Watsu Massage

This week I had the rare opportunity for a free watsu massage.

Typically performed in a specially designed pool heated to body temperature, Watsu is a series of gentle movements and stretches intended to relax your body. It was invented in 1980 by Harold Dull, a Northern California massage therapist who offered the treatment in local hot springs. It incorporates techniques from zen shiatsu, an ancient Chinese pressure-point therapy believed to release blockages along the body's meridians where chi, or energy, flows.

So, I had responded to an email from Tina that she was a new watsu therapist, looking for willing subjects for her practice session. Since an hour of watsu is usually $150 and I thought I deserved a treat (and I have all kinds of knots in my hip from raquetball), I decided to give it a go!

I had already been in the 91-degree-warm pool for 2 1/2 hours, teaching my aerobic and swim lessons, but when work was over, I was ready to relax. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and sunk back into a backfloat while Tina used one hand to hold my head and neck, and the other to push my floating body this way and that. Even as we started, she stated with glee, "This will be a great practice session!" because she could tell I was relaxed and trusting enough to go for anything and not be uptight about being held and massaged, in the water.

So, I lay back and breathed easy. The few times I peeked my eyes open, my suspicions were confirmed - that although I was being rolled this way and stretched that way, we were always in motion, turning and flowing through the water. The resulting effect was a pleasant one - any limbs not involved in the current stretch or bend were free to drift and swoosh through the water as we moved. The soothing flow of warm water coursing over my skin really was pleasant.

So, I have good things to say for watsu! I always felt safe, my face was always dry, I was definitely relaxed and dreamy. The stretching was not as deep as if I had just gone to a yoga class, and the massage was not as deep as if I had gone for a table massage. For some folks, that would be just the ticket. I told Tina if she ever needs more practice to give me a call again for sure. However, I think I'll save my massage buckos to get the much needed hip and low-back repairs that I need, and only go for watsu if/when it's all-out nonsensical treat time.