WATSU
WATSU (WATer ShiatsU) is a gentle form of aquatic bodywork performed in 34 degree celcius water. A certified practitioner guides you through slow, flowing movements, stretches, and rotations while you are uniquely supported by the buoyancy of the water, creating deep relaxation and relief from joint loading.
The movements throught the water provide a gentle stretching into all ranges for the spine and extremities. Gentle soft tissue massage and joint mobilisation techniques can also be incorportated into a WATSU session.
Furthermore, WATSU helps decrease spasticity. The rhythmical, gentle rocking motions in warm water coupled with the repeated trunk rotations and trunk elongation are effective in decreasing abnormal tone.
Clients also report decreased pain, as WATSU decreases their muscle spasm and muscle guarding, increases their range of motion and promotes profound relaxation.
What is WATSU
Immediate:
increased range of motion
increased muscle relaxation
decreased muscle spasm
decreased spasticity
decreased pain
Long-term:
improved sleep patterns
improved digestion
improved healing and immune system response
decreased anxiety
greater decreases in pain
Promoting deep relaxation and pain relief, WATSU has been scientifically shown to enhance the parasympathetic nervous system—the body's core for rest and recovery. It thereby helps improves sleep quality, boosts gut function, improves lympth drainage, reduces stress, and increases overall well-being and injury recovery.
Benefits of WATSU
Who can benefit from WATSU?
- Orthopaedic conditions - post back surgery, back pain, multiple injuries following trauma, repetitive stress injuries, muscle spasm, guarding, decreased range of motion or pain
- Arthritis - osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
- Post mastectomy
- Fibromyalgia
- Neurological conditions - stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis
- Fatigue and burnout
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
The above information is sourced from "Clinical Watsu Techniques" written by my incredible instructor, physiotherapist, Peggy Schoedinger
Ready to Start Moving?
Join us for one-on-one care tailored to your specific recovery goals. Experience the unique healing benefits of aquatic therapy in our state-of-the-art Sydney facility conveniently located in the Eastern Suburbs.