Watsu

What is Watsu?

Watsu is a passive form of aquatic bodywork that supports and gently moves a person through warm water in graceful, fluid movements.

Watsu began in 1980 in Harbin Hot Springs with Harold Dull. Harold Dull began developing it by floating his Zen Shiatsu students in warm water applying its stretches and moves.

Watsu is also called aquatic shiatsu.

Benefits of Watsu

There are many benefits to watsu treatments. Watsu promotes a deep state of relaxation. By supporting, rocking, and moving the whole body while stretching a leg or arm, Watsu lessens the resistance there is when a limb is worked in isolation. Watsu helps decrease muscle tension and increase range of motion. The support of the water provides relief from compression forces in the joints. The movements through the water provide gentle stretching into all ranges for the spine and extremities while these joints are unloaded.

Other benefits of Watsu:

• Decreased heart rate.
• Decreased rate of respiration
• Increased depth of respiration
• Increased peripheral vasodilatation
• Increased smooth muscle activity (digestion)
• Decreased activation of striated muscles (skeletal)
• Decreased spasticity
• Decreased muscle spasm
• Decreased Reticular Activating System activity
• Enhanced immune system response

Mama wants to help

Resources for free food Domestic violence hotline Free and low rent housing Adult daycare Holiday resources Share your story. We will listen.