What is Water Therapy? What is aquatic bodywork? How can it help you?

Water therapy is a perhaps a lesser known healing therapy- with an absolutely thriving sub culture scene!

 

The foundations of water therapy come from Harbin Springs in California. Harold Dull who I like to think of as the grandfather of water therapy, created the first aquatic bodywork system , a beautiful system known as Watsu.

 

The system follows a set of movements in warm water to ‘promote deep relaxation, quieting the sympathetic nervous system and enhancing the parasympathetic nervous system’(1). 

 

 

 

 

Since then 1980s Aquatic Bodywork has expanded exponentially and there are now many many forms of water therapy, each with a slightly different focus, but I feel all with a similar motivation – to help with deep relaxation, recovery and self healing. (2) There are many types of aquatic bodywork to try from Aguahara, Healing Dance, Wataflow, Janzu, Float Therapy, Watadance, Somatics and many many more. I think they are all comparable in that they promote healing the body through warm water (normally therapy pools are heated to 35 Celcius and chlorine free). They all encourage creating space in the body, so that the mind can be free, the work with flowing through the emotions and creating a really profound sense of presence.

 

 

Water therapy works on the mind, the body, the emotions and consciousness. It helps us to feel a greater connection to ourselves, to cut through the layers & stories and to bring us back home to ourselves in our bodies. It cuts through separateness and creates a deep sense of connection within.

 

It’s important you feel safe, and in trust with your chosen therapist as this therapy is really about TRUST and LETTING GO.

 

This therapy is great for anyone looking to recover and heal, overcome any emotional pain, rediscover deep inner peace, or who would simply like to relax their entire system in a very unique way.  In a session your deepest muscles are able to relax which aids the relaxation of the central nervous system. You will move through a flowing sequence allowing you to let go, release tension, release emotions,  and enter into a deep meditative state.  Often people go into a state of ‘no mind’ as the frontal cortex switches off completely.

 

How can it help you?

 

Water Journey therapy is a powerful healing modality- aiding the recovery of the physical body (great for overcoming MANY physical ailments-amazing for the spine), the energetic body (learning to relax fully)  and the emotional body (overcoming relationship issues, reaffirming trust, remembering, letting go, overcoming traumatic experiences, releasing tension, surrendering, experiencing divine love, reconnecting). 

 

Most clients report it’s like having 10 massages in one, or are quite literally speechless and in a state of WOW afterwards. 

 

This therapy is great for anyone looking to recover and heal, overcome any emotional pain, rediscover deep inner peace, or who would simply like to relax their entire system in a very unique way.  In a session your deepest muscles are able to relax which aids the relaxation of the central nervous system.