, physical therapists and other healthcareproviders began applying Watsu to treat diverse ortho-pedic and neurologic conditions. While Watsus roots inShiatsu and the close physical contact led to some earlyresistance among those trained in conventional health-care, Watsu is now practiced worldwide in spas, clin-ics, and hospitals, and utilized as an aquatic rehabilitationtechnique.[2][4]

3 TechniqueWatsu is performed in one-on-one pool sessions in chest-deep warm water. During a session, a provider (practi-

tioner or therapist) gently cradles, moves, stretches, andmassages a receiver (client or patient). A typical sessionconsists of a progression of breath coordination, move-ment patterns in dierent positions, and massage. Move-ment patterns including gentle cradling and rocking, moredynamic stretching and mobilization, stillness, and spe-cic mobilization techniques focused on the needs orcondition of the receiver. A session may last anywherefrom a few minutes to longer than an hour. During asession, the provider continually monitors the state ofthe receiver, mindful of subtle changes in muscle ten-sion and respiration, and responsive to adapt the treatmentaccordingly.[2][3][4]

3.1 OpeningBefore starting a pool session, the provider typicallymeets with the receiver to ll out paperwork, answerquestions, review referrals and records, and discussneeds, expectations, and health condition. The receiveris tted with oats around the upper shins or lower thighsto prevent the legs from sinking. The session starts withthe receiver seated or crouched at the pool edge. Theprovider faces the receiver, coordinates breathing, andthen gently draws the receiver into a back oating positioncalled rst position.[2][3][4]

3.2 First position techniquesIn rst position, the receiver oats facing upward whilethe provider supports the receivers head in the crookof one arm and maintains gentle traction of the spinefrom the base of the skull (occiput) to the base of thespine (sacrum). The provider gently sways from legto leg (horse to horse stance) or forcefully moves indeep lunges in alternating directions (warrior to war-rior stance), producing rocking and wave patterns inthe receiver. Typical Watsu moves use turbulent drag toproduce traction and softly stretch the limbs and torso.Movements include slow rocking, arm and leg stretches,trunk rotations and stretches, and various oscillation andpulsing patterns. Moves are repeated on both sides forbalance.[2][3]

Basic Watsu moves include the following: [4]

Water Breath Dance stillness and gentle motioncoordinated with up and down shifts in buoyancy asthe receiver breathes;

1

2 6 APPLICATIONS

Slow Oering gentle pulling alternately headwardby the base of the skull (occiput) and footward bythe base of the spine (sacrum), to produce tractionof the spine along with centripetal side force;

Free Spine gentle oscillation of the spine;

One Leg Oering gentle pulling alternately head-ward by the base of the skull (occiput) and footwardby one leg, to produce a complex pattern of turbu-lent drag, with leg, torso, and spine stretches;

Two Leg Oering gentle pulling alternately head-ward by the base of the skull (occiput) and footwardby both legs, to produce a complex pattern of turbu-lent drag, with leg, torso, and spine stretches;

Accordion drawing both knees toward and awayfrom the chest in coordination with the breath, whilemaintaining neck traction;

Rotating Accordion adding a spiraling rotation tothe accordion action of moving both knees towardand away from the chest, while maintaining supportof the occiput and allowing the head more freedomto roll;

Near Leg Rotation opening and closing the nearleg toward and away from the chest to produce anoscillating spine and hip rotation;

Far Leg Rotation opening and closing the far legtoward and away from the chest to produce an oscil-lating spine and hip rotation.

3.3 Other positions and techniques

A wide variety of other positions and techniques havebeen developed to produce specic eects and to addressspecic parts of the body. For example, a head pull per-mits gentle traction and mobilization of the neck, sea-weed position permits mobilization and rotation of thespine and hips, and full saddle permits stretching andmassage of the side body and limbs.[2][3][4]

3.4 Adapting Watsu for special needs

A specialized set of techniques have been developed toadapt Watsu for receivers with special needs. For clientswith severe spasticity, the usual turbulent drag is not suf-cient to stretch the body. Additional manual pressureis applied to sustain gentle, prolonged stretches, for ex-ample attaining trunk rotation by pressing the oppositeshoulder while pulling the knees. Head pillows and otheradditional oats are often used for specic therapeutictechniques, similar to how rings or oats are used for theBad Ragaz Ring Method for aquatic rehabilitation.[5]

4 Training and certicationTheWorldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association (WABA)oversees training and certication for Watsu, as well asfor the related aquatic bodywork forms WaterDance andHealing Dance. Training consists of basic and advancedcoursework, as well as logged practice and demonstrationof mastery. Certication levels include Watsu provideras a specialized adjunct to massage therapy certication,Watsu practitioner as a stand-alone certication requir-ing more advanced training, and Watsu instructor withadditional training relevant to teaching. WABA also au-thorizes Training Centers and maintains a register of cer-tied professionals.[2][3][4]

5 Health eects

5.1 Physiological eects

During a Watsu session, the recipients heart and res-piration rates decrease, depth of respiration increases,muscle tone decreases, and recipients report a deep stateof relaxation. Robert Scaer suggested that deep relax-ation of Watsu balances the autonomic nervous system(ANS), decreasing sympathetic response and increas-ing parasympathetic response, with far-reaching benets.Compressive forces of hydrostatic pressure combine withdeep relaxation to enhance functioning of the lymphaticsystem and reduce swelling in cases of edema. For ortho-pedic impairments, combined eects of relaxation, warmwater, and gentle movement decreases muscle spasm,provides pain relief, improves soft tissue mobility, and in-creases range of motion. The rhythmic rocking motionscombined with repeated trunk rotation and elongation re-laxes muscles and improves mobility.[2][3][6]

