Watsu: a wellness bath

The water has for most of us, a calming and relaxant effect – especially if it is used in the watsu.

Watsu is an alternative therapy practiced in water, at chest height, heated to the temperature of the human body. Watsu has its roots in zen shiatsu. This is a longline of shiatsu, which focuses on massage and pressure applied with palms rather than the pressure applied primarily with the fingers, the technique used in shiatsu. Unlike other forms of water group therapy, watsu is made in individual sessions involving only the patient and the therapist.

The forerunner of the therapy was the American Harold Dull, a professor of literature, that in early 80´s applied the concepts used in Zen shiatsu in water, emphasizing the rhythm of breathing and establishing a meditative state during the sessions. Dull was able to observe the strong indicators that watsu had about the emotional and psychological states of its practitioners and found that, after the sessions, the patients appeared to be more relaxed and in a good mood.

During the session of watsu, the therapist moves the patient’s body kindly and slowly the in the water, putting it in specific positions, sometimes stretching and massaging it. The sessions are to work your breath, in performing movements from various positions, in massage and put pressure on certain points with palms.

There are various positions and specific movements that the body performs in the water with watsu, as smooth leg, knees or spine rotations, chest and limbs stretching, for example – in order to achieve the desired effects to address the complaints of the patient.

In these sessions, there is a slowing of the heart and respiratory rate, a relaxation of muscles, and the patients experience a deep sense of relaxation to negate the harmful effects of stress.