Watsu therapy
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Watsu is an innovative form of aquatic massage. Sometimes its called aquatic physiotherapy or aquatic bodywork.
It is a combination of water exercise, massage and flotation. Watsu usually take place in warm water, some people refer to it as shiatsu in water and with good reason, it is based on the principles of Shiatsu.
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Watsu therapy was formed by Harold Dull, a therapist and director of the Harbin School of Shiatsu and Massage in north California, in the early part of the 1980s.
The technique evolved slowly as he started to include features of Shiatsu into the therapy. Watsu started becoming popular in the early 2000s.
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Watsu strengthens muscles and increases flexibility. It is useful for rehabilitation and anybody with mobility problems.
Your movements are supported and assisted by the watsu therapist and the water itself. When it is used for rehabilitation, specific joints and muscles are targeted.
Additionally it also improves sleep, helps digestion and relieves stress and anxiety
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There are different types of watsu, probably the most common type of watsu is Wasser Tanzer or waterdance. The movements are based on aquatic animals such as dolphins. It was invented in 1987 by Aman Schroter and Arjana Brunschwiler.
Alexander Georgeakopoulos created the healing dance it is a cross between traditional Watsu techniques and the waterdance.
The Jahara technique is recognized as the gentlest type of watsu, it focuses on muscle work and the alignment of the back.
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