A powerful form of massage, called Watsu, is slowly becoming a new trend in the massage and healing circles. This type of massage combines Zen Shiatsu techniques with heated water, to create a relaxing and accessible body treatment.
Watsu inventor Harold Dull had a mission: to create a way to stretch the body, lengthen muscles, and increase flexibility. He developed the massage after spending time in Japan studying Zen Shiatsu. Working in body-temperature water, Dull found that the client deeply relax and feel as free as possible.
Julie Tusek, a Watsu practitioner at Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, describes the massage: she holds the client's head with her hand, the crook of her arm or on her shoulder and then holds up the lower part of the body with the other arm. A client is supported throughout the whole massage and is always afloat. She starts her massage with 5 minutes of relaxation and simply lets the person float and breathe. The massage then begins with Shiatsu stretching, slowly increasing the range of motion. She uses traction movements, accupressure points and includes massage in the neck and shoulder area. She finds that the warmth of the water makes it easier for her to massage and stretch the body.
Watsu has an advantage over many body treatments in that it is gravity free. This element makes it accessible to those who are usually unable to receive traditional body treatments due to paralysis, arthritisis, or fibermaila (a painful disease that causes the skin to be pain to the touch). Julie says that Watsu is helpful to insomniacs, the elderly and she even has worked on kids. However, she does not recommend those who have recently had a head injury try Watsu. You should wait up to a year, since you are held by the head during the treatment.
What can make this treatment really powerful are the emotional effects that Watsu evokes. Julie reports that some clients have a deep emotional release and cry at the end of a session, due to the depth of relaxation that results with Watsu. Some clients even feel that they are transported back to the womb, or equate the sense of freedom in the water to being able to fly.
Unfortunately, Watsu is not as accessible as most massage therapies. If your local spa does not offer this treatment then you can locate a practitioner on-line through Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association or try our list of spas.