5.2 Psychological eects

Many patients and clinicians report psychological benetsfor stress reduction and resolving past traumas.[2][6]

6 ApplicationsWatsu is oered along with other forms for bodyworkand massage at spas, recreation facilities, and retreat cen-ters, and oered as a form of aquatic therapy at clinics,hospitals, and healthcare centers.[3]

6.1 General use

For healthy people, Watsu is used for relaxation, musclestretching, and nurturing connection.[3]

36.2 Orthopedic and neurologic rehabilita-tion

For physical rehabilitation, Watsu is used by aquatic ther-apists to improve function and increase quality of life.Watsu has been applied for treatment of patients withorthopedic and neurologic impairment, in particular forlimitations in range of motion from soft tissue restric-tions, muscle spasm (hypertonicity), and pain. By im-proving soft tissue mobility and decreasing spasm, pa-tients can respond better to functional activities. For se-vere cases, short periods of Watsu can be alternated withshort periods of functional activities.[2][7]

Watsu has been proposed as a therapy for bromyalgiasyndrome,[8] and for rehabilitating patients after astroke.[9]

Although little direct research has been done on Watsu,various extrapolations concerning therapeutic eectshave been made from research in established areas oftherapy, in particular proprioceptive neuromuscular fa-cilitation (PNF) and sensory integration.[2]

6.3 Psychological rehabilitation

For psychological rehabilitation, Watsu has been used toimprove psychological function by calming the nervoussystem, enhancing relaxation, increasing body awarenessand decreasing general anxiety. Watsu is sometimes rec-ommended as an adjunct therapy to help process trauma,in conjunction with a psychotherapist.[2][6][3]

7 Precautions

As with all aquatic activities, Watsu has inherent risks.The Watsu provider needs to constantly observe and an-alyze each movement for safety, especially in case of in-jury or illness where movement could cause harm, e.g.,osteoporosis, acute rheumatoid arthritis, and ligamentousinstability. Slow and smooth movement, without suddenloading of the joints, is generally advisable. Motion sick-ness, with dizziness, nausea, or disorientation from excessvestibular stimulation can occasionally result and thera-pists are advised to watch for signs of overstimulation.[2]

8 Related aquatic bodywork tech-niques

Other aquatic bodywork forms, closely associated withWatsu include WaterDance (Wassertanzen), HealingDance, and Jahara technique.[3]

9 Pool designWatsu requires a specialized warm-water therapy pool,approximately chest deep (depending on height of thetherapist), temperature-controlled to about 35C (95F),and of a sucient size to accommodate one or more si-multaneous sessions (3.8 m = 12' or more diameter).[10]

10 See also Harbin School of Healing Arts

Healing Dance

Massage (Aquatic bodywork)

Massage (Watsu)

Waterdance

Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Registry

11 References[1] Dutton, M. 2011. Orthopaedics for the physical thera-

pist assistant. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p 187. (Watsu)ISBN 978-0763797553.

[2] Schoedinger, P. 2011. Watsu in aquatic rehabilitation. pp137-153, Chapter 5 In: Becker, BE and Cole, AJ (eds).Comprehensive aquatic therapy, 3rd edition. WashingtonState University Press. ISBN 978-0615365671.

[3] Jamison, L. 2009. Watsu. pp 117-128, Chapter 8 In:Brody, LT and Geigle, PR (eds). Aquatic exercise forrehabilitation and training. Human Kinetics. ISBN 978-0736071307.

[4] Dull, H. 2008. Watsu: freeing the body in water, 4th edi-tion. Watsu Publishing. ISBN 978-1605853710.

[5] Schoedinger P. 2008. Adapting Watsu for special needs.pp 117-131. Chapter 10 In: Dull H. Watsu: freeing thebody in water, 4th edition. Watsu Publishing. ISBN 978-1605853710.

[6] Scaer R. 2014. The body bears the burden: trauma, dis-sociation, and disease, third edition. Routledge. ISBN978-0415641524.

[7] Dougherty L, Dunlap E, andMehler S. 2008. The rehabil-itative benets of Watsu. pp 108-116. Chapter 9 In: Dull,H. Watsu: freeing the body in water, 4th edition. WatsuPublishing. ISBN 978-1605853710.

[8] Faull, K. 2005. A pilot study of the comparative eec-tiveness of two water-based treatments for bromyalgiasyndrome: Watsu and Aix massage. Journal of Bodyworkand Movement Therapies 9(3):202210.

4 11 REFERENCES

[9] Con SC, Duck, WO, and Shim, JH. 2005. Watsu ap-proach for improving spasticity and ambulatory functionin hemiparetic patients with stroke. Physiotherapy Re-search International 14(2):128136.

[10] Blessing A and Blessing H. 2008. Watsu pool design andcare. pp 186-193, Appendix G In: Dull, H. Watsu: free-ing the body in water, 4th edition. Watsu Publishing.ISBN 978-1605853710.

512 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses12.1 Text

Watsu Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watsu?oldid=627381038 Contributors: Cydebot, Stepheng3, TheProfessor and Nyashinski

12.2 Images

12.3 Content license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

Overview History and origins Technique Opening First position techniques Other positions and techniques Adapting Watsu for special needs

Training and certification Health effects Physiological effects Psychological effects

Applications General use Orthopedic and neurologic rehabilitation Psychological rehabilitation

Precautions Related aquatic bodywork techniques Pool design See also References Text and image sources, contributors, and licensesTextImagesContent license