Imagine floating in warm water. Your eyes are closed and the sounds of the outside world have receded. You are gently stretched by the drag of the water while being comfortably supported. You glide back and forth while your limbs are soothingly stretched and your back is softly flexed. You feel like seaweed floating on the surface of the sea. This is Watsu.
The brainchild of California Shiatsu teacher Harold Dull, Watsu combines elements of massage, movement, dance, stretching, and Shiatsu—all performed in 95 degree chest-deep water. First developed at Harbin Hot Springs, California in the early 1980’s Watsu incorporates therapeutic movements in the pool that can’t comfortably be performed on land. During a Watsu session, you are continuously supported in the water, both by your therapist and a variety of flotation devices. The weight is taken off your spine, your muscles relax, and you are rocked, stretched, arched, and bent—all in what feels like a very comfortable bath.
